PSA: The Pacific Crest Trail has over 1,000 water sources that dry up by August

I was planning a section hike on the PCT for late summer and dug into the PCT Water Report. It hit me that nearly 60% of listed creeks and springs marked on older maps are seasonal, not year round. Some sections between Kennedy Meadows and Sonora Pass have stretches of 30+ miles with zero reliable water by late July. The debate is: do you trust the outdated Guthook comments from 2019 or the new official report from 2023? I'm leaning toward carrying extra capacity, but that adds 3 pounds to my pack. Has anyone else run into this surprise on a recent long distance trip?

2 comments

2 Comments

gibson.sarah18h ago

oh man, yeah the Guthoke comments from 2019 are basically a different world at this point with how fast conditions shift. just a little heads up though, those 2023 reports are from last year too and they can still be outdated by the time you hit the trail in late summer. i'd say cross reference the 2023 data with the most recent PCTA water report tabs and talk to rangers right before you go, that's what's actually saved me on dry stretches.

stella_lane1d agoMost Upvoted

Kennedy Meadows to Sonora Pass is exactly the section where I saw multiple people run into trouble last August, the Guthook comments from 2019 were way too optimistic about creeks that had already turned to mud. I'd say go with the 2023 report and plan for those 30+ mile dry stretches even if it adds weight, because running out of water in that exposed granite country is no joke. Carrying that extra 3 pounds sucks but its way better than trying to filter water from a stagnant cow pond.