How to plan water
- 1Map the water — before the trip, mark reliable sources on the route and note the dry stretches between them.
- 2Check conditions — hot, dry, high, or strenuous means much more water; adjust the plan up.
- 3Carry capacity — everyone brings at least a quart, two or more for long/hot/arid/high; add a reservoir for dry stretches.
- 4Plan treatment — bring a filter, tablets, or plan to boil so any source water is safe; don't rely on an untreated source.
- 5Drink regularly on trail — sip on roughly hourly stops and when thirsty; don't wait until parched, and don't force huge volumes.
- 6Monitor hydration — watch how you feel and (a common check) urine color and frequency; step up drinking if you're behind.
- 7Refill smart — top off at every reliable source, especially before a known dry or uphill stretch; confirm a planned refill is actually there before depending on it.
When to use it
- Any hike or backpacking trip — knowing your carry and refills is core trip planning.
- Hot-weather, desert, and high-altitude trips, where water demand spikes and sources are scarce.
- Group planning — total the patrol's water needs and carry/treatment capacity together.
Common mistakes & safety
- Running out of water is an emergency. Dehydration causes fatigue, poor judgment, and heat illness, and there isn't always a source nearby — plan generously and carry a margin.
- Drink to thirst, not to extremes. Regular hydration prevents dehydration, but overhydrating is also dangerous — the guidance is drink when thirsty.
- Never drink untreated backcountry water. Even clear water can carry giardia, cryptosporidium, bacteria, and viruses — treat it.
- Plan for the worst-case source. An unreliable or dry refill mid-trip is dangerous — carry enough to reach the next reliable water, and bring treatment gear.
- Hydrate in the cold too. Cold blunts thirst but you still lose water — plan hourly stops year-round.
- Avoid energy drinks — water or sports drinks for hydration.
Going deeper
- Two questions plan your water: how much between refills, and are the refills reliable? Answer both from the map and forecast before you go.
- "Camel up" at reliable water. Drink your fill and top off bottles at a good source, especially before a long dry or uphill stretch, so you carry less weight between.
- Cold hides thirst. The winter trap: you don't feel thirsty, so you fall behind — hourly sips keep you ahead even when it's cold.
Official source
The Scout 10 Essentials — Scouting Magazine →Carry a bottle of at least a quart, two or more for long/hot/arid/high trips. Treat all backcountry water before drinking.