[pct-l] WATER!

[Donna Saufley]

I very much appreciated the Third Gate cache, and that others would take the
trouble to get the water to that point (thanks specifically to GirlScout who
put water there especially for me).  I do question, however, this "no water
for 24 miles."  The guidebook gives the direction to the ranch below the
trail, and the trail to the ranch is clearly marked with a big "water" sign.
Yes, it's a journey off trail, but it's been done for years, and the ranch
is reported to be very hiker friendly.  

That others took the time and energy to carry the water to the trail, so
that I didn't have to make that hike to the ranch was extremely kind, and
the gratitude I feel is enormous.  It certainly made things easier for me.
But I know in my heart if they hadn't, I still could have made it.

L-Rod

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of jeff.singewald at comcast.net
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 9:38 AM
To: Freiman, Paul; pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] WATER!

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 
> > 
> 
> 

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