AZT water/data book

imported
#1

Been pouring over the maps and guidebook, a few more questions out there to folks who may have done the trail already:
-Would you advise taking a filter or would chemical treatment be enough (I’m picturing nasty horse troughs…)
-What was the longest waterless stretch you had to go?
-The last data book on-line was updated in June of this year, anyone know if it is likely to be updated before June of next year?

The maps the AZT put out are amazing - profiles, water sources, declination readings… really helpful!

thanks all

She-ra

#2

I hiked from Utah to Mormon Lake in late Nov/early December. Carried a filter. I found snow to be very useful north of the Grand Canyon for cooking and to extend my carried drinking water. Many of the tanks or lakes were frozen but I filtered at Dog Lake, breaking through the ice. I would imagine the same to be true for the higher parts down south. I cached water at Cedar Ranch, Moqui Station and Grandview Tower- the tanks in between are very chunky brown cow water. 2-3 gals of my cache were left at each location. Schultz tank north of Flag had reasonable water and again the snow was useful. Lakes between Flag and Mormon Lake have good water but are shallow and may be frozen. If you can carry sufficient drinking water and use snow for cooking, significant distances between water sources can be made. In spring there was running water in the running sources so I was able to avoid the tanks. I would say most tanks need filtering but I’m a water weenie. Take a good look at th distances between definite water sources and judge your level of acceptable risk given your pace. Happy hiking!

no hurry

#3

On a few of the passages I have done, when getting water from stock ponds I was VERY happy to have both a filter and chemicals to treat the water, and at times even with doing both I would only use the water after it was boiled… I’m heading out for New Year’s and will have both options with me. I figure the water situation in winter can be tough (if you are in a no snow area) that I would rather have the ability to drink what ever is on the trail, and like no hurry I too am a water weenie.

Phoenix Rising

#4

The data book was revised as of 1/8/09 based on feed back from hikers. It will be updated again in the near future.

The Current Water sources have been updated, and include info from B. Zinn and No Hurry.

Both are found on links in the Thru-Hikers page of the Az Trail Assoc web site.

Fred G