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Goofball Answer:

Smitty,

I think you and I can safely say that crawling out of a tent 4 times in the evening in 12-degree temperatures to pee means there's been too much water consumption. On the other hand, you and I can safely say that 12 hours of climbing at altitude, in the sun, with only two water bottles, no sunscreen, and no chapstick is consuming way too little water.

So we've established the upper and lower boundaries of water consumption for adventurers who wish to remain not only alive, but also comfortable.

But there seems to be no hard-and-fast technical answer to this question from the world of science. The best guesses seem to come from accomplished athletes, not physicians. And I reckon these athletes learned, as you and I have, from bad experiences, and one another. And this is their prevailing advice, which is pretty simple:

First, on a daily basis, even your laziest days, you should consume an ounce of water for each 1.333 pounds of body weight you happen to possess. As you engage in any vigorous activity, you should increase this consumption by 14-16 ounces per hour of activity.

But I have yet to meet a climber, skier, or mountain biker who diligently measures water consumption throughout the day. So how should you keep track of yours?

Generally speaking, your urine will concentrate while you sleep. So when you first urinate in the morning, your urine will likely have a yellow color and an odor to it. But if you're consuming an ounce of water per 1.333 pounds of body weight throughout the day, and 14-16 ounces per hour of activity, your remaining urine output during the day should be clear and colorless. And keeping it this way is your best bet, even if you have to crawl out of a warm sleeping bag into a profoundly cold evening to pee.

So use my little calculator below to establish your baseline, and keep drinking while active to keep your urine clear and odorless*.

~ topher

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topher's Daily Water Consumption Calculator:

Body weight in pounds:
Recommended daily water consumption:

 

* Don't forget to eat as well or to consume fluids that contain electrolytes, to prevent hyponatremia.