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

Wed Jan 12 07:02:40 CST 2011

as shroomer said,   be ready for it to get down into the 20's for the first few 
weeks.

fortunately the hardcore dessert doesn't start until after the first few weeks.
 i was plenty warm in a TNF denali jacket;  but this year i'm going with a 
montbell down jacket to save the ten ounces.

goodluck and i'll see you out there !
~Paul

________________________________
From: Melanie Clarke <melaniekclarke at gmail.com>
To: leestcoast at gmail.com
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net; pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net; Diane Soini of Santa 
Barbara Hikes <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
Sent: Tue, January 11, 2011 11:34:48 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] So. Calif. Desert Water Caches

Dear Cruz Control,

86 to 97 is nothing.  I will be able to make great time in anything under
100 degrees.  Maybe this won't be so bad.

How cold does it get in the evening?  I hike until I go to bed so I'm
wondering if I should bring a down jacket.  I've always brought a down
jacket out of paranoia in the Sierra but I'm thinking I can make due with a
down vest and a fleece jacket.  Any suggestions?  I remember Diane
commenting how cold it gets in the desert at night.

Melanie

On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 8:27 PM, <leestcoast at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Melanie, besides Diane's sage advice, you might want to factor in the
> following on thinking about what your water carryload is going to be: if you
> encounter heat (for me high 80's +) are you hiking during the heat of the
> day or laying up until it gets cooler and hiking on after dinner for a
> couple of hours? Are you willing/planning on hiking anywhere from 1/4 to 1
> mile off trail to a spring etc for a water fillup? Are you going to drycamp
> in a certain stretch (in which case you'll need more water, particularly if
> you are cooking)? And remember, somewhat like food, the faster you are
> moving on the trail, the less water you will need to carry between water
> sources. My limited relevant experience was section hiking B in '07 in
> mid-May. Noon hour temps were 86 to 97F.  The max I carried was 4 liters,
> even when dry camping (I was stoveless - very dry that year). And, as I
> think Diane has indicated, the Trail will clarify how you need to proceed,
> what you need to carry.  Enjoy your time on the Trail - it will be your
> teacher and partner.
> Cruz Control
> Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone, powered by CREDO Mobile.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Melanie Clarke <melaniekclarke at gmail.com>
> Sender: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net
> Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:47:08
> To: Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes<diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
> Cc: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] So. Calif. Desert Water Caches
>
> Dear Diane,
>
> I'm planning on joining the K.O. to do the Southern CA section so there
> should be a lot of hikers.  I can't take too much time away from work.
>  Most
> of my hiking has been in the Sierra with plentiful water sources.  I've
> taken the family on day hikes in Death Valley, Zion, Bryce etc. but we were
> never very far from our car or water.  I have postholer's water source
> lists
> and have been studying Halfmile's maps.  I'm good with heat but I do sweat
> a
> lot and have to drink a lot of water.  In a dry heat, I won't see any sweat
> but I still drink a lot of water.  I can hike comfortably in 100 degrees.
> I'm a little uncomfortable at 110 degrees but can pretty much soldier on
> without symptoms of heat stroke.  I am able to drink almost 2 liters at a
> water source and "camel" for a while.  Still, I think I'll take at least 5
> liters out of paranoia and keep it full.  When I do the entire PCT after I
> retire I'll have the experience of my water needs in the desert.  Wow, 9
> liters is well over 2 gallons so I think I'm "figuring" just about right.
>
> Melanie
>
> On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 4:00 PM, Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes <
> diane at santabarbarahikes.com> wrote:
>
> > I will assume you aren't going right now like the original person said.
> The
> > original person said that they were ready to hike that section now. Right
> > now any stream that was indicated as seasonal would be in season at this
> > moment and there might be a few streams not mentioned in the various
> guides
> > that would have some bonus water. Also, right now the weather is pretty
> cool
> > of not downright cold.
> >
> > As for how much water you need, what you need to do is get the latest
> water
> > report before you go so you know where the water is. Then you need to
> know
> > yourself. How much water do you normally drink? Are you from the east
> coast
> > or the Pacific Northwest and not used to hiking in the warm sun? You can
> > usually reach one water source each day. Even if they are more than 20
> miles
> > apart, you will be able to do it.
> >
> > I am from So Cal, I am used to the conditions, I don't have a problem
> being
> > a little dehydrated when I hike. It doesn't bother me. I'm used to the
> hot
> > sun. I wear long pants and long sleeves and a large hat to optimize my
> > ability to stand it. I will drink out of guzzlers and other sources (I
> can't
> > believe I met hikers who did all of So Cal without ever having to drink
> out
> > of anything they found objectionable like a guzzler. They did it all on
> > water caches and faucets.) When I hiked in 2008 I didn't find it terribly
> > hot most of the time. It was fairly pleasant. There were a few days that
> > were hot. Deep Creek day was 103. I had 5.5 liters of capacity and that
> was
> > too much. I managed to keep it close to full, too, out of paranoia. Man,
> was
> > that heavy! I returned the following year with only 3.5 liters of
> capacity
> > and made sure I drank a liter at every water source so I didn't have to
> > carry so much. That worked better for me.
> >
> > Other people carried 9 liters and drank every drop. So to answer the
> > question, you have to know yourself.
> >
> > Good luck with your hike!
> >
> >
> >
> > 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
> >>
> >> On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 8:00 PM, Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes <
> >> diane at santabarbarahikes.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>  After the rain we've had, you can do that section without water
> >>> caches. Heck, you can do it without water caches during thru-hiker
> >>> season, too.
> >>> Diane
> >>>
> >>> On Jan 10, 2011, at 6:14 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>
> >>>> When do the desert water caches begin to be replenished for the 2011
> >>>> season...? I'm ready to do Scissors to San Jacinto now.
> >>>>
> >>>> Oregon Bound
> >>>>
> >>>
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