In years past we were always encouraged to drink lots of fluids, including water and electrolyte replacement drinks. Hikers and packers began drinking more fluids, but another problem surfaced. It's called hyponatremia. When the temperatures climb, hikers drink lots of water, but eat little.

Even those in good condition start staggering and spinning from an electrolyte imbalance. Their bodies have and excess of water, diluting nutrients and electrolytes. When you're hiking in the canyon country in the heat of summer your body can sweat off several liters of fluids and hour. Lost with that sweat are sodium, chloride, and potassium.

Eventually, if you keep pumping water into your body with no food behind it, fuel runs out. It causes convulsions, vomiting, unconsciousness, and other assorted problems. The best solution is to not only drink quantities of water and electrolyte replacement fluids throughout a hike, but to eat high energy and salty foods along the way.