[pct-l] How do water caches work?

[Nikki Eddy]

I absolutely agree...I thought it was  arrogant to say that people who don't carry 7 liters or whatever don't belong. I applaud and admire you for hiking the PCT at your age, AND for trying to make it better for other people. Whatever happens, forget the naysayers! I think you're awesome Ron! 

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 29, 2013, at 7:51 AM, Ron Graybill <rgraybill44 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Several have also written me individually and others have responded to the
> whole list raising questions about the advisability of placing a water
> cache at Hauser Creek.  The problems are 1) Border Patrol emptying or
> slashing the bottles; 2) illegals taking the water meant for PCT hikers;
> and 3) creating an expectation that water will be there when we can't
> guarantee a continuous resource.
> 
> However, I want to question one objection: whether a person is not worthy
> to be on the PCT if they can't make it from Campo to Lake Morena carrying
> all the water they need. Not everyone who hikes legally on the PCT is a
> thru-hiker, not everyone is young and fit.  Being nearly 70 years of age,
> and not doing a lot of hiking recently, I took two days to hike that
> distance.  I drove in to Hauser Creek ahead of time, cached a gallon of
> water, and found it undisturbed by any human or animal when I got there on
> the second day.  Thus I was able to carry less weight for the first 15
> miles.  But it's not a big deal, of course.  I could have made it on to
> Lake Morena with only a little suffering if the water hadn't been there.
> 
> 
> On Thu, Mar 28, 2013 at 11:56 PM, <sbryce at scottbryce.com> wrote:
> 
>>> I think I may have recruited a potential "trail angel" who can stock a
>>> water cache at Hauser Creek, Mile 15.3 of the PCT. (A spot that often
>>> lacks water, especially this year with so little rain.)
>> 
>> 
>> I really don't think a cache at Hauser creek is a good idea.
>> 
>> 1) Anyone who can't make if from Campo to Lake Marena without a cache has
>> no business hiking the PCT.
>> 
>> 2) A cache at Hauser creek is almost as likely to be used by illegals as
>> hikers.
>> 
>> 3) Caching water is like feeding bears. Too many hikers will learn to rely
>> on it. If it isn't kept sufficiently stocked, you will have hikers
>> arriving at the cache expecting to find water, but not finding any. These
>> hikers should be carrying enough to get them through to Lake Morena.
>> 
>> 4) Hauser creek is usually dry during the through hiker season. Hikers
>> should have already planned on not finding water there, unless the water
>> report indicates that Hauser creek is still flowing.
>> 
>> Unless your friend knows for a fact that he can keep sufficient water
>> there during the through hiker season (mid April to mid May), the cache
>> will create a situation where hikers expecting to find water there will
>> come up short. Otherwise, the cache would not be needed.
>> 
>> Water in chaches is typically left in gallon jugs tied together so that
>> they will not blow away when they are empty. Your friend should also be
>> prepared to remove any additional trash left by hikers.
>> 
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Ronald D. Graybill
> Riverside, CA
> (909) 910-9339 (mobile--txt messages ok)
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