[pct-l] In the abundance of water, filter and carry, anyway

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

We're right there with Sean.

You don't know what is ahead. Sure, the creeks are flowing fine, but carry 
plenty of water for when your body wants it. Clear thought and good decision 
making is aided by adequate hydration (as well as electrolytes, etc.).

Our general rule we teach our students is to carry at least two quarts all 
the time. Hydration bladders are really good because you can get that drink 
of water even while walking.

We do not trust unfiltered water, even in winter (even if giardia could be 
coming from our own poor sanitary habits), so any stop for bladder/canteen 
refills requires the pump and time (not such a bad thing, really). Thus, all 
that overflowing water from spring runoff which is on the trail as well as 
all around it, is not a simple "dip-in-and-refill" situation. We haven't had 
a G.I. incident (abdominal cramps, diarrhea, etc.) in many years, but it 
means we assume the weight of a pump.

For water-remote campsites (like scenic ridges, passes, high bowls, peaks 
and the like), we fill the two-and-a-half gallon water bag on the way up as 
well as everything else for evening and night time thirst and two cooked 
meals.

I've experienced dry nights without water and they weren't fun. Whatever the 
body goes through when it gets dehydrated, it doesn't feel good and the 
headache wasn't pleasant.



Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
1106A Ski Run Blvd
South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
    P: 888-996-8333
    F: 530-541-1456
    C: 530-721-1551
    http://www.mountaineducation.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sean 'Miner' Nordeen" <sean at lifesadventures.net>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 11:34 PM
Subject: [pct-l] In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty


> There is something else you could have done that I frequently have done in 
> SoCal sections.  If you find that the temps are causing you to go through 
> too much of your water too fast and that you won't have enough to get to 
> the next water source, you find some shade and STOP.  Wait out the heat 
> and continue on to the next water source when the temps are cooler so you 
> don't need to drink as much.  Do this even if that means hiking into the 
> dark.  And if you are worried that the situation will continue the next 
> day, you force yourself to get up at first light and hike when its cool. 
> I find that I can hike more then half my daily mileage easily during the 
> cool of the early morning and it takes much less time then hiking during 
> the heat of the day since my body doesn't have to work to stay cool at the 
> same time.   Just a thought for your future trips.
>
> As a general rule, I always hike with at least 3L carrying capacity even 
> if I know water will be abundant; though I often dry camp which requires 
> carrying more water into camp.  I'm probably one of the few thru-hikers 
> that still had a 4.5L capacity when hiking Washington last year during the 
> coollness of September; and I obviously never needed all of it.
>
> -Miner
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Check my 2009 PCT Journal out at 
> http://www.pct2009.lifesadventures.net/Journal.php
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
>
> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus 
> signature database 5359 (20100811) __________
>
> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
>
> http://www.eset.com
>
>
>