[pct-l] Water-Section A [2001 hopefuls take note]

["Reynolds, WT" <reynolds@ilan.com>]

Monte thinks that the people on the trail are the most wonderful people. Not
necessarly.

Thruhikers reported from Section A that they saw two hikers "take 2 gals of
water each total-4 from a stash by the 3 gate
area. The bad thing is that was all the water that was left at that area"

A bit of explanation. "3 gate" is the water stash midway through the
infamous San Felipe Hills, the 24 mile waterless stretch from Scissors
Crossing to Barrel Springs. To negotiate this stretch, hikers must load up
with a couple gallons of water at Scissors Crossings and make a
heartstopping 1000' climb to the Ridge, then wind their way along shadeless
desert. Naturally, you would want to do it at night.....except for the
snakes.

The "3 Gate" water stash was established by Sierra Club members including
our own Charlie Jones. To supply this location it was necessary to secure
permission from private landowners, drive 150 miles on dirt roads, and carry
the water UP a 2 mile overgrown trail. 

Hikers reaching the water stash only to find it empty, at the hikers
observing this act did, will face 13 more miles of shadeless, waterless
trail. For most, the last few miles will find their canteen bone dry.

Are all thruhikers this thoughtless? Of course not. Unfortunately, based on
the hundreds of gallons that have been stashed ialong Section A and the
number of hikers that have passed through the area, I fear that more than
these two have used the water stash unwisely.

The ADZPCTKO team, even before this report, was astonished with all the
water usage. I feared the worst, envisioning hikers bathing in the water.
However I never dreamed that hikers would take two (2) gallons each,
cleaning out the stash, with more hikers right behind them.

After long discussion the ADZPCTKO has voted to seriously reduce the length
of time that water stashes are maintained in Section A. Essentially, if you
don't start the trail to correspond with ADZPCTKO, you will be unlikely to
find water stashed. 2001 hopefuls please take note.

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