[pct-l] PCTA Statement on Water Caches

[Gail Van Velzer]

I totally agree.
Golly
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Reinhold Metzger" <reinholdmetzger at cox.net>
To: "PCT" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2015 12:51 AM
Subject: [pct-l] PCTA Statement on Water Caches


> http://www.pcta.org/2015/problem-water-caches-pct-27677/
> IMO, Excellent.
> ...........................
>
> I agree......Jack hit the nail right on the head.
> Water caches, although maintained by people with good intentions of
> helping hikers, are actually putting hikers at risk because water caches
> are not a reliable source of water.
> Without water caches hikers would be forced to carry enough water
> to the next water source.
>
> Some years ago I had to haul 12 liter of water on a 3 day primitive and
> dry Grand Canyon trail in 100+ degrees in the shade.
>
> Water caches give hikers the false impression that they can fill up at the
> water cache and therefore may only carry enough water to the next
> water cache and if that cache is dry they may be in trouble.
>
> It seems to me that more and more novice hikers attempt a PCT "thru"
> because they read somewhere that the PCT is a piece of cake and
> anybody can do it, even "Grandma" can do it and as a result more and
> more inexperienced hikers find themselves on the trail unprepared or
> unable or unwilling to carry in their pack the gear and water to be fully
> prepared and self reliant and the high failure rate and search & rescues
> reflect that.
>
> IMO....if hikers are not willing or able to carry a pack with the gear and
> water necessary to be prepared and self reliant, then, perhaps, they are
> not yet ready for the PCT.
>
> The wilderness is not the place to gamble your safety on support that is
> not reliable and may not be there, where expected, or when needed.
>
> JMT Reinhold
>
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