pct veterans :where was your longest waterless hike in So CAL ? ?and how tough was it ? ??
cheeserTOM
Your longest waterless hike in SoCal
system
#2
Because there were several water caches in Southern California, it really wasn’t that much of a problem. Our biggest waterless stretches were up north - Hat Creek Rim was about 30 miles and the stretch north of Crater Lake in Oregon was also a long one.
We routinely carried 1 - 1 1/2 gallons of water in S. Cal. We couldn’t be sure that there would be water at the caches, and so we were prepared to go all the way, just in case. At the caches we would normally take a quart or less. You get used to carrying the weight fairly quickly.
Ginny
system
#4
Without water caches, the longest waterless stretch in SoCal would normally be in the Kelso valley Rd. / Bird Spring Pass area (South of Walker Pass @ around mile 620). Before a local woman named Mary started putting caches at both of these roads, it was around a 30 mile waterless stretch. (specifically from FS road 29S05 to Yellow Jacket Spring (seasonal) or McGyver Cabin which has certain water. I’m not sure of the current status on Mary’s Caches.
As for the Hat Creek Rim, there is a well maintained cache know as “Cache 22” and as for the Crater Lake area, there is a cache at the first paved road after the lake (going Nobo). Of course, caches are always uncertain.
I carried up to a gallon of extra water in '97 before water caches became routine in dry areas (other than Meadow Ed’s somewhat random whisky bottle cache’s back then! Thanx Ed!). In '05 i got away with never carrying more than a quart. (keep in mind '05 was one of the “wettest” years ever for SoCal) I would make sure that i was fully hydrated at the last available source/cache and then walk with the quart. This might sound rather foolish to some, but i learned in '97 that in a worse case scenario, i could walk all day with no water in case i had to. (one of the ‘permanent’ springs was destroyed that year by vandals so i had to walk all day with no water)
My advice is to never count on the caches, b/c of course any of them could be empty when you get there. But, you can kinda “hedge” your bet by carrying less than you normally would, but enough to get you to the next source in a pinch. One thing to keep in mind: in a worse case scenario, you can ususally hitch at a road crossing to get water, or hike to a visible house in an emergency.
Like a lot of things on the PCT, it comes down to common sense. If it’s an exceptionally hot day, for example, its obviously a good idea to carry a lot of extra water.
Happy trails!
freebird
system
#5
I wouldn’t count on water caches to break up long stretches. Carry enough for survival,and if the cache is in then you can have a little spree. I had a capacity of 7.1 L and this was enough to get through a couple of 30 mile stretches in SoCal. Hat Creek Rim is longer, about 35, and there is usually a cache half way through. I started up to the rim around 5:30 am, carrying something like 5 L of water. I made the cache well before noon, just when things were starting to heat up and took a liter out of it. Then, proceeded and reached the dam/fish area and water somewhat dehydrated by about 6 pm.
Southern Oregon is pretty dry and what water you find is pretty awful in quality (though drinkable). Once you clear Santiam Pass in Oregon, the water is good to the end.
Suge
system
#7
A list of SoCal water sources can be found at http://www.4jeffrey.net/pctwater. There are some recent updates.
Frank D
system
#8
Just My Perspective…
I was a worrier about H20 before I started the PCT this year. Fraught for quite some time never having needed to carry H20 for such long distances, in desert, with the possibility of dying as a worst case scenario. Then I said, I can do this, and with less than gallons on my back! I left Campo with the ability to carry 6 liters in 2 platypus and 2 gatorade bottles. My friend with 8 liter capacity.
I think I filled all 6 of my liters up Once when I was worried, but didn’t use them All. My friend may have filled his 8 up once, but never needed anything over 6.
I did not use any H20 Caches. I don’t think they are necessary. It’s awesome people want to help others, but you don’t need them.
Hat Rim was Hot, but I did the 35 miles in a day, and started with 5 liters. Ended up needing only 3 liters for that section.
You’ll learn what it takes for you to get from one reliable H20 source to another as you progress.
Yes, your packweight, and distance covered, makes a Big difference.
Some Tricks:
Start Early when it’s Cool
Hike Later when it’s Cool
Don’t eat foods that need hydration during those sections
Camel-up at H20 holes
Use an Umbrella and/or Hat
Know you can make the Distance, and may at some point, get Thirsty trying.
system
#9
Please don’t let conditions from the the previous two years influence your decision-making for the PCT. They were really wet years, and quite atypical.
When we hiked in '02, it was hot and dry immediately (104 degrees the first week post kick-off party), and we were carrying 7 liters of water ALL THE TIME. You should never count on caches. The one time we needed extra water, the cache was dry, and we had a very bad evening.
Inadequate water can get you in big trouble very quickly. Hikers were air lifted out of Houser Canyon (on the first day of their hike!) in '02. They weren’t prepared for the lack of water and the heat. Some left the border with only 2 liters of water, counting on Houser Creek to be running. It wasn’t. We donated water to one hiker who didn’t bring enough.
It’s not the responsibility of the hikers behind you to carry enough water to save you if you mess up. They’ll certainly offer you water, because hikers are altruistic and we all know that mistakes happen, but it’s not fair to expect them to do so.
Treat a cache as a bonus where you can tank up on some “free” water, but it is safer to carry the minimum you will need to arrive at the next reliable water source. Heat stress and heat stroke can creep up on you very quickly, and the only way to fight them is to stay well-hydrated.
A 2 liter Camelbak only weighs 1-2 ounces and compresses to nothing in your pack when empty, so there’s no reason to be caught without adequate capacity.
Carrying alittle extra water weight won’t end your hike, but a heat stroke might. Start out very conservatively and carry plenty of water, and then carry more or less as you become more comfortable with the trail conditions and your own response to the desert environment.
Chipper