In almost any exercise that you engage in they tell you to make sure that you drink plenty of fluids. The risk to your health is to great to ignore this type of warning when you are exercising.

Mountain hiking is no different then any other type of exercise. It requires the replenishment of fluids when you are hiking. But there is also another reason for that. The elevation.

Most mountain hikes take a person above the regular elevation that they are used to. For example if you were to hike in the Rock Mountain National Park you would be going to levels from 7000 to 12000 feet above sea water which can really change the way that your body works.

Doctors recommend that if you are planning on hiking at these higher elevations that you consider drinking plenty of fluids to allow your body to adjust. By fluids the doctor means that you drink, water, sports drinks or other type of fluids. It is not recommended to drink alcoholic beverages or sugary sodas as those could actually hinder the body’s adjustment to the higher levels.

Another reason that water is recommended is because of the thinness of the air. The air level is very thin and while the water may help to keep your body adjusted to these different levels there is also another factor that is going on with your body. The thinner level of air is actually depleting the body of water. The water that exists in the lungs can quickly turn to water evaporation and cause altitude sickness. To avoid any such problems people are recommended to drink plenty of fluids so that this does not happen to them.

To avoid altitude sickness it is important that you pack plenty of water. Do not rely upon the park to have fresh water streams or other areas. Be prepared and you won’t get sick!