[pct-l] Golite/GVP (was no-subject)

[steve_peterson at sbcglobal.net (Steve Peterson)]

This is quickly moving away from the original subject, but regarding 8 liters or 
not, I think it probably depends on the temps and one's physiology/personal 
preferences about how hydrated they like to be.

I find that even though I'm camelling up before my training hikes (8 hours, 
3000-4000 feet of gain and similar loss in 75-80 degrees), drinking 1/2 liter 
per hour and still ending up pretty dry. I'd hate to do that in 95 degrees then 
cook, then do another 4-6 hours the next day on a total of six liters (not 
saying it can't be done, just saying based on my testing so far, I'd prefer to 
have the extra water). Also, I note from various trail journals that those who 
don't rely on caches tend to carry (at times) between 6 and 8 liters and are 
mighty glad they did.

As to where to put the bottles, I know you can cram them into a pack; the 
question is, what's it like to carry the resulting load? I prefer to have very 
little weight on my shoulders, so the water (and other heavy stuff) needs to be 
very close to a line that drops vertically through the pivot point of the pack 
(where it rests on the small of the back) in order not to pull the pack away 
from the back thus putting more of a load on the shoulders. Some packs have the 
side pockets located such that the bottles end up farther aft than they should 
be (from a balance point of view), some side pockets don't hold 2-liter bottles, 
etc. I'm planning to put the 2L bottles in the side pockets (close to the 
balance line), my 2L platy w/sip tube  and a 2L soda bottle in the top of the 
pack, stacked near my back. Tests so far have shown that packed this way, with 
the rest of my gear and food, the pack is almost perfectly balanced. That is, I 
can set it on the floor, angle it forward about 10 degrees (the angle of my back 
as I hike) and it balances almost by itself. This results in no load on my 
shoulders, other than that required to hold the pack to my back.

Other people, of course, prefer (or are willing) to take more of the load on 
their shoulders, and for them, this delicate balancing nonsense is unnecessary.
--Steve

Slyatpct@aol.com wrote:
>    In a message dated 7/31/2004 8:04:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
> steve_peterson@sbcglobal.net writes:
> 
>> Also, I'm curious how well the Starlite (or most other packs, for that 
>> matter)
>> will handle 8 liters of water: Where do you put it? How balanced 
>> (fore/aft) is
>> the pack when carrying the water? (Will those side pockets handle 
>> 2-liter soda
>> bottles without them flopping around?)
> 
> 
> 
> Steve,
> 
> IMO, It's not likely you'll ever need to carry 8 liters of water on the 
> PCT.  The most I ever carried was 6 on the 35 mile waterless stretch 
> according to the data book.  This included cooking and camping about 
> half way.  I even gave away a liter.  My system is 2 single liter 
> plastic soda bottles, a 2 liter platy type collasible bag and a 
> temporary 2 liter plastic soda bottle.  The singles went in the side 
> pockets and the 2 liters in the pack. 
> 
> Camel up.
> 
> Sly