Thanks for the link. I rarely suffer leg cramps whilst hiking but am frequently woken in the night with cramp in one calf. More often right than left.
I try to limit my intake of salt due to hypertension and don't drink much in the evenings to avoid having to get up in the night for a pee so that could be one reason.
Worse than that is cramp in the thigh muscle. A few times after an all day strenuous trek I have had cramp whilst driving home. Trying to find a spot to park and hop around and stretch to ease it can be a problem whilst other drivers look at me as if I have gone crazy.

potassium is supposed to be good (bananas and potatoes are better than supplements) but frankly it never helped me. nothing ever prevented the cramps, and i guzzle water like a madwoman, eat plenty of taters and do lots of stretching (and exercise strenuously in the pool whenever possible). but i do know what stops the cramps when they come: flex, don't stretch, your foot. i know it's counterintuitive, but it works. point your toe UP toward your head, not down like a ballerina on point.

g

My late partner had leg cramps for years and no doctor could figure it out. She was taking Fosamx for osteoporosis and got tired of the side effects. The leg cramps disappeared.

When I work out I do stretches for the particular muscle I am using. Optimum time is 30 seconds. My hand/shoulder therapist told me the absolute best time is 30, 30 and 30 (3o seconds stretch, 30 seconds relax and another 30 seconds stretch. Funny, I seem to be the only one in our gym that stretches.

Calcium and Potassium are what makes muscles contract and allow them to flex lack of them can be a possible reason.

I just moved to Catalina for work, I am hiking up and down stairs all day, about 6 miles total. I think that I will grab some emegern-c and see if that helps.