[pct-l] So. Calif. Desert Water Caches

[Kevin Cook]

Thanks for the clarification Halfmile :)

I am using your warnings. It's helpful to understand your reasoning behind
them. I hope you don't think I was being critical that your water locations
included the cache. Now that I reread my post, I realize it could be taken
that way. I was commenting about it because I had not realized that, or at
least it hadn't "clicked" inside my thru planning jumbled brain. ;)

Your tale about Hauser Creek is disheartening. That was my planned camp for
the first night. I thought it would have water on April 20, but now I know
not to count on it. That's fine, I'll just carry enough to get to Lake
Morena. Maybe I better take another look at section A again. If your note on
the water waypoint doesn't say something about being dry, that it will be
running? such as WR026

I know it's silly to plan out each day exactly, but I'm trying to determine
days between my resupplies. When calculating this, I'm taking into account
the spots I'll have to "push" a bit to make the next water. Ironically, my
most optimistic schedule will coincide with the worst case for water. :P

Thanks again for all your work Halfmile. I really appreciate your
explanation of how to use your maps. :)

On Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 1:30 PM, Halfmile <list at lon.net> wrote:

> Kevin,
> My maps show almost all of the locations of  Asabat's water report
> entries, except for a few locations that almost never have water.
> Since the water report list caches I show the locations of these on the
> maps.
>
> My maps also have water warnings in yellow text boxes showing area
> where you may have 10 miles or more without water. I don't include
> caches in this calculation. So for example, on page A9 at Rodriguez
> Canyon I have a warning that is 32.7 miles to water at Barrel Spring.
> I don't consider the water caches at Scissor's Crossing or 3rd Gate
> that might have water in this calculation.
>
> Also, in my water warnings I don't consider water sources that I think
> might not be reliable. I have hiked the first 20 miles of the PCT more
> than a dozen times. I have only seen water in Hauser Creek in 2010 so
> I don't consider it (or the creek at mile 4.4) in my water warning
> calculation. I have a water warning at the Juvenile Ranch Facility
> (mile 1.3) stating you may not find water for 18.7 miles until the
> Lake Morena Campground.
>
> I think the water warnings on my maps are a good place to start if
> your looking for "problematic areas". I have tried to be conservative
> in my water warnings, so most years you will likely find extra water
> in some of the water warning areas (but you could find less depending
> on the year or time of year).
>
> As you know, you should always carry the water report and rely on it
> for the latest water information in southern California.
>
> -Halfmile
> www.pctmap.net
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 7:30 AM, Kevin Cook <hikelite at gmail.com> wrote:
> > I fully intend to reference Asabat's water report before, and during, my
> > hike. I'm not questioning whether or not it will be updated. My concern
> is
> > it's contents. I had not realized that some of the water locations on
> > Halfmile's maps were caches.
> >
> > Diane is right that the guidebooks explain where to get water without the
> > caches. I'm going to plan as if there aren't any. Again, I grateful for
> the
> > effort these kind soul go through to maintain these caches. If I can
> avoid
> > using them, then I will be leaving more for other hikers.
> >
> > The only place in section A I'm worried about is the 32+ mile stretch
> that
> > includes scissors crossing. I've been to that spot many many times while
> > living in San Diego for a decade. I'll plan to drop off a gallon for
> myself
> > there. In response to Diane's warnings... I will hide it well and mark
> the
> > location with a GPS. I've cached water before. It's my habit to make sure
> I
> > put it somewhere nobody else will find. I'll probably leave a few extra
> > gallons in the "visible" cache. If there are empties there, I'll clean
> those
> > up as well. I will be caching a gallon jug, so I won't mind carrying the
> > empty with me when I come through on foot.
> >
> > Tonight I'll go through section B and determine if I want to cache any
> water
> > myself. I enjoyed scrutinizing Section A. It was like a stroll down
> memory
> > lane. I have so many fond memories of this area from my time in San
> Diego.
> > I'm looking forward to a similar experience in the other socal sections.
> :)
> >
> > If anyone can identify the problematic areas, that might make it easier
> for
> > me.
>