WET + WILD WEDNESDAY - UGH, Do I Really Need To Drink Water?
Summer is officially here! As temperatures sour into the 100's you may find yourself in need of a cool down! Whether it be a hike down the Grand Canyon to Havasu Falls or lounging on the lawn under a sprinkler . . . H2O is the hero of the hour. Learn about the facts of H2O and some ways to make it taste even tasting!
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WELCOME TO WET + WILD WEDNESDAY -
UGH... DO I REALLY NEED TO DRINK WATER?
Yes it came that fast...those days of being couped up in the house, longing for those warmer days are over. But, now that it's here, the temperatures are rising well into the 100's and you are not quite sure if this is really what you envisioned summer would be like.
Maybe you pictured yourself looking summer sultry with your peeps, but in reality you feel like hell has risen to the surface and there's no way you're going outside.
No worries...today is your lucky day, here at DRAEKK we can help you combat the heat! If you are still brave enough to venture outside, maybe take a hike (10 miles there + 10 miles back) to Havasu Falls - pictured. After a long grueling, yet awe inspiring hike, dive into the refreshing turquoise waters at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
Or if you are a bit more tame and would like to leave the summer hiking to the crazy ones, maybe your cool paradise is a bit closer to home. You may be one of the lucky few to have a pool, live near the beach, or even own a sprinkler. Either way there are many, many ways to beat the heat...but, by far the most important is staying hydrated.
About 71 percent of the Earth's surface is covered in water . . .
Your body is made up of 60-70% water . . .
It would seem by conventional wisdom that water, H2O is vital to your health and well-being.
We are told the rule of 8 - 8 glasses of 8 ounces of water is necessary every day.
UGH . . . BUT I HATE WATER, DO I REALLY NEED TO DRINK IT?
Okay, so yes, a large, large amount of people say they hate water or that they don't like the taste of it! Some people will drink a coke or tea and think that well, its liquid right, it's has to hydrate me...
FALSE oh so false.
- Alcohol
- caffeinated Tea
- Coffee
- Soda
- Milk
Dehydration and sunstroke can cause life-long health issues. According to the National Institute of Health, signs of mild to moderate dehydration are:
- Thirst
- Dry or sticky mouth
- Not urinating much
- Darker yellow urine
- Dry, cool skin
- Headache
- Muscle cramps
Signs of severe dehydration are:
- Not urinating, or very dark yellow or amber-colored urine
- Dry, shriveled skin
- Irritability or confusion
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Rapid heartbeat
- Rapid breathing
- Sunken eyes
- Shock (not enough blood flow through the body)
Checkout Bodybuilding.com post by Krissy Kendell, Phd on Everything You Need to Know About Hydration. It's a great tutorial on the benefits of water as well as it has a nifty calculator on your individual water intake needs.
OK FINE HOW DO I MAKE WATER TASTE GOOD THEN?!?!
Were you like the many, many people that sat there during the cold winter months ...anticipating the wonderful heat of summer? Did you envision this goddess like body that never came, well you are in luck - check out our FREE FITNESS VIDEOS and go from slightly flab to fabulously fit!
Get organized, plan your workouts and track your progress + WATER consumption with our CONCEPT24TM Fitness + Nutrition Planner. Use Code: DRAEKKBLOG for 10% off your fitness planner!
WET + WILD WEDNESDAY - Tamolitch Falls / Blue Pool
Want to get away to a WET + WILD Blue Pool?
A magical topez pool awaits you in the heart of an old growth Oregon trail!
Join us to get wet, wild and weird!
WET + WILD WEDNESDAY
WELCOME TO WET + WILD WEDNESDAY
Tamolitch Falls / Blue Pool
Okay so yes, the term Wet + Wild usually has an entirely different meaning...here at DRAEKK we aim to change that meaning. Join us for our Wednesday blogs where we'll show you where you can get outdoors, near water (or even in it) and get some well-deserved exercise.
Ever find yourself looking at other people’s social media, or professional photos of these awe-inspired places, places that you think must be photoshopped... Well join us each Wednesday where we'll show you were these little gems are hidden, some may even be right in your own backyard! But here’s the catch...you have to go walk, run, hike, even bike to get there. The best part...you have to go outside!
Imagine you are running down the trail (or walking) and you come across a turn and this is what you see . .
Tamolitch Falls / Blue Pool
The word BLUE just doesn't do this magical pool justice. BLUE can't begin to tell the story of this breathtaking, translucent water, with a rather constant temperature of 37 degrees.
The Tamolitch Falls (or most of the year known as the Blue Pool) is an odd phenomenon. This is the last of a grouping of three falls on the McKenzie River. All three falls were formed during lava flow (the 1st two falls were formed 3000 years ago and the last was 1500 years ago. The first fall Sahalie Falls stands at 120ft.
Sahalie Falls
The second fall Koosah Fall actually looks more profound even at a shorter 90ft tall.
Koosah Falls
And last but obviously not least, Tamolitch Falls, aka Blue Pool, only has a water fall during high rain season (or after a good snow melt in the late spring / early summer). The McKenzie River goes underground for three miles after the 2nd fall before emerging from the volcanic rock here at the Tamolitch Falls. The water here gets it's translucent topaz color because it has been filtered through that volcanic rock.
Follow the trail over the rocks above the Tamolitch Falls to a rather steep dirt trail down to the base of the pool. Word to the wise...BE CAREFUL!!! These waters are as cold as they are beautiful.
Now we show you the pictures, tease you with the beauty of this place, but how do you get here?
The world famous McKenzie River Trail is located in Oregon just over an hour from Eugene. Once you make it to the town of McKenzie River continue on OR-126 E for 13 miles and turn left at Trailbridge Campground (NF-730). The Tamolitch Falls trailhead will be to your right after you cross the river. This is a roundtrip easy 4 mile hike.
A more difficult 8ish mile hike starts at the Sahalie Falls. The entrance to Sahalie Falls is right off the OR-126, just feet from the roadside parking lot. It will be roughly 4 miles to the pool, where the river disappears underground before coming out at the Blue Pool again.
Okay, if you do decide to get out there and hike, bike, run, walk...you have to stop at some of these other lovely establishments along the way.
Takoda's Restaurant http://www.takodasrainbow.com/
OMGosh can you say amazing food and such a cute country store. A place sure to impress, especially after a long day of hiking.
Belknap Hot Springs http://www.belknaphotsprings.com/
By far the most unique lodging in this area...natural hot springs pumped into a beautiful pool right at the edge of the fast flowing McKenzie River.