Been dehydrated twice.

The first time was as a Junior Ranger in the Cochrane Ontario area.  Thumbs down for the camp co-ordinators for not ensuring everyone had water.  I did get off work duty for that day!

The second time was 100% my own damn fault.  I did a big lake crossing without any water.  4 hours on a summer day without a drop.  Then I started the 1.3km portage.  About halfway through I decided to take a nap.  Then I realised what the problem was.  Hucked my pack into the abs canoe and dragged it to the end of the port where I gulped down a lot of questionable water.  Then I made for the nearest campsite, led there by minnows jumping at the bow of my canoe singing "This Way, This Way".  Halucinations not uncommon from dehydration.

Since then I'm very aware of my water-in-urine-out.  Low or brightly coloured output means I chug a L & plan to finish another L over the next little while.

I pack electrolytes, but save them for when needed.  Long hot days while I'm working/sweating.  Not for every day.  I much prefer to maintain via diet than supplements.  Salt is so easy to get in practically everything we eat.  Typicaly a tube of this lasts 2 years for me.  (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

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I'll bet that low blood sugar might have played a hand in your crashing? I sweat like you do and have found that a combination of heat/humidity effects my appetite. I bet if you would of eaten a few handfuls of Gorp you might not of crashed the way you did.
Still might of been pooped and rightly so considering the conditions, but that sudden drop in energy to me is a sign that your blood sugar might of dropped to low.

My current " job" consists of working 3-12 hour shifts in what they call the Glass Bonding area. We attach the metal components of auto sunroofs to the raw glass with commercial urethane that needs moisture ( humidity) to cure.
Minimum humidity has to be 35% plus and room temp is in the high 80+. The have misters on the roof to keep it that way, and are work area is encased in plastic panels like you see on commercial loading docks.
On a average shift I handle 600+ sun roof sub assemblies that weigh between 30-40 lbs. That and all the racking/gaging and water tests they're respective programs call for.
In 2 years I've gone from last in seniority to 3rd, because people can't take the heat and humidity and the physical strain.
Considering that I'm 30+ years older than the next oldest person, keeping hydrated and eating right is the only way I can do my job.
The " kids" all laugh at " Old School" ( my work nickname), but when they see me work and thrive while most of them wilt, they soon change their tune
Of course I eat healthy, drink the right stuff ( water) and get at least 6-8 hours sleep the days work.
The kids live on junk food, Red Bull/ Monster energy drinks and try to get their rest on the job
You really are what you eat and drink, never so true than when your in the bush and the load is all on you

solotripper wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2011 at 8:46pm:

That was my first reaction too - marathoners call it "hitting the wall" for a reason !

You gotta be proactive on both fuel and water.

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I think that's a very good point and sound advice.
If you look at many peoples liquid intake in the evening, you can see the potential for problems the next day if the conditions are right.
It's no secret that as we age ( especially men) we need to urinate more often, but in smaller amounts. Many campers both young and old, dread the midnight P-call, especially in the buggy season.
Consciously or not, people tend to restrict their fluid intake before bedtime.
We also might have some evening cocktails. Alcohol dehydrates you and even a few after dinner cups of coffee with or with or without booze in them adds to the dehydration, caffeine being a diuretic as well.
Even in winter we dehydrate overnight, even more so in warm weather.
It's very common to have your morning urine dark, a sure sign of dehydration. Then many of us have a cup or two of morning Joe, and we make a bad situation worse.
I always have at least a liter of water before/immediately leaving morning camp, even though I know the coffee I had will make me pee a lot at least until it's flushed from my body.
Medications can change urine color, so those who take them, might find the urine color test insufficient for their hydration assessment.
For the majority of us, peeing as clear as possible and consuming enough fluids to keep it that way 24/7 will go a long way in avoiding dehydration.
Still with the brutal heat and humidity were facing this year, there comes a time when you have to know when to get off the water and stay off it. Start at first light and quit by noon. If you need to travel more, you can always start again late in the day. This is where those built-in camp days come in handy

Magicpaddler wrote on Aug 17^th, 2011 at 12:10am:

I guess that's why every re-hydration/electolyte drink (or powder) I've come across has salt in it.  I suspect the sugar content is to get it into your system faster.

dd