Well, I’m still an F.N.G. with only 18 flights paragliding. BUT… I backpack and hike a lot, sometimes on several day adventures, and I am into backcountry snow sports. I have never found out what it’s like to totally run out of water, but it obviously sucks!

I just retrieved a hang glider today, on Pine mountain, not even that far away from Crestline and regionals. After a 4 hour hike and an hour wasted going the wrong way, Our brother became severely dehydrated even though there was a very fortunate groomed dirt road to walk down to town because he didn’t carry any emergency water. Surely, he would have drank the entire minimum of 3 liters that you should definitely be carrying every single time you fly. Put a bladder in your harness.

After not a scratch on an emergency crash landing, you could easily die of dehydration getting out of wherever you wind up, which could be worse than not!

Furthermore, 3 liters is NOT much in heat and hiking conditions. (Let alone EMERGENCY conditions) Everyone should totally be carrying a U.V. sterilization pen or iodine to treat water you might come across to drink. It should be boiled thoroughly, but if not, then the U.V. pen or iodine might save your life.

Once again, our brother came across water from a large spring toward the bottom of the mountain, extremely thirsty, but did not drink. (that might have killed him without sterilization!) I smelled the obvious smell of a dead animal in the area, exactly what can make water deadly, that along with feces, coyote shit, etc. etc.

Just had to point out the lesson I re-learned thoroughly today. It’s got to be self explanatory!