Whenever hiking is undertaken, it is important for the person to stay hydrated. It is important for you to stay hydrated if winter hiking is being undertaken as even mild dehydration can lead to decline in energy levels and judgement.  Water loss during winter happens through perspiration (sweating) and respiration. While the loss water due to perspiration can be minimized by slacking your pace, not much can be done about water loss through respiration.

It’s Important to Pre-Hydrate for Winter Hiking

It is quite important to pre-hydrate yourself before you go hiking. You need to drink almost a litre of water before hitting the trial. This is important because during winter, the rate at which you lose water is quicker than the rate at which your body can absorb water. Under normal circumstances, people tend to lose anywhere between 0.5 to 1.5 litres of water in an hour when you hike vigorously. Not pre-hydrating can lead to excessive dehydration during a long and tedious hike.

Winter Hiking Bottles and Its Insulation

Hydration hoses and bladders tend to freeze during winter, even those that are insulated. Try carrying wide-mouth bottles with a volume of 1 litre as they are less likely to freeze. You can open them while wearing gloves. Hunersdorf bottles, with their distinctive yellow cap, are an ideal choice as they have a wide mouth and don’t crack like the clear ones when boiling hot water is poured into them. If I were you I wouldn't even think of bringing a metal water bottle on a winter hike as you’ll be laughed at.

When these bottles are filled with water, you want the water to be as hot as possible. It is recommended to boil it on a stove or in the microwave well in advance. After you’ve filled the bottles with water, you need to insulate the bottles as it’d keep the water hot. Turning them upside down would also prevent the caps from freezing.  Try to find the insulators called “parkas” as they can be clipped to the outside of the backpack using a Carabiner. It’d make it easier for you to keep drinking during the day.

You Need to Drink Water Throughout the Day

It is really important for you to keep drinking water regularly during a long winter hike in order to stay hydrated. If a hydration system is used by you during the rest of the year, it can be tough for you to adapt to not having it during the winter. You can avoid this by taking a sip every now and then from your insulated water bottle. Sip a little water whenever you stop to catch your breath. This will help you rehydrate your body.

Staying Hydrated After the Hike

One of the things to be done after a long winter day hike is to drink another quart of water. It is also important to help yourself to some food as it’d keep you going while you’re driving home. If you’re backpacking during winter, you need to eat food. Also, you can carry a quart of hot water to bed and sip it during the night when you wake up during the night to go to the toilet. Keeping your body hydrated is important because it supports the digestive processes that keep you warm after a hearty dinner. Further, it also ensures that when you wake up the next morning, you aren’t feeling dehydrated.