Any hiker knows all too well how tasty those extra grams in your backpack can be. Therefore, they take the time to equip themselves with lighter gear. Lighter backpacks, lighter tents, sleeping bags, car mattresses. Prepare food wisely. As you gain experience, your pack weighs less. And significantly. You also learn what things are unnecessary for the outdoors and what things you can be quite comfortable without, with some concessions to your own comfort.
One thing that is not essential, however, is water. Water is needed to prepare meals. Of course, water also helps quench thirst. Dehydration can be debilitating, so a proper drinking regime is essential to maintaining health during the march. Water is also needed for food preparation. If you are a seasoned hiker, all food is dehydrated and therefore inedible without water. Of course, water is also needed for basic hygiene, but this is often limited to rinsing the mouth after brushing teeth in the mountains.In short, water is needed in the mountains, even if one does not consume as much water as in daily life.Why write? Because water is available in every store and you can just buy it and pack it in your backpack.
If this crosses your mind, you have never walked more than a few miles in the mountains. Because if not, there will always be a scale in front of you. It\’s the weight of the water. A bottle of bottled water weighs a kilo and a half. And I guarantee you, you can\’t do it in one pack.
So how do you deal with this? Plan ahead. Before setting out on a hike, you should study a map of your destination. Fortunately, our region is dotted with a variety of springs, streams, and rivers, despite the ongoing drought. There is water everywhere.So we pack a 1/2 liter water bottle in our hiking backpacks. Each time we come across a spring, we refill it with water. Whenever we come across a spring, we don\’t mind going a little off the trail. We then pack the water in a special bag and bring it to the campsite before we spend the night. 3 and 5 liters fit in the bag, and when empty, it weighs almost nothing. So we bring a lot of water from the spring closest to our campsite. Of course, we choose a campsite near there.
