Hydration and water

Possibly one of the most important areas to consider when attempting the PCT. Staying hydrated isn't a choice, it's a necessity. Never more so than in the first couple of months in the Californian Desert. With day time temperatures in the 90's and 100's it's not unusual to get through a litre of water every 3 miles, or 20 minutes. On a long stretch that can mean 7 litres of water, or a whopping 7 kilos! Some parts of the PCT are waterless for 30 miles, I'll let you do the maths on that one.

It's not only the quantity, it's also the quality and availability. You don't reach a tap every once in a while. Water has to be sourced and treated. Generally the available guidebooks will tell you where water sources are located which is helpful but not always accurate. These can be dry, too badly contaminated to use or simply not there anymore.

I will be using Eric the Blacks 'Pacific Crest Trail Atlas's' (see www. http://blackwoodspress.com/blog/ or click on the link on the right) which, as far as I can tell, provide the most accurate and up to date water info I can find.

Water then has to be treated to make it drinkable. I will be filtering my water and probably then adding a chemical treatment to make 'sure' such as iodine, chlorine or bleach. My water will be carried in a Nalgene 3 litre CXC Reservoir which is basically a water bag inside my pack with a tube running outside where I can drink without taking my pack off or reaching for a water bottle. Nalgene have very kindly supplied me with 2 of these (one spare) plus a litre water bottle as well. See the link on the right for more info on Nalgene.

There are methods to make all of this easier. For example, camping near a water source means it is at hand are convenient for the evening and morning. Drinking a couple of litres whilst you are at a source and then carrying what you need is useful as it is being used to keep you hydrated and will be good for a few miles.

Coming soon . . . eating.