I’m Doing A Hiking Tour Of The American Southwest This Spring. Our Guide Says We Have To Drink At Least A Gallon (four Liters) Of Water Per Day. How Can This Be True?

Believe it... A human can only survive for about two days in the U.S. desert – where summertime temperatures can exceed 125 F degrees – without water. An easy walk on a summer day at 110 degrees F may require you to ingest 2-3 quarts of water; multiply that times how many hours you will be hauling a 40-pound pack.
A good test for knowing if you are becoming dehydrated is how often you have to urinate. If the rate drops markedly below normal, guzzle more water. Also observe the colour of your urine. If it is clear, you may be in trouble.
Always carry more water than you think you will need – always. I was at Phantom Ranch in the bottom of the Grand Canyon in July. It was 123 degrees F, and emergency personnel were averaging three helicopter rescues a day of dangerously dehydrated hikers.

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