by gyroguy » Thu Dec 14, 2006 11:18 am
The general survival rule of thumb I've found is having 1 gallon per person per day for drinking... and additional water for washing, etc.
Not mentioned so far in this thread is weight. Water weighs about 8 lbs per gallon. Or eight pounds per person per day, if you prefer. The 7 gallon Aquatainers hold about 56 lbs of water. One container provides minimum drinking water needs for 2 people for 3 days, plus 1 gallon for other purposes.
My Crocodile Tear has one Aquatainer, room for more on extended trips. However, my wife can't lift it when it is full. See the album for pix of the Aquatainer in the galley, over a dishpan sink.
For a three-day hike, without trailer, I can carry 3 gallons of water in four 3-liter plastic soda pop bottles. I always look at those full, heavy bottles, sigh, and bring them anyway. If I empty and refill one on the hike, I put a rubber band around the neck so I know to use it last. It will still get its 4 drops of Clorox bleach for purification, but why take chances? An Aquatainer can be bungeed to an old golf cart (with plywood floor added) to bring water for two along on a trek.
One rule about the rule of thumb... 'taint necessarily so! I remember a large guy on a Nevada trail marking trip who went through three gallons in one afternoon. Drank it in, sweated it out! I remember one wee woman who drank half a gallon in the same heat. Know thyself and thine own water needs. More water needed with kids, elderly, sick... and LOTS for tots who aren't housebroken. And please, remember the dog!
BTW, the personal test for having enough water is watching the color of your urine. The yellower it gets, the more water you need to be drinking. Drink even if you don't feel thirsty.
For build pix of Crocodile Tear, completed 10/26/06 -- Look at my album or new website <www.crocodiletear.com> (website has more info)