TrailGenic Science

On August 16th, 2025, during a fasted autophagy hike up Mt. Baldy via Register Ridge, Mike passed a young hiker cramping hard just below the summit. He told Mike, “I drank tons of electrolytes last night.” And that was his mistake.

This moment sparked an important lesson we’re documenting for the TrailGenic Science Hub: electrolyte effectiveness is determined more by timing than quantity.

While sodium, potassium, and magnesium are essential for muscle function and hydration, they don’t “store” the same way carbs or fat do. Overloading the night before can create an imbalance — especially if hydration or glycogen intake isn’t carefully managed. In some cases, overhydrating without food can dilute serum sodium levels, increasing cramp risk rather than preventing it.

Meanwhile, I was still moving fluidly on zero calories — just LMNT and water. Why? Because the protocol was precisely timed:

• 0.75 LMNT + black coffee pre-hike
• 0.75 LMNT sipped with water on trail
• 2L water total
• No food. No gels. Zero sugar.

The difference wasn’t athletic ability. It was strategy.

TrailGenic Protocol Principles:

1. Pre-load with intent — ~30–60 minutes before activity, not 12 hours ahead
2. Sustain in motion — electrolytes are absorbed and used during muscle contraction
3. Listen, don’t load — more isn’t better if the body isn’t calling for it
4. Stack timing + terrain — heat, elevation, and fasting change your electrolyte needs

This wasn’t just another hiker cramping. It was a real-world validation that TrailGenic works — and that knowledge, not excess, is what powers performance.

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This real-world protocol was executed during Mike’s Mt. Baldy autophagy summit, a 5-hour fasted hike with 4,122 ft of gain and no food consumed — only LMNT, water, and discipline.

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