Water PCT - Pacific Crest Trail

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#1

How many liters of water should i be prepared to carry on the PCT? Would you recommend carrying a Platypus and a platy reservoir?

Also, is aquamira okay for the desert portion of the trail, or is it better to have a water filter??

Thanks!

LOST

#2

We carried up to 6 liters a day. Most days were about a gallon. We used several kinds of water carriers: platypus, MSR, REI waterbag, etc. The platypus leaked, a bit.

I think you can get by with the aquamira. We used a filter, but after a while we only filtered occasionally, mostly from lakes. The water sources weren’t that bad, (especially after the CDT) and where they were, there frequently was a water cache.

However, this is supposed to be a La Nina year, so very dry. The running springs may not be running. Your experience is likely to be different from ours.

Ginny

#3

If you havent already bought it, buy Yogi’s PCT guide book… pcthandbook.com … She does an awesome job explaining water usage in the desert.

Also, check out postholer.com and pay close attention to snow levels. If there is a lot of snow - then the springs should be ok, if there is little or no snow - then the springs will mostly be dry or drying up.

Most importantly - NEVER count on any water cache.

Enjoy! :cheers

FlowEasy

#4

Last year was considered a very dry year, however the caches were really well stocked for the pack and this is nothing too be too concerned about. I had a max capacity of 7 litres (2 liter platy, 3 liter platy and 2 1 liter gatorades). I only actually carried 7 liters once, heading up out of Palms to Pines highway, and the Forbes Caches ended up being filled, so it was unecessary.

Basically you’re gonna carry (if ur smart) extra water a lot for no reason, other than piece of mind. Don’t wanna roll the dice with the caches.

I used Aquamira the whole trip as did I for the AT. Really don’t need a filter, but I may change my mind if the AM gives me stomach cancer. I think you’ll find treating unecessary once you get past the desert, more or less.

a-train

#5

ginny, does this mean a good chance of a low snow pack in the mtns, therefore an earlier arrival at K.M.?

robohiker

#6

Usually, I’d have 3-4 liters, but I know I reached that 6 liter mark a couple of times. If you read the maps, there are a couple sections that you can “blue blaze” to some water tanks. I can’t remember if they were on the CD maps, or in the guidebooks, but it saved a couple of long carries. If the caches are gone, expect 2 gallons sometimes.

wing it

#7

As to filters, there was only one place I really, badly wanted one. Otherwise, my form of chlorine did me fine. I’d still carry something for the trail after that, but, wow, the sierras were nice. You’ll love it.

wing it

#8

The most water I carried on the PCT at one time was six liters and wow was that heavy. I was carrying lots of food at the same time I was carrying loads of water.

I started out at Campo carrying water in Platypus containers and when they leaked like a sieve at the seams I switched to Gatorade bottles and sometimes a 96oz Nalgene Cantene. The Gatorade bottles were pretty much indestructable which is important when you consider how many spiney and thorney things puncture your highly valuable water containers in the desert.

Datto

Datto