The definition of expert can take many forms. For one, it could mean having many years under your belt. On the other hand, it could climb many peaks in a short amount of time, increasing the hours spent on the trails, but not the longevity of the activity. An experienced hiker constitutes both of these aspects, both longevity and peaks covered. In any activity, repetition means experience and practice, and hiking is no different. To go on a hike, you need to follow an almost religious regime, keeping your calorie intake around 3000 and your fitness at an optimal level. You also need to maintain a consistent level of hydration if you want to beat the heat of the Arizona sun. Even if it is not hot, the amount of energy that is expended during a hike is on the order of magnitude and the hiker must be careful about overexertion. Knowing your limits while hiking requires experience, and experience is gained through repetition of the activity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Proper hydration, or lack thereof, is another important factor in expert hiking. Dehydration symptoms to watch out for while hiking or backpacking include dry mouth, dizziness or lightheadedness, and headaches. The amount of water needed per person varies between individuals, but from personal experience, it is acceptable to carry a 2-liter water bladder for a 3-4 hour morning hike. The time of day is also an important factor in water consumption. Outside of the Arizona heat, it would be optimal to consume more water in the midday or early afternoon than in the early morning or late afternoon, where temperatures are much cooler. If I were to exercise for 60 minutes, based on my body weight (130 pounds) and environmental conditions (hot and dry), it would be wise for me to consume about three liters of water over the course of the day to replace what I have lost. But in the morning, when it's much cooler, considering the same variables, I should only drink about 2 liters. One effect to watch out for is a condition called hyponatremia. Hyponatremia is “a disease that mimics the early symptoms of heat exhaustion. It is the result of low sodium levels in the blood caused by drinking too much water and losing too much salt through sweating. While this may coincide with your diet, you should be careful to eat during the hike as well, as eating salty foods along the way is just as important. Just like driving a car from point A to point B requires a specific amount of energy (provided by gas), your body requires a specific amount of energy to get from point A to point B. "Using a little physics and math , we could actually calculate how much energy it would take to carry you, a 150-pound hiker with a 15-pound backpack, from the Mount Whitney trailhead at 8,360 feet, all the way to the summit at 14,494 feet... and venture at a reasonable consumption of 1800 calories needed for this feat. Even though it may have only taken 1800 calories to climb that mountain, you actually burn a lot more energy during that hike. This is the “basal metabolic rate”. energy needed to keep your body alive. Your heart needs energy to pump, your brain needs energy to keep your brain cells working, and your muscles need energy to keep working. “A 26 year old male who weighs 155lbs and is 6'2? tall, my basal metabolic rate is.