[pct-l] So. Calif. Desert Water Caches

[Paul Robison]

asabat;s water report will be plenty up to date by about april first.

it was enormously helpful!

but yes, i arrived at 2 empty caches,  both times i soldiers on with my 1 to 1.5 
liters of water and never had a real problem.

~Paul






________________________________
From: Kevin Cook <hikelite at gmail.com>
To: Melanie Clarke <melaniekclarke at gmail.com>
Cc: Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>; 
pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Wed, January 12, 2011 1:56:21 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] So. Calif. Desert Water Caches

I may not have been clear. Carrying that volume of water was for 2 full
days. ie leave water early AM, hike all day, dry camp, hike most of the next
day to reach the car.

According to the data book, there are only 2 places where water is more than
30 miles apart, miles ~1380 and ~1840. By that time, 30 mile days won't be
out of the question. Halfmile's map show's a 32 miles stretch in the San
Felipe hills early in the hike. Other than those, I don't see any stretches
that would take 2 entire days of hiking to reach.

Looking closer at Halfmile's maps, I think some of his water locations
include caches. I don't know if I want to rely on them. I know a lot of
hikers do, but it's also a general rule not to. How does one resolve that
dichotomy? hmmmm

I'll have a little time in CA before I start hiking. I have been thinking I
might cache some water myself. After looking at the maps some more tonight,
that's sounding like an even better plan. It looks like I'll have to study
the maps a bit more and decide where I want to place my own caches.

I don't want this post to imply I'm ungrateful to, unappreciative of, or
that I lack confidence in the kind souls that maintain the water caches in
socal. My concern is the section before Warner Springs. I'll be hiking that
before ADZPCTKO, so I will not have heard the water report. When do the
trail angels start stocking water caches for the season?

As of today I have 99 days until I start hiking. I think I'm getting
nervous. :P

Melanie, in hindsight, your planned capacity sounds good to me. I'll have my
2L bladder w/tube, another 6L water bag, and a 1L bottle for flavored
drinks. Hopefully I'll never fill it, but I'll feel more comfortable knowing
I can if I need to.

On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 9:29 PM, Melanie Clarke <melaniekclarke at gmail.com>wrote:

> *
>
> How much water is very subjective, so it's hard to answer.
>
> The Canyon is one of my primary stomping grounds. Water is always an issue
> there. I've hiked with many different people there, and we all need
> different amount. I tend to need more water then a lot of people. The
> general rule is a gallon a day, but I am much more comfortable with at
> least
> 5, and I will often carry 6. On a recent trip, we knew our hike out would
> require a dry camp half way to the car. I carried a little over 9 liters
> away from the creek before beginning the climb. I drank every drop! My
> hiking partner left the creek with only 7 or 8 liters and was fine.*
>
> Well, my initial reaction was to bring along a capacity for about 2 gallons
> of water.  7 liters is about 2 gallons so I am probably in the "heavy user"
> category.  Maybe for my first run through the desert I should go with the 2
> gallons or 7 liters in those dry areas indicated by Halfmile and Postholer
> or was it Asabat?
>
> Thank you everyone,
> Melanie
>
> On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 5:26 PM, Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes <
> diane at santabarbarahikes.com> wrote:
>
> > I don't think I could drink a liter every 3 or 4 miles. I would get very
> > sick. 3 liters in a whole day, including meals, plus a liter of lemonade
> at
> > a water source is about right. For ME.
> >
> > On Jan 11, 2011, at 5:11 PM, Paul Robison wrote:
> >
> >  i have heard several people say 3 miles per liter.
> >>
> >> personally i couldn't drink more than 4 miles per liter...   in
> temperate
> >> weather i would go 2 liters for ten miles.
> >>
> >> ... this assumes you camp somewhere where you can drink your fill.
> >>
> >> one opinion of many;
> >> make your own decisions about safety;  lack of water is no joke.  this
> is
> >> what i
> >> do, and not a recommendation , blah blah ; )
> >> ~Paul
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On Jan 11, 2011, at 7:22 AM, Melanie Clarke wrote:
> >>
> >>  Dear Diane,
> >>>
> >>> How much water should I bring during some of those long stretches
> >>> of no
> >>> water?  About 2 gallons?  I don't want to have to depend on water
> >>> caches.
> >>>
> >>> Melanie
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
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