Questions about section hike - Ashland, OR to Chemult, OR

[quanno]

I'm planning on doing a short hike from Ashland to Chemult (~150 miles) starting at the end of next week and have a few questions for those familiar with the area. I chose this section mainly because I can take train/bus to ashland then hop a train from chemult back to CA when I am done. Also, I get to see Crater Lake, which will be a first for me.

I currently live in Monterey, CA and hike somewhat regularly in Big Sur and have used this to condition myself and get used to the gear I have. Due to the drought, I haven't had any chances to use rain gear to test it. Looking at the weather forecast for the next ten days shows me upper 80s in the daytime and low 50s at night, so it should be fairly similar to what I'm used to down here (just a little hotter).

Footwear: I currently have these Salomon Quest 4D 2 boots http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KWK3YKQ - Is there enough water in this area to warrant wearing these through this hike section? I know they'll be pretty warm otherwise because they have gore-tex in them, but I have done fine with gore-tex boots so far in this temperature range. These boots are currently my first choice unless I hear compelling arguments to go for something less substantial.

Food: Is it realistic to take this ~10 day trip without cooking? I have taken many shorter trips using different variations of trail mixes and other high caloric value foods that don't require heating water. Any suggestions for doing this longer term or warnings to reconsider this plan?

From the Google Earth maps I have downloaded, it appears there is less than 10 miles between water sources on this section of the trail. Is 3-5 liters of water storage reasonable to complete this section?

Any links or experiences in this area would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[10-K]

I've only hiked it once but I remember there was a long dry stretch after the trail leaves Crater Lake - more than 10 miles for sure. I yogied water from tourists as I hiked around Crater Lake which helped. As I recall that's around 100 miles into your hike.

[royalusa]

Footwear: I currently have these Salomon Quest 4D 2 boots http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KWK3YKQ - Is there enough water in this area to warrant wearing these through this hike section? I know they'll be pretty warm otherwise because they have gore-tex in them, but I have done fine with gore-tex boots so far in this temperature range. These boots are currently my first choice unless I hear compelling arguments to go for something less substantial.

No, there is not enough water in this area to warrant gore-tex, but if you wish to wear them, you should be OK - you may need to stop every couple hours to air your feet to help prevent blisters. Change your socks as well if they are wet or damp. Bring blister first aid supplies.

Food: Is it realistic to take this ~10 day trip without cooking? I have taken many shorter trips using different variations of trail mixes and other high caloric value foods that don't require heating water. Any suggestions for doing this longer term or warnings to reconsider this plan?

Yes, it is realistic. We have been cookless for many years now, including the entire PCT in 2014. But it is HYOH and some folks love the cooked meal. Here's our cookless game plan: http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=477520

From the Google Earth maps I have downloaded, it appears there is less than 10 miles between water sources on this section of the trail. Is 3-5 liters of water storage reasonable to complete this section?

As 10-K mentions there are water sources much further apart than 10 miles on this section. Our journal shows water hauls of 24 miles a day south of Crater Lake and another 24 mile waterless stretch just north of Crater Lake (which would have been even higher if we did not go .7-miles off trail to Lightening Spring). There could be more long waterless stretches in your 150-mile hike...I did not study the entire distance. Some of those blue lines you see on the Google Earth maps my not actually be running, thus the advantage of using other resources such as:
Guthook Apps: http://www.guthookhikes.com/apps
Postholer's Databook: http://postholer.com/mapbooks/
Half Mile Maps, GPS Data & More: http://www.pctmap.net/
Erik the Black’s PCT Atlas Guidebooks: http://pacificcresttrailmap.com/

Any links or experiences in this area would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Our journal picks up at your starting point, here: http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=480082


Have fun!

[SCRUB HIKER]

You can do any three-season trip without cooking; I have 4,500 stoveless miles under my belt now. Scott Williamson has like 45,000 (no exaggeration). If it's something you've done before, you can do it again in this section.

Water is meh in this part of Oregon. I remember there being long-ish dry stretches and uninspiring water sources. Christi's Spring is nice, though, and you can camp right nearby. There will almost certainly be no natural water for 30 miles after the Crater Lake Rim visitor's center. Only you know how much water you need to carry for that; you'll have some trail time to figure it out beforehand. I recall not needing much because the walking was essentially flat and the weather characteristically mild.

Halfmile's water report (link) now covers Oregon and though the updates have been sparse and apparently only by one guy from last year, you can still get a sense of what flows. It's a shame that your section will end at Hwy 138 (I presume); 5-7 miles past that is Mt. Thielsen and Thielsen Creek, one of my favorite spots in all of Oregon. If you find you have time at the end of your section, seriously just go out-and-back past the highway to Thielsen Creek. The bugs by the road go away once you're up high.

Chemult is ass-ugly but functional for what you'll need at the end of the hike (a motel room to clean the volcanic dust off your legs and a 24-hour Pilot truck stop with a Subway to gorge on sandwiches). Just don't expect it to be a charming town. It's a dusty truck stop.

[quanno]

Thank you to everyone for you replies. I'll be discarding my KMLs/KMZs as it seems they may be outdated.

I appreciate all the helpful advice and links.