[pct-l] Water caches

[jeff.singewald at comcast.net]

It is obvious there is a wide range of positions re: water caches, but I am curious about the history of these organized water caches.  So a question or two for the old time thru-hikers (Stryder, Monte Dodge and others).  When did these organized water caches begin to be common place along the PCT?  How in the world did you guys/gals make it to Canada without these water caches?   For those that hike the trail before these water caches became common place, would you prefer to have had the luxury of these caches?

I am not a fan of these caches, but one idea that was brought up earlier has significant merit.  Why not place the water caches off-trail, maybe 1/4 - 1/2 mile off-trail, so that  if you need an emergency cache, you can go off-trail to reach it, without too much difficulty.   This idea would seem to please those that are opposed to on-trail caches as well as those that feel a strong desire to provide emergency assistence to thru-hikers.

This is not all that much different than support provided at Hiker Heaven or the Andersons or even the Manns.  You would need to detour off-trail to take advantage of this trail-angel support, rather than placing the assistence right atop the trail like so many of these caches.

Elevator
-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Postholer" <public at postholer.com> 

> Water caches; a quote directly from the pen of the Mann's: 
> 
> "I knew which caches were fairly reliable, and where the alternate off-trail 
> water sources were, if a cache was empty." 
> 
> By this description the on-trail cache has become the source. Going 
> off-trail is 'the alternate' to the cache! 
> 
> Are the cache maintainers 'getting it' yet? If you really care about helping 
> hikers, fix it. You're a small group and you probably communicate. You 
> already know what needs to be done. Change this before you can't. 
> 
> The Mann's complete post: 
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/2007-December/012135.html 
> 
> -postholer 
> ------------------------------------ 
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