The Kokoda Track is daunting and dangerous, and must be tackled with caution. Source: HWT Image Library

TOO much water, rather than not enough, may be the cause of deaths on the Kokoda Track, doctors say.

Reports of deaths often list dehydration as a suspected cause, but doctors have warned this could "perpetuate a dangerous culture" when the exact opposite could be to blame.

Drinking too much water can lead to exercise-associated hyponatraemia (EAH) and hikers on the famous track were just as likely – if not more so – to suffer this potentially fatal condition, according to Melbourne’s Dr Eric Seal.

It was common for trekkers to start every day carrying more than four litres of water, he said, creating an "environment of excess water" as they undertook the demanding hike in heat.

‘Well meaning guides and colleagues could also encourage over-hydration while the early symptoms of EAH looked like heat exhaustion, and so could prompt even more fluid intake.

"The unexplained deaths in 2009 of four previously well hikers on the Kokoda Track in similar conditions provide urgency to the need to raise awareness of the association between over-hydration and EAH," Dr Seal and colleagues said in the Medical Journal of Australia.

Friends of Tryon Creek is partnering with Muddy Boots Family Nature Club to provide children and families an opportunity to get out of the house and take a hike in Tryon Creek State Natural Area. "Let's ditch our televisions and computers and connect with other parents who are interested in formative outdoor experiences for their children!”, says Matthew Collins, the Education Coordinator for the Friends of Tryon Creek. Hikers will have a chance to get their hands (and boots!) dirty while learning about worms in winter and exploring their habitat. the hike is on Saturday, February 5, 2011 and is open to the public but enrollment is limited. Pre-registration is required at . Outdoor Education is key for our mental and physical health. Benefits include reduced symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children as young as five years old; increased self-esteem, self confidence, independence, autonomy and initiative in teens; and marked improvement in social studies, science, language arts and math (information from the NOCLI task force: ode.state.or.us/gradelevel/hs/nocli-task-force-ppt.pdf). Children that have positive, direct experiences in the outdoors are more likely to protect the environment as adults, which is particularly noteworthy in light of the challenges facing the environment today. throughout the year the Friends of Tryon Creek provide educational opportunities for children and families to learn about the natural world and their relationship to it. the partnership with Muddy Boots showcases the park’s offerings and encourages engagement with the outdoors. come explore with us!

Tryon Creek State Natural Area is located at 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd in southwest Portland. the 675-acre park currently welcomes over 385,000 visitors each year and is home to over 200 species of birds, mammals and amphibians. it includes hiking trails, a paved bicycle path and horse trails. the Friends of Tryon Creek was founded in1969 by a group of forward-thinking individuals who came together with a passion to preserve a unique and historic forested canyon between Portland and Lake Oswego and turn it into a park. Today, the Friends, a private non-profit that receives no state funding, continues to utilize the park as a classroom for their environmental education programs for all ages as well as leading efforts to conserve and restore the park to its original pristine setting. for more information about the Friends of Tryon Creek please visit tryonfriends.org.