A random stranger on the PCT changed how I plan water carries

I ran into this older guy near a stream crossing on the Pacific Crest Trail last summer. He asked how far I was carrying water and I said 20 miles to the next source like my guide said. He laughed and told me to always check recent trail reports because springs dry up faster than the maps show. That simple tip saved me from hauling an extra 3 liters through a dry stretch a few days later. Now I always check trip reports from the last 2 weeks before any long section. Anyone else had a random trail encounter that totally shifted your planning?

2 comments

2 Comments

benb2128d ago

Bought a used tent after a guy at a gas station swore it was better than the new model.

grant.jade28d ago

I met a guy on a bus once who said he never trusts posted bus schedules without checking some local Facebook group first, and it's totally the same idea. Maybe it's just me but I feel like we all assume the maps or the official info we get is still good when really things change all the time without anyone updating the big signs. A lot of stuff in everyday life works like that too, like restaurant hours on Google or how long a store says they'll have a sale going on. I've learned to always double check with people who were there last week instead of relying on something from six months ago.