rebeccad
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Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on Mar 18, 2016 11:56:06 GMT -8
Ha! My 16-y.o. is about 5'9" and maybe 130 lbs? maybe less. His older brother doesn't quite manage 5'5", and probably at least 10 lbs less! You can see why I look askance at an extra 6 lbs or so, and like trails with plenty of water along the way.
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BigLoad
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Pancakes!
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Post by BigLoad on Mar 27, 2016 19:51:08 GMT -8
My max was 3 1/2 gallons, but I try pretty hard to stay below 9 l. I rarely start with less than 3 l. My desert hikes are planned according to water sources, and I maintain a reserve and thresholds for bailing out if the reserve gets too small at any point. Once I bailed out with more than a full day of water, because I would have needed two if my next source was dry.
I like hiking where water is plentiful, but it doesn't happen often enough.
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crawford
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Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.--Edison
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Post by crawford on Mar 28, 2016 5:08:28 GMT -8
That is a huge planning factor. Out east here I don't have to plan around water nearly as much as those of you out in parts of the west. 9l is a lot of weight, but I understand the need.
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balzaccom
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Waiting for spring...
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Post by balzaccom on Mar 30, 2016 8:52:53 GMT -8
On a normal hike in the Sierra, where we expect to find water by lunch time, we'll start with a couple of liters per person. That's basically quarts for you folks in the paleolithic.
But on a recent overnight in Death Valley, where we knew that there would be no water available until we got back to the car, we carried a total of 12 liters between the two of us. (three gallons, paleos!) That was enough for a day on the trail, dinner that night, breakfast the next morning, and a day on the trail back out. I carried most of that, and my wife picked up the weight of the food for that trip--i normally carry the food for us both.
I never like to carry extra weight, but we've also had enough experience in the mountains to know that every once in a while, that next water source is a no-show, and you have to hike for another hour to get water. That can be pretty unpleasant if you don't have a bit in reserve.
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Post by hikingtiger on Apr 8, 2016 12:14:41 GMT -8
Rarely ever have more than 2 full liters on me at a time. One clean and one being treated (unless I've got room for a filter, then I'll top off when I start the 2nd bottle). I'm further south than you, but it's never been far enough to water to worry about doubling up. That said, I keep a couple of 1L collapsible bottles on me just in case. (Sometimes folks going the other way let you know about a dried up source.) How much CAN I carry? Dunno. I'd guess after 8 gallons it would start to get uncomfortable, though the pack could handle it.
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Post by Lonewolf on Apr 9, 2016 4:26:05 GMT -8
it's never been far enough to water to worry about doubling up I've learned the hard way... twice.... that "guaranteed" water sources weren't. In such circumstances, I'll try to carry enough water to get to the one after that or get back to the last known one.
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dayhiker
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Post by dayhiker on Apr 9, 2016 16:34:06 GMT -8
I often carry no water, drink from a water bottle filter and pour what I dont drink right away. If the next water is far, or it is really hot I might carry some, also carry into dry camp if I have to, or go out to get some.
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driftwoody
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Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Apr 12, 2016 3:35:40 GMT -8
The most I've carried is 5 liters for an overnight hike in the Needles District of Canyonlands NP. I could have carried a couple more and not been overburdened, but that's all I needed. Could have carried less, as there was water in the creek along the side-hike to Druid Arch. However, I was warned about high mineral content so we left that alone.
Most of my backpacking is in the Southeast where water is plentiful. If I decide to have a high dry camp, there's always the option to hold off on breakfast until hiking down to a creek. When I spend good money on high quality gear to reduce weight, I don't want to negate those gains by carrying more water than needed.
Just be sure to know the water sources beforehand.
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Post by tipiwalter on Apr 16, 2016 5:56:08 GMT -8
I always carry more water in a new place because I don't know the sources. If I go back into familiar areas I carry minimal water because I know where I'm camping and what water is nearby or on the way.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2016 19:11:40 GMT -8
I'm also on the East coast. Where I go dictates how much I carry. I carry 1.5L normally, but I have carried as much as 5L for a long dry walk to a dry campsite. If you have a bladder, fill it with 1L and weight it. Then two, then three. the weight adds up fast!
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