Florian's cache

[Halohiker]

Thanks, Kathy!

That's what I was thinking. I'll be starting c2c around 4 AM, no later, and am strong enough to carry plenty of water, juice and gatorade to get me to the tram station. Just thought I was missing something...

[Norris]

I admire the thought and effort involved in creating this cache, but how will someone in need find it? The kind of individual likely to need it doesn't prepare very well, so they aren't likely to find this thread and download the GPS coordinates ahead of time. Is the cache visible from Flat rock? I can picture someone dying within steps of the cache, not knowing it was there... maybe some notice or sign should be placed at Flat rock directing those in dire need to the cache?

[Florian]

I admire the thought and effort involved in creating this cache, but how will someone in need find it?

The cache is along the trail in plain view. It's not at Flat Rock but at a natural stopping point about a quarter mile NE. You can see from the photos it's an easy to spot white paint bucket labeled WATER in 2" black letters. My idea was to make it visible.

-Florian

[bluerail]

Norris, if you are on skyline, you will find the water, knowing where it is could always be bad if someone counts on it being there. I can't imagine anyone here doing that. ?? Right ?
Other folks who might need it will find it where its placed if they are going up the trail. The little isthmus that it's on assures it. ( perfect spot.)
I have a real hard time seeing this as anything but a good idea.

I wouldn't wanted to have hauled all that from either direction. But there it is.

Nice Florian.

[Florian]

blue, you were up the trail today? Glad the cache is still there!

-Florian

[KathyW]

Norris, if you are on skyline, you will find the water, knowing where it is could always be bad if someone counts on it being there. I can't imagine anyone here doing that. ?? Right ?
Other folks who might need it will find it where its placed if they are going up the trail. The little isthmus that it's on assures it. ( perfect spot.)
I have a real hard time seeing this as anything but a good idea.

I wouldn't wanted to have hauled all that from either direction. But there it is.

Nice Florian.

I'm constantly amazed at what people count on. I'll bet there's at least one person out there that would head up the Skyline Trail on a 100+ degree day at 8 am depending on the water being there. Let's hope the water is still there when that person gets to the cache.

edit - Don't take me wrong, I think it's nice that someone went to the effort to leave the cache there, but I'd just rather see people either avoid hot days on that trail if they are not conditioned for the heat or, at the very least, bring enough fluids. I guess I'm just preaching to the choir though.

[Florian]

Let's hope it doesn't encourage people from going up without enough water because they think they'll just be able to pick up water along the way.

I agree. That's certainly not my intention. People that take the time and effort to read the forum posts here are the careful and prepared ones. I removed the GPS coordinates from my original post. I don't want anyone to count on water being available along the trail.

-Florian

[Norris]

I admire the thought and effort involved in creating this cache, but how will someone in need find it?

The cache is along the trail in plain view. It's not at Flat Rock but at a natural stopping point about a quarter mile NE. You can see from the photos it's an easy to spot white paint bucket labeled WATER in 2" black letters. My idea was to make it visible.

-Florian

Oh. Somehow I missed that part

[pdforeme]

I must admit; we failed last may, 113 or so that day. Guy in our prty cramped up at730am at 3000 feet and not sure water would have helped us. I have 7 liters and we barely made it down alive (cuz by about 1030 or so, moving slowly, it was hitting 100 or so.)

Great move on the water, but even if the cache was near where i was, i would not like the odds of surving w/ little shade at 3000 feet (temps likely would max out at 105 or so).

[halhiker]

I think it's commendable for Florian to do this and it's a good idea.

I don't think people should depend on water being there and should be prepared BUT even experienced and conditioned people make misjudgments and it could be a God send for one of them.

I've had well conditioned people on hikes sent to the hospital before because they underestimated the difficulty and how much in the way of fluids they'd need.

Personally, I don't go to the extremes some people do and have never carried more than a gallon or started before 5:30 am but we each do what's best for us. I also live in the desert and am probably more accustomed to the heat than non-desert rats. To me, 90º+ is perfect hiking weather. (Oddly enough, I also like it really, really cold.)

Visible water caches all along the way might not be a bad idea. It may not be pretty but if it saves someone's life it'd be a thing of beauty to them.

And I'm the guy who doesn't like ducks!