Just realized how many people misread water sources on maps

I almost ran out of water on a 4 day loop in Desolation Wilderness last summer because I assumed a stream marked on my map would be flowing in August. It was bone dry by the time I got there, and I had to backtrack 3 miles to a lake I passed earlier. Since then I've been checking satellite imagery and reading trip reports from the same season, and it's saved me a ton of hassle. It's wild how many people I see posting about carrying 4 liters for a stretch that looked fine on paper but turned into a dry canyon. The Forest Service even has seasonal flow notes for some areas, but barely anyone uses them. Have you ever gotten burned by a dry creek or spring that was supposed to be reliable?

2 comments

2 Comments

avery6295d ago

Are satellite images really showing what's underground better than a paper map would?

anna_carter534d ago

Wait, are we suddenly giving topographical awards for dirt now?