Stan:

It's my understanding that the typical western diet includes such a
large overdose of salt (sodium chloride) that loss of salt through
sweating isn't usually enough to deplete the body's reserves, even in
hot climates. I believe that loss of potassium salts is usually the
problem.

I've lived in South Africa and now in Arizona and I drink nothing but
water when exercising or gliding. My only problem is that I have
suffered from mild leg cramps (usually at night), and most usually
after a long hike in hot, dry conditions.

I fixed this problem by upping my consumption of potassium-rich foods
(like dried apricots). I've never had to drink any of the sports
drinks, some of which look to me like anti-freeze. It probably doesn't
hurt that my favorite hiking snack is salted peanuts!

I wonder if some of the problems glider pilots experience result from a
combination of moderate dehydration together with mild hypoxia?

Mike

ASW 20 WA