[pct-l] Water Report vs Water Plan

[Eric Lee]

Scott wrote:
>
This year was a 2nd consecutive extreme dry year which created a very unique
opportunity. It allowed me to collect locations of thousands natural water
sources that were flowing for northbound thru hikers.
>

Every year on my section hike it's the same routine: look at my
map/guide/etc., see how far away the next documented water source is
(usually farther than I'd like), load up with enough water to make it there,
and then walk past like five undocumented sources with my heavy load (grrr).

It would be nice to know exactly the minimum amount of water I could get
away with at all times, but I actually do appreciate the fact that
HalfMile's maps (and others) are very conservative about what they list as a
reliable water source.  I'd *much* rather lug water past a few good ones
that I didn't know were there rather than make plans based on a supposed
source that turns out to be dry.  It's definitely best to be conservative.

The problems with greatly expanding the documented list of water sources are
these:
* This year was dry down south but not unusually dry in northern Oregon and
Washington.  I wouldn't consider this year to be the "worst case scenario".
* The smaller seasonal streams can vary quite a bit from year to year even
if the overall meteorological conditions were pretty much the same.  Local
precipitation variations or even differences in how the snow drifted during
the winter can change things pretty drastically.  Yeah, they may be there
many years, but not always.
* Once the thrus get out of southern California they're spread out over
several weeks, and of course section hikers use the trail pretty much
anytime it's hikeable. The smaller sources that were there when you hiked
past them might not be there for people coming along much later.

I'm curious to see what you come up with, but be prepared for a lot of rage
directed your way whenever your list leaves someone out of water when they
didn't plan to be.  Thru-hikers can be a mite touchy about that sort of
thing.  :-)

Eric