[pct-l] Degrees of Preparation - Water in desert

[Jeffrey Olson]

I've been part of this listserv since its inception.  One of the 
fascinating changes in terms of content is the increasing advent of and 
concern for water in the desert.  If my memory serves me, as recently as 
the late 90s hikers planned to hike for many miles carrying lots of 
water and/or planned to go off-trail to locate potable water.  Water 
caches didn't exist.  I'm not sure when the first caches were established.

It's my opinion that a hiker is (relatively) foolish to plan that water 
will be in jugs at a cache.  You may feel foolish to have carried a 
couple gallons only to find 50 gallons at a cache, but my guess is the 
bigger picture kicks in and the choice not to be the "bigger fool" by 
depending on caches balances the momentary feeling of being the "little 
fool" by carrying water when you didn't need to.

Part of long distance hiking involves being self-sufficient.  I know 
this means different things for each of us.  The worrying up front about 
water in the desert seems to be pre-trip anxiety having its way.  Choose 
your strategy and move on to the next anxiety provoking choice.  That's 
part of the fun in planning!!!

Jeff Olson
Martin, SD

On 1/12/2011 7:37 AM, Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes wrote:
> If you cache your own, someone else will drink it. The trail is
> littered with water caches, often more than what is commonly noted in
> the water report, and people just figure it's for them and they drink
> it. Also, if you are caching water for yourself, you should return to
> clean up the empties.
>
> You all are worrying way too much about water in my opinion. The
> trail can be done without caches. It used to be done without caches.
> You just have to hike off trail to the springs. Knowing where off-
> trail water is located is the reason for the water report. It's not
> just about whether the caches are full. Knowing where off-trail water
> is located was also a reason why the wordy guide books were so good.
> On Jan 11, 2011, at 10:56 PM, Kevin Cook wrote:
>