[pct-l] How do water caches work?

[surferskir at aol.com]

Way to go Gray..!
Us in our late 60s, early 70s may not hike fast, but we do hike smarter.
Of course we have the time, and aren't racing to Canada.

--Dennis--


-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Graybill <rgraybill44 at gmail.com>
To: sbryce <sbryce at scottbryce.com>
Cc: PCT MailingList <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Fri, Mar 29, 2013 8:51 am
Subject: Re: [pct-l] How do water caches work?


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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