[pct-l] Water Consumption - desert

[Ken Powers]

For what its worth,  here are our guidelines for water usage for 2 of us:
Dinner (rehydrating food plus a hot drink, plus cleanup) - 4 cups
breakfast (hot drink) - 2 cups
overnight  - several sips

The rest of the day - about 1 gallon.

We waste no water. We drink any water used to clean dishes and use (and 
reuse) moist towellettes to wipe our faces and legs.

We have hiked several times in HOT desert conditions (CA, AZ, UT, NV, WY. 
ID) with temps of  100 - 115 degrees.

On our ADT hike we cached 2-3 gallons per 20 miles in UT & NV.  We found 2 
gallons/day we could survive on, but 3 gallons/day was more comfortable. Our 
mileage tended to be greater than 20 miles/day so in a couple of places we 
had extra water. Less experienced hikers who hiked the ADT the next year 
told us they needed more water.

Desert Survivors, desert hiking group, say to plan for 1 gallon/day/person. 
I think our water usage is lower than almost everyone else's, so YMMV.

Ken
www.GottaWalk.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <dnielsen at djmurphycompany.com>
To: <Pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2011 8:51 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Water Consumption - desert


I live in the desert but have never really measured how much water I drink,
I always just have lots of it and try to not get thirsty and camp at water.




Today's test:



85 degrees at start and 90 degrees at finish.

Mixed terrain, good trail, moderate to easy elevation changes.

35 lb pack at start less water weight at finish

47 years old

Well hydrated at start

3 hours hiking

15 minutes resting

8.5 miles hiked

2.83 mph

Water consumed 71 oz.

8.35 oz per mile

21.8 oz per hour

2/3 of this was water and 1/3 was diluted Gatorade.



I had no problems related to hydration. I was intentionally pushing the
fluid as usual and was never really thirsty.



The next number would be water consumed in camp to get a 24 hour
hiking/resting/camping total.



I would like to end up with a number for 24 hours, 15 miles, 90 degrees.  My
guess is 2 gallons.



15 mi x 8.35 per mile = 125 oz

Camp = 32 oz

Dinner = 32 oz

Night - 16 oz

Breakfast/Pre hike hydration 32 oz

Total 237oz = 7.4 quarts

Est = 8 quarts or 2 gallons.



I don't know if anyone else has any good data but I would be interested if
you do.  Of course this can vary by individual and many other things.



Ps. It was 66 degrees and overcast at mile 26 of the PCT at 9:00 a.m today





















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