Bogley

Udink · Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 781 Location: Price, Utah

I've never really been backpacking before, and I'm planning an overnight trip for the end of April, but I'm having a difficult time with one thing: how much water should I carry? I will be in an area where there is probably no water to be found, so I plan on carrying all that I need. The trip will be two days and one night, about 13 miles round trip, probably 70° (or higher) temperatures during the day. There will be a steady incline of about 1,000' elevation gain over five or so miles, with some steeper stuff in between.

I'm thinking six liters will do just fine, but I've searched the web and can't come up with any opinions to support mine. How do you figure out how much water you need to carry on backpacking trips?

TreeHugger · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 898

I'm assuming you dont have a water filter?

If you are camping near a water source you can boil water to cook with so you wont have to carry cooking water (if not figure out how much you need for the meal you'll cook and carry that in a Nalgene). After that, it's just as much as you will want/like to drink per day. It's not hot and you're not hiking far, so you dont have to go overboard. I would plan a large camelbaks' worth for the hike out and the afternoon there - whatever that amounts to in pints - and then another camelbaks' worth for the next day and the hike out. If I'm only going for one night, I'll bring a bottle of wine with me for the evenings! :2thumbs:

Udink · Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 781 Location: Price, Utah

TreeHugger wrote: I'm assuming you dont have a water filter?

I don't have a water filter, but if that were the only issue then I'd just get one. I just don't think there will be any water in no man's land. The place is at the highest point of a "mountain" in the San Rafael Swell, and I think water will be very hard to come by, if not impossible.

TreeHugger wrote: If I'm only going for one night, I'll bring a bottle of wine with me for the evenings! :2thumbs:
Already got that part covered. :naughty:

Scott P · Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 1561

In April, and in the San Rafael Swell, plan on carrying one gallon per day. If it was summer, you will need more. Actually, in April, and at the higher elevations in the San Rafael, you may have some snow around in the shade. From the car, if you notice that the north facing slopes of the buttes have snow, you can carry less water and plan on melting it. If not, carry a gallon per day.

Glockguy · Joined: 28 Jul 2005 Posts: 309

Also try sending DeViDe an email...he knows a lot about the Swell.

TreeHugger · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 898

Wow, that really is "no man's land"!! yeah, a big (100 oz) camelbak each way should be plenty, now add cooking water since there will be no water anywhere near you! 70 degrees isnt bad though - they say a gallon a day in Death Valley in the summer ....