Showerthought: The guy who told me to skip the extra water cache on the JMT was right...or was he?

I was on the John Muir Trail last summer and a hiker named Dave said I could skip the last water drop before Muir Pass because the creeks would still be flowing in August. Well, I saved 3 pounds of weight but also ran out of water 2 miles before the next stream and was miserable for an hour. Do you guys think it's better to trust local advice or stick to your Plan A with extra water?

3 comments

3 Comments

fox.derek7d ago

Ran out of water 2 miles before the next stream" - yeah Dave wasn't hiking with your legs.

alex_johnson7d ago

You've been burned by trusting someone else's timeline before? My rule is bring the extra water and just dump what I don't drink on the next stream crossing.

nathanj563d ago

The water cycle on the JMT is unpredictable even in August, I've seen creeks that were roaring one day and bone dry the next. Dave probably meant well but local advice is only as good as the conditions on that exact day you're hiking. Trusting your own water judgment over someone else's is way safer, carry the extra weight and just dump it if you hit a crossing early.