The beverage base packages that you find in MRE's are flavored electrolyte mixes. You can get them in several flavors, and they come in individual packets. I use them on the water that I've run through my Katadyn filter sometimes. Filters and MP1's make the water "safe" to drink, but, the beverage base packs make it actually a lot more acceptable from a taste perspective. I have tried the fruit punch, grape, and lemon lime flavors. I think they also make orange. You can get them at places like:
http://www7.mailordercentral.com/longlifefood/products.asp?dept=1031

When i was young and cheap, i made my own out of kool aid mix, sugar, regular salt and dieter's salt. It was not too sweet, kind of like gatorade and the two kinds of salt were supposed to replace needed electrolytes. I can't seem to find the recipe, try looking it up on the web.

Gatorade..i take the powder on canoe trips and mix it thick
or thin depending on the weather..cool days i put a tea
bag and sugar in my water bottle and drink and re-fill
untill the bag is tasteless..Tang is not bad..maybe it's
the vitamin C or all the sugar but it perks me up..

That therapist needs some more education. The lime juice only offers flavor via ascorbic acid. It supplies just about zero sodium or potassium... you know, the electrolytes that this thread is about. It doesn't always pay to be cheap.

+1 on Gookinaid/HydraLyte. It's the number one choice of people who make their living operating in the Grand Canyon. In a pinch, diluted Gatorade isn't too bad either but the HydraLyte is a better electrolyte formulation.

That's a good idea. I must have about 3 dozen of those laying around that I'm going to round up and stash. I have always been a plain water man but it wouldn't hurt to pack a few of those in a vehicle in case of an unplanned hike in the desert.

After years working for the Forest Service running forest fire suppression crew all we would use is several grains of salt in our canteens.(if you tast the salt you have used too much) After 5 canteens of water we would drink 1 Gatoraid ( the only thing around at the time) Some time the shifts were 18 Hours in over 100 deg. heat.

Never lost a man to heat stroke.

A lot of conditioning in high heat also helped.

Ahhh, that's key, too. People who are acclimated to hot weather tend to have less "salty" sweat and therefore need less electrolyte replacement. Well, and you may sweat less for a given amount of work because you're used to it. Working 18 hour shifts, day after day, even a small difference in sweat composition can make a difference over time since even small changes in electrolyte balance can really degrade your performance. Well, the water loss is a much bigger worry than electrolytes.

Actually, that reminds me, we should keep in mind two important yet separate issues when we talk about "What should I drink?" There's the issue of water loss and how to keep hydrated as efficiently as possible. The other issue is electrolyte loss, which really isn't going to kick in for most people until at least several hours of strenuous activity in high temps. In your case, where you are exerting yourself for long periods of time on the fire line, then electrolyte replacemenets becomes a true medical issue to keep in mind.

For many/most of us, electrolyte replacement is rarely needed. We don't sweat enough, for long enough, and then we replenish our electrolytes at the next meal. That said, you can add things to plain water, such as salt and sugar, which will allow your body to absorb the water faster than just plain water. So, the issue can get confusing when asking about the best "electrolyte" drink.

Once in boot camp I folded up on a long run and was given a jug of Ringer's lactate to rehydrate with. Seemed to work pretty good.

An ER doctor friend of mine also said pedialyte is a pretty good rehydrating liquid. Hey, if it works for the kids, it should work for the rest of us.

i appreciate all of you who have contributed to the discussion and i say many thanks to you...

the issue arose during a 22 mile r.t. hike that gained 4,100' in 11 miles w/the last 1,000' summiting in the last mile scrambling over rocks and brush. temps rose into the mid to upper 80s, zero shade, and 'fire danger' humidity. that's typical where i day hike - in the los padres forest in southern california.

not only volume depleted - and as arney pointed out - electrolyte depleted as well - which exhibited on the summit as a 3+ muscle cramp in my inner thigh - felt like it was gripped by a lion..

as suggested, and after further research, purchased gookinaid (hydralyte in the us and aquaforce down under) as it seems to have the right stuff. has subtle flavor. will post further after field testing.

thanks again,
bsmith

Dieter's salt?

Lo calorie salt? Or low sodium?