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Post by homerj on Nov 13, 2013 2:09:36 GMT
I am planning a backpacking trip in my area but I need to rethink my pack for the desert southwest.
Does anyone have any desert backpacking experience or suggestions?
Im most concerned about water collection, most of the parks I am looking into have limited water. I am finding that the rule of thumb seems to be packing a gallon of water a day. Im going to have to cut some weight, does anyone have any suggestions for carrying water in anything besides jugs?
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Post by omegaman on Nov 13, 2013 3:23:38 GMT
Camelbacks and platypus bags. Might I also suggest the humble 2L canteens which should attach nicely to the ILBE I know you have  lastly, considering the weight of water, I'd start shaving and slimming down on everything else in the pack. Get us some pics! I'd love to see your desert kit. |
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Post by Gingerbread Man on Nov 13, 2013 11:42:51 GMT
Like OM stated, platypus and camel backs. Finding water in the desert is next to impossible so the rule of thumb is bring all you need. All the time I spent trekking in the desert I never saw any water except for some rivers but those are few and far. When I was in Nevada I always had 5 gals in my Jeep.
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Post by NamelessStain on Nov 13, 2013 12:20:17 GMT
Gatorade bottles are good too. Also much lighter than a Nalgene bottle.
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Post by nxp on Nov 13, 2013 17:19:51 GMT
Gatorade bottles are good too. Also much lighter than a Nalgene bottle. Seconded - I like the Poweraid bottles, they're a little easier to stack without the domed top. |
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Post by homerj on Nov 13, 2013 17:29:45 GMT
Will the weight of of the bladder construction be negligable? I am beginning to like the idea of bladders since they would be easier to back around and distribute weight better than a couple of gallon jugs of water.
Have any of you had any luck with any water collecting techniques? The areas I am scoping out will have cacti and desert brush, I want to try the wrapping branches with trashbags method but I dunno how much water I can expect. El Capitan, the highest peak in Texas, has a backcountry camping area that isn't too far from running water sources and another possible location is Big Bend National Park which has some natural water sources I can stick to.
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Post by Gingerbread Man on Nov 13, 2013 17:38:14 GMT
I did an experiment with plastic bags on trees here is SC which is hot, humid and moisty. Pine was the best and produced about 2 ozs in 24 hrs. The other trees were pretty fail. I'd really like to see if you get any H2O in the desert using this method.
Report back!
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Post by homerj on Nov 13, 2013 17:55:07 GMT
Willdo, did you use grocery store bags or trash bags? I need to start researching how the native tribes in my area did it. I know they would eat allot of cacti and roots.
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Post by Gingerbread Man on Nov 13, 2013 17:58:23 GMT
I used both. Best result were from the black trash bags. Grocery store bags didn't work well.
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Post by homerj on Nov 13, 2013 18:11:33 GMT
Did thickness affect anything?
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Post by nxp on Nov 13, 2013 18:14:26 GMT
Will the weight of of the bladder construction be negligable? I am beginning to like the idea of bladders since they would be easier to back around and distribute weight better than a couple of gallon jugs of water. Have any of you had any luck with any water collecting techniques? The areas I am scoping out will have cacti and desert brush, I want to try the wrapping branches with trashbags method but I dunno how much water I can expect. El Capitan, the highest peak in Texas, has a backcountry camping area that isn't too far from running water sources and another possible location is Big Bend National Park which has some natural water sources I can stick to. Eh? Guadalupe Peak is the highest point in TX, I've done it a few times when I lived in ELP. I always day hiked it, if you leave early (like really early) you can make it in no time and it's not bad at all this time of year. Summer's a different story... |
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Post by Gingerbread Man on Nov 13, 2013 18:17:37 GMT
Did thickness affect anything? I think it had more to do with the color of the bag. I had a white trash bag too but it didn't produce as much as the black. I think the black got hotter and caused the tree is aspirate more. That's my theory anyway.  |
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Post by homerj on Nov 13, 2013 18:21:06 GMT
I would have thought the more transparent bag would have been hotter and had better results.
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Post by Ten Eight on Nov 13, 2013 19:06:35 GMT
Maybe experiment with digging a solar still? Just to see what type of additional water you can produce.
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Post by NamelessStain on Nov 13, 2013 19:16:13 GMT
Maybe experiment with digging a solar still? Just to see what type of additional water you can produce. If memory serves me correctly, you can urinate around the inside of the solar still hole before covering it with plastic. The water will evaporate, but the other impurities will not. |
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lastly, considering the weight of water, I'd start shaving and slimming down on everything else in the pack. 
