[pct-l] Thrill seeking and water caches

[Brett Tucker" <blisterfree@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (Brett Tucker)]

Water caches, it might be said, are the PCT's hikers way of living on the
edge. Same for the suppliers. The suppliers risk their necks and their
vehicles, driving high into the parched, remote and rock-strewn hills, all
to deliver an unreliable commodity which the hikers, those of them who
choose to join the suppliers "on the edge," expect to find as though their
lives depend on it. Which they might, if arriving at any and all cache
locations without sufficient water in the pack to enable pushing on toward
the next truly reliable source, should the cache be dry.

Water-stashing trail angels are, of course, fine folks who deserve
recognition for their valiant efforts. At the same time, some of us feel it
is important for all concerned parties to likewise recognize the increased
potential for danger when we ostensibly attempt to increase the potential
for safety, via the caches.

Notice to 2003 thru-hikers: caches are great sources of "emergency" water,
for use when something goes wrong, for when best laid plans fall apart. This
is worth jotting down on a small piece of paper and carrying on the hike in
a shirt pocket, as a reminder. Otherwise, it may soon be forgotten when the
weather gets hot, the distance between natural water sources increases, and
the devil sitting on one's shoulder in Tehachapi says, "Go for it, dude!
Trail angels always come through!"

- blisterfree





Yes but she's only mortal, and last year during a hot spell she didn't think
she should go out and fill them by herself, so she waited for the weekend
when
she could get some help... and a number of through-hikers found both caches
dry during that very hot week.    Going south from KM I heard about that
from
several people, so on Saturday
when I got to my car at Walker Pass I bought all the
bottled water I could find in Weldon (both gallons!) and hauled it up to
Bird Spring Pass, only to find that she'd just gotten there to resupply
a few minutes earlier!   It was quite a haul in a passenger car, and
it overheated, and to restart it I had to coast it down the hill but
fortunately at the bottom it had air-cooled enough to restart.
Then I went over to Kelso Pass to unload the rest of the water, and
caught up with Mary resupplying there too!     So I drove out along
the old Jawbone Canyon route from the 1974 guide and by the looks of it,
no matter what you think of the current route, it's quite an improvement
over the old one.    I get thirsty just thinking of it.