When you are rock climbing, you have to bring water and other drinks. Hydration is not a big problem if you’re sport climbing or doing short routes. In those cases you can simply bring water in a hydration pack (water bladder) or water bottles. But if you are doing a long all-day climb at sunny places like Peak District, Dorset, and Wye Valley then you need to figure how much water to bring and how you are going to carry it.
Step One
Gallon-a-Day Standard Since the early days of big wall climbing, the standard rule has been one gallon (3.78 liters) of water for each climber for each day. A gallon, however, never seems enough for a hot day. If you’re climbing in full sun, you’re going to be thirsty even while drinking a gallon a day.
Step Two
How Much Should You Drink? Camelbak, one of the leading makers of water bladders, recommends drinking a liter or about a quart of water for every hour of outdoor activity, which includes hiking, running, bicycling, and climbing. Your personal hydration needs will vary with lots of factors, including elevation, temperature, weather, personal health, and the intensity of your activity. The National Academy of Sciences’ Institute for Medicine recommended in a 2004 report that the total water intake from both liquid and food should be 2.7 liters (91 fluid ounces) for women and 3.7 liters (125 fluid ounces) for men; noting that about 20% of your daily water intake is from food. The recommendation then is the old standard of a gallon a day.
Step Three
How much water you drink and how much you carry when you go climbing is up to you. Use the guideline of a gallon-a-day as a starting point. The best thing to do is base your water intake on personal experience and on the weather and your thirst. Your experience on shorter climbs will guide you toward how much fluid you need both when and where you climb. It’s always better, however, to bring more than you think you need. Proper hydration is, after all, one of the Ten Essentials.
Step Four
Being properly hydrated is important for your climbing performance as well as your survival. It’s simple—if you drink enough, you will perform admirably. If you don’t, you won’t feel so good and may experience symptoms of dehydration, including dry or sticky mouth, low urine output, dark yellow urine, sunken eyes, confusion, low blood pressure, dizziness, and lethargy. The best way to avoid dehydration is by paying attention to your body signals when you are outdoors. Drink plenty of liquids, including water and sports drinks, at regular intervals. If it is hot, sip water before you feel thirsty. If you get thirsty, you are already dehydrated.