• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

NH Snowmobile Association

  • Join a Club
  • Snowmobilers
    • Snowmobile NH
    • Registration
    • Trail Map
    • Trail Conditions
    • Snowmobile Safety
  • News
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Grass Drags & Watercross
    • Ride-In
    • Trails Workshop
    • Annual Meeting
  • NH Grass Drags
    • Grass Drags & Watercross
    • Spectator Info
    • Race Schedule
    • Camping
    • Lodging
    • Racer Info
    • Race Results
    • Vendor Info
    • Sponsorship
    • Swap Meet
    • Directions
    • Fundraising Opportunities
  • Clubs
    • Club Resources
    • Fundraising Opportunities
    • Volunteers
    • Landowners
    • Annual Awards
    • Scholarships
    • Resources
  • Contact
    • Contact Your Club
    • Contact NHSA
    • Advertise
    • Officers and Directors
    • Committees
  • Shop
    • Club Membership
    • Store Account
    • Cart

10 Tips to Stay Hydrated While Snowmobiling

January 26, 2021 by Emily Thompson

10 Tips to Stay Hydrated While Snowmobiling

If you are like me, drinking enough water each day can be a chore. These 10 tips to stay hydrated while snowmobiling may help.

Drinking becomes even more of a challenge when you are bundled in layers of gear, on a snowmobile, in single digit temperatures. Not to mention how difficult the logistics of stopping to urinate can be, especially for us women.

In cold weather, one’s thirst sensation decreases by up to 40%*. In warm weather, there are more obvious indicators of the need to hydrate, such as feeling hot, and fluid losses from sweating.

Taking a hydration break at one of my favorite spots in the state, the Presidential Rail Trail in Randolph, overlooking the Presidential Range.

While on a snowmobile, we don’t always feel warm or notice sweat. Ever notice your breath box filter or balaclava is soaking wet? These are fluid losses from breathing, putting riders that don’t feel thirsty, at higher risk for dehydration. 

Like many of you, I love nothing more than a 100+ mile day of riding, however, consider frequent breaks to stop, sip, and soak in the beauty of your surroundings.

10 Tips to Staying hydrated While Snowmobiling

  1. Take breaks at trail junctions or viewpoints.
  2. Drink water. An electrolyte beverage may be needed for longer, more active rides.
  3. Avoid caffeine in large amounts (coffee, energy drinks) during or before riding. If you want a warm beverage, try decaf coffee or tea.
  4. Avoid alcohol. If drinking the night before, alternate alcoholic drinks with water.
  5. To avoid freezing, wrap non-insulated water bottles in your spare socks or clothing.
  6. To avoid freezing, pack insulated water bottles filled with hot water.
  7. If considering a water bladder system (like a Camelbak), purchase one with an insulated hose, fill with warm water, and continually sip to prevent the hose from freezing.
  8. Pack snacks with a high-water content, like fruit.
  9. Dress warm in moisture-wicking fabrics like wool.
  10. Identify gas stations or convenience stores along your route (check the search feature on the NHSA Map app).
Emily taking a hydration break to soak in the views near Alton, NH.

Signs of Dehydration

  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle cramps
  • Dizziness
  • Dark colored urine
  • Infrequent urination
  • Confusion (in severe cases)

Sources:

*Kenefick et al. Thirst sensations and AVP responses at rest and during exercise-cold exposure. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2004 Sept. PMID: 15354034.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Health, Trail Riding

About Emily Thompson

Emily Thompson is a snowmobiler and registered dietitian nutritionist. She works at The Center for Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, NH as the Lead Bariatric Dietitian. She is one of two Board Certified Specialists in Obesity and Weight Management in the state. She has worked with many clients who also enjoy snowmobiling and are now able to do so a few pounds lighter.

Primary Sidebar

kurtwicksinsurance

Poll

New, Used, Refurbish?
Your sled needs work and you've been considering an upgrade. However the supply chain and economic picture has made the decision more complicated. Do you fix the sled or buy something else?

FOLLOW US

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Tags

Access Arctic Cat Awards Camp Sno-Mo Charity Clubs Design DIY family Freestyle Fundraising Guest Writer Health History Ice ISMA Landowners Let’s Get Cookin Map New Hampshire Snowmobile Museum NH Grass Drags NHSA Office Polaris Race Into Winter Registration Fees Reviews Ride-In RTP Russia Ski-Doo Snowmobile People Snowmobile Rentals Snowmobile Safety Technology Trail Conditions Trailers Trail Riding Trail Work United Snowmobile Alliance Volunteers Watercross Yamaha

Footer

Shortcuts

  • Purpose of New Hampshire Snowmobile Association
  • New Hampshire Snowmobile Association History
  • NHSA Board Minutes
  • Privacy Policy

FOLLOW US

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • History of the Snowmobile, Joseph-Armand Bombardier
  • NH Snowmobile Clubs Raise $88,071 for Easterseals Camp Sno-Mo
  • Follow the Birds to Trailside Rendezvous
  • Epic Snowmobile Excursion on Alaska Range of Denali
  • Inexpensive Snowmobile Phone Mount with Wireless Charging
  • Backpack Tribulations while snowmobiling the Gaspé Quebec
  • Outdoor Recreation a Whopping $862B Industry According to New Data

Tags

Access Arctic Cat Awards Camp Sno-Mo Charity Clubs Design DIY family Freestyle Fundraising Guest Writer Health History Ice ISMA Landowners Let’s Get Cookin Map New Hampshire Snowmobile Museum NH Grass Drags NHSA Office Polaris Race Into Winter Registration Fees Reviews Ride-In RTP Russia Ski-Doo Snowmobile People Snowmobile Rentals Snowmobile Safety Technology Trail Conditions Trailers Trail Riding Trail Work United Snowmobile Alliance Volunteers Watercross Yamaha

New Hampshire Snowmobile Association © 2023

 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.