[pct-l] WATER!

[jeff.singewald at comcast.net]

Paul,

You metion in this thread that you would have been in serious trouble if the water at 3rd gate was not there.  I am curious, how much water did you leave SC with to make this 24 mile stretch?  So, often we hear on this list that these water caches should not be counted on.  Did you count on it being there and would have been in trouble if it hadn't been there.

Planning for a 24 mile water stretch is not difficult.  Carry 6-8 litters of water   If you can't carry enough water in the ultra-light pack, use a different pack when it is required to carry more water.  This seems to be more appropriate than putting yourelf at risk.

Don't get me wrong, I think what Charlie does is admirable.  But 400 gallons?  Let's see, if 400-500 people start the hike that is Emergency Water at the rate of nearly a gallon per hiker.  I suppose that this is no longer one of the caches that should be identified as "do not rely on" cache.

Yeah, I'll catch heck with my opinion but given that this is an open list I want share my opinion even if they do differ.

Elevator



-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Freiman, Paul" <pfreiman at ucsd.edu> 

> 
> Charlie needs help. He is going up every Monday thru the season. A gaggle of 
> hikers will go thru between now and the middle of May. The majority of them 
> will go thru between Apr 28 and the week after. 
> 
> 
> --- In SDPeaks at yahoogroups.com, "Paul Freiman" wrote: 
> > 
> > Charlie Jones has 400 gallons of water to carry up this year to the 3rd gate. 
> > 
> > The 3rd gate is on the PCT in the San Felipe Hills where temps often range in 
> the 90s to 
> > 110s. Many people last year thought they were in hell. There is no water 
> during the 24 mile 
> > crossing from Scissors Crossing to Barrel Springs. I remember last year I 
> would have been in 
> > serious trouble if the water had not been there. Now 11 of us did it last 
> weekend, but the 
> > temp was only 80 and I was carrying 5 pounds instead of 35, plus we went the 
> downhill way. 
> > 
> > Charlie is able to park about one mile away, but it is uphill and Charlie is 
> nearing his xx 
> > birthday. ( I only know he is very old). Please help. 
> > 
> > 
> > If you can help the next carry date is Monday 
> > Charles Jones 
> > 
> 
>