how much water and other gear questions

[pbakwin]

As others are indicating, water consumption is highly individual. I hike/run with a friend who routinely consumes twice as much as I do. 1L/hr is extreme. I'm typically more like 1/8 of that amount for 14ers (probably at the other extreme).

[josephine]

Thanks everyone!

Will carry 3-4 liters of water (since I drink a LOT and will be slower). Downloaded the app - and will print the map (thanks for the reminder to put it in a baggie!).

[spiderman]

Drink a liter before you start, bring 1.5L on the hike, finish it on the summit. No need for water on the descent. Pack light and have a happier climb. Pro tip, cheap bottled water is lighter than nalgenes.

Under 5 lb packs is the way to go for a well travelled non-dangerous peak like this hike.

[Trotter]

Drink a liter before you start, bring 1.5L on the hike, finish it on the summit. No need for water on the descent. Pack light and have a happier climb. Pro tip, cheap bottled water is lighter than nalgenes.

Under 5 lb packs is the way to go for a well travelled non-dangerous peak like this hike.

I'm not sure telling newbies to have no water on the descent is the best advice. I know they could beg some from strangers in an emergency, but relying on that sets a bad precedent for hiking in wilderness.

In my opinion, all hikers should be self sufficient no matter what peak they are on, or how close it is to denver.

[719BR]

#printthemap

#somuchthis

[TallGrass]

^ I read that as Spidey advocating top-off-your- tank before descending, carrying it in your belly beats carrying it in your pack where it's not metabolised and waiting until thirst.

[peter303]

It depends on the season. You should prepare 60 degree temperature ranges and precipitation. Even on the average 14er hike there could be 30 degree temperature change between trailhead and summit. Then throw in another 30 degrees for dramatic weather changes. For early August the temp range is 30F (early morning, wind, fog, sleet on summit) to 90F (sunny afternoon return to trailhead). Late August you start to see snow dustings, morning freezes, hidden ice along streams. So I would prepare for 20s then. Layer for cold temps. Hydrate more for for hot temps. I always bring something for the cold- long sleeve, lightest hat and gloves.

[Scott P]

Everyone's water needs are different. I usually plan on taking one gallon of water on an all day 14er. I also tank up before the hike. I tend to sweat a lot though and my wife and kids need less. It's better to have too much water than too little. If I know that a route has water sources, I may take less water, but throw in a filter or purification tablets just in case.

[Bradradical]

advocating top-off-your- tank before descending, carrying it in your belly beats carrying it in your pack

Please, newbies, disregard TallGass. Descending a mountain with no water is absurdly foolish. Save at least a half a liter even for a short descent on a cool day.

Additional edit- yes Spiderman said it first, and got called out for bad advice. Then, bizarrely, TallGass supported the advice.

[pmeadco]

disregard TallGass.

To be fair, it was spiderman that advocated finishing your water at the summit.

[JaredJohnson]

WRT filtering, Sawyer Mini is cheap and light, a great addition to the summit pack. http://a.co/3ryYG6g

[LURE]

If I'm above 12,000 feet I often just fill up the bottle and drink it on the spot without treatment if the turbidity is fine. I may be the outlier though, I get more lax on water filtration just about every time I go out. Not necessarily encouraging this, but high altitude water is usually going to be just fine and tastes delicious.