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water strategy on day hike
#26862 08/12/12 03:16 PM
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whats the best way to keep hydrated on the way up whitney? is water available all the way up the mountain or only at certain spots? if anyone has any input or water strategies for hiking up i would appreciate it!
thanks
btw, im doing a day hike if that makes any difference

Re: water strategy on day hike
wvueers #26864 08/12/12 04:06 PM
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Plenty of H2O all the way to Trail Camp. Load up with [u]at least[/u] 3 liters from the pond at Trail Camp to get you to the summit, and back to Trail Camp. There's usually a spring flowing on the 23rd switchback above Trail Camp, but in a dry year like this don't count on it.

Re: water strategy on day hike
wvueers #26865 08/12/12 04:14 PM
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Get a map and all your questions will be answered as to where the water is.

Everything else depends on the heat, humidity, how you sweat and what your body needs. Figure 16 to 24 oz./hour to stay hydrated.

Me, I carry two liters to Trailside Meadow, then at 4 for the summit round trip to this location. I've needed as few as 3 and as many 5 for the round trip...5 on a day below 40 F in May.

Re: water strategy on day hike
wvueers #26866 08/12/12 04:18 PM
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You won't have any problem finding water up to the trail camp.
Last source of water is at the beginning part of 99 switch back.

Make sure you bring a filter with you just to be safe. People urinate and leave wag bags right on the trail so... you get the idea.

I'd strongly recommend that you carry plenty of water from trail camp and up. I've heard people running out of water before they reach the summit and get dehydrated. Combined with AMS, it'll make you miserable. I read you need 3L of water from the Trail Camp up. I carried 4.5L and ran out.

There are many great posts regarding water in the forum, so search for it.

Last edited by thx123; 08/12/12 04:19 PM.

Thx123 "Woody"
Re: water strategy on day hike
thx123 #26871 08/12/12 04:52 PM
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Last year, most people in my group only carried 3 or 4 liters from trail camp... most everyone ran out by the time we returned to trail camp. It wasn't even that hot out, only about 45 degrees.

Re: water strategy on day hike
63ChevyII.com #26873 08/12/12 05:55 PM
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I just returned.

In past, I have gone from Guitar Lake over summit to TrailCamp with just 1 qt

this time took 1.5 qts to go from TrailCamp to summit to Trailcamp. Loaded up 1 qt there for the rest of the way to WP.

Cool start at 6 am and partial clouds in AM, mild storm in pm. Sweating was not a problem. Neither was water. Thirsty, yes, but you are not gonna die without 4 heavy qts for only part of a day. Go light.


Re: water strategy on day hike
wvueers #26874 08/12/12 06:39 PM
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The other trick which I've only recently learned is to drink 1/2-1 liter of water any time you refill. You can often get away with carrying a bit less (since you just topped off the tank so to speak) when you know where your next guaranteed water is. That being said I always take a minimum of 3L up to the summit and back from trail camp.

Re: water strategy on day hike
tif #26943 08/13/12 10:18 PM
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I just finished a day hike. I started out with what I thought was 3 liters, but actually 2.5. I drank about 2 before pumping water at trail camp. I headed up to the summit from there with 2.5 liters. I drank less than 2 liters the rest of the total hike (back to portal). Of course, it started pouring and hailing, so I was a little distracted from drinking.

That said, I don't drink a lot of water normally. I really tried to drink a lot on this hike to reduce signs of AMS. But I'm a cactus, apparently. If you tend to drink a lot, then I think I'd be prepared to carry a lot. If you don't, you'll probably be fine heading from trail camp to the summit with 3 liters. There was what seemed like a million places to pump water between the portal and trail camp, so toting a lot of water isn't too necessary through there.

Re: water strategy on day hike
wbtravis #26976 08/15/12 05:30 AM
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I have purchased several maps and downloaded a few also. A map tells me where there should be a water source but it does not indicate if the water source is active or if the source is preferred by other hikers. Other than Trail Camp, can anyone recommend a good source between portal and trail camp?

I figure if I have two sources "up" that will be two sources "down" which makes 4 water stops - I did buy a filter and yes I'm a newbie.

Re: water strategy on day hike
StellaBlue #26977 08/15/12 06:13 AM
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water sources photo here: Whitney Trail water sources

for a written description of these water sources by the fellow who took the photos, go to the "Feature Topics" in the left hand column on this page, click on "Orientation Notes".

on that page under the "Getting Ready to Hike" column click on "water".

the "Whitney Water" link is what you want.

mr. rockwell is well known and respected in the sierra.

Re: water strategy on day hike
StellaBlue #26978 08/15/12 06:41 AM
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This is the spring that many use as their first water stop. It is in Bighorn Park just before Outpost camp. It is the first water crossing once you enter Bighorn park. The spring comes directly out of the mountain at this location so there is no opportunity for any contamination. Bob Rockwell describes this as the best water on earth.....and I agree.


Re: water strategy on day hike
tdtz #27082 08/19/12 09:14 PM
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I will treat that spot with all the respect it deserves, thanks for the tip!

Re: water strategy on day hike
StellaBlue #27083 08/19/12 09:32 PM
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how often are you refilling water? obviously its much less weight to carry as much water as you need to get to the next filling station so to speak. but of course that takes time and requires more breaks. is it better to fill up twice on the way up and way down or just fill enough to get to the next spot? i'm using iodine tabs so that seems more time efficient ....

Re: water strategy on day hike
wvueers #27103 08/20/12 10:04 PM
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FYI, I just came back from a day hike, and water is still flowing (like gushing) from the spring between switchback 23 and 24 above Trail Camp.


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