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A friend and I will be parking at the horse trailer lot tomorrow, walking to the First Water TH, complete the Garden Valley loop through Hackberry Spring and back out to the horse trails lot.

I'm planning on getting us to the parking lot by 4:30-5:00 am to beat as much heat as I can. I plan on bringing a MSR water filter and 3 liters of water. Just in case, can anyone confirm if there is water up there now that can be filterd if needed?

Thanks in advance.

Josh

I wouldn't put any faith in their being water out there right now. If you hiked out to Second Water Spring, that's probably your best bet.

The first thoughts were...

First, I agree there is likely to be no water. Second, I would not recommend going farther for the possibility of water to filter. And finally, unless this is an overnight backpack, why the need to filter water anyway?

Taking a bit more time to research it, here's my

1. If you start at 5 am, the temperature is likely to be 78 degrees with an East wind at 6 mph... (Coincidentally that's what it was when Tracey and I set out today at 6:30 am for our Pass Mountain Loop hike and it felt just right.)

2. Taking a glance at triplog times for Garden Valley Loop the hike should take 2-1/2 to 3 hours.

3. Ok, let's say you dawdle a lot and it takes 4 hours for the roughly 5 miles, which would bring you back to the TH by 9 am.

4. Based on tomorrow's forecast, the temperature should be about 89 degrees with 15% humidity (a 'feels like temp' of 84) and a SE wind at 9 mph. (We finished today's hike at 10 am with a temp of 96 degrees and 5 mph winds and even the last few miles in direct sun it didn't feel oppressive by any means)

5. While I do know we each have our own capabilities and physiological needs, if I felt 3 liters wasn't enough fluid I'd take more along with me rather than rely on the unknown.

Personally, having acclimated myself pretty well, this last month I've been doing 3-4 hour hikes/peak-bags locally with temps reaching as high as 109 by time I got back to the car and I've gotten by just fine with my 3 liter Camelbak. (Yes, I had plenty of extra fluid in a 12v cooler in the Jeep so I had ice-cold fluids after the hike as required)

You might consider an additional liter or two for those lost souls you may meet on the trail that are unprepared or confused as to where they are. Happens frequently from the common trail heads on the western portion of the Supers. You know, visitors to the state with no experience summer hiking in the Arizona desert....

Thank you for the replies. I'm not concerned for myself as I know my limits and have done this hike a few times but not this time of the year. I'm more concerned for the person in going with as I've not hiked with him before. I'll take my 3L bladder and a Nalgene. He'll have a 2L bladder. That should be plenty. I just like to er on the side of caution due to the temps. Thank you again for the replies.