Finally dialed in my water carry for desert trips after a few close calls

I keep seeing people on trail forums say 'a liter every 5 miles' as a hard rule for water planning. That almost got me in trouble on the Lost Palms Oasis loop in Joshua Tree last spring. It was only 7 miles, but with full sun and 90 degree heat, I went through 3 liters before the halfway point. I started tracking my actual consumption with a simple notepad, and now I plan by hours in the sun, not just miles. Has anyone else switched to a time-based system for dry climates?

3 comments

3 Comments

felix_thomas733mo ago

My last trip to the Superstitions in Arizona taught me the same lesson. I was doing a 10 mile loop and packed my usual two liters. By mile four in that exposed canyon, I was already rationing and had a real scare. Now I plan for a full liter per hour of actual hiking time if it's hot and sunny, no matter the distance. That simple switch from miles to hours changed everything for me. I also check the hourly forecast now to see when the peak heat hits.

oliviadixon2mo ago

Noticed something nobody's talking about though - how much those hourly changes in humidity play into it too. I've hiked the Superstitions and there's days where the air feels thick even when it's not that hot, and you sweat way more than the temperature alone would tell you. The forecast might say 95 but if it's monsoon season with high dew points, you're losing water twice as fast as a dry 105 degree day. That liter per hour rule is solid but it can still fall short if you're not factoring in the sweat factor on those muggy afternoons. How many people actually check humidity before heading out or is it just me?

seth_green853mo ago

Wait, you only packed two liters for a ten mile loop in Arizona? I mean, that sounds like a death wish, idk how you even made it to mile four.