[pct-l] Water capacity for the PCT

[Ellen Shopes]

Hi Maggie
You don't say in your PCT post where you live and what your experience is in desert hiking.
I live in AZ, and have extensive desert hiking experience.  My husband and I have also hiked the PCT sections you are most worried about.
I think it is wise to carry more than you think you'll need (or want to carry!) at first.  As you gain experience and confidence, you'll learn what you need.  11 liters sounds like alot to me.  Please realize that as you adapt to the heat, you sweat more and lose more fluid (the body gets more efficient at cooling you by sweating more).  Monitor your urine as a gauge for adequate fluid intake.  If you normally pee about every 3-4 hours, you should probably do about the same on the trail.  Your urine should look slightly yellow.  If it looks like water, you are drinking too much.  If it looks dark yellow, you are not drinking enough.  If it looks like tea (has a brownish tint), you are spilling myoglobin (a protein) and need to drink more, and seek medical advice.
Some people say that nice deep yellow is OK, but I've seen too many people over the years develop kidney stones as the salts precipitate out.
A final warning: avoid NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Advil, etc if you are dehydrated.  This class of drugs decreases renal blood flow.  They have been implicated in kidney damage in the elderly and in endurance athletes.  Tylenol is OK to use (no effect on the kidneys).
Good luck
Elderly Ellen

Sent from my iPad