Water sources

[Alpine Bomber]

Hey guys, I'm planning an LT thru-hike this summer, but don't necessarily need 2 expensive books and a map to do it. I picked up the LT Map, and it looks like it has all the information I really need on it except for water sources. Is it safe to assume that every shelter has a water source (unless of course there's a drought)? Also, are there any particularly unreliable ones? i have AWOL, so I really only need information on the middle and northern sections.
Thanks!
-Alpine Bomber

[Dogwood]

Tiana, a Long Trail End to Enders Guide can be had for less than $20. The money helps to support the trail that you will enjoy using. Is that too much to give to help maintain the trail you'll be hiking? Yes, most, if not all of, the LT shelters will have nearby water sources but.....

[Alpine Bomber]

There are many ways to support a trail, and for those of us with limited funds, it's more practical to give back through trail maintenance and other pre-trail actions.

[Alpine Bomber]

Sorry, Pro-trail actions was what I mean to type there.

[10-K]

No water problems on the LT that I recall.

[Alpine Bomber]

Thanks for the info!

[Hot Flash]

With all those big bonuses you're getting by shilling credit cards here...you should be able to buy a $20 trail guide to support the trail.

[Slo-go'en]

There are many ways to support a trail, and for those of us with limited funds, it's more practical to give back through trail maintenance and other pre-trail actions.

Bring a pair of small pruning shears (less then $10 at Wallyworld) and brush back some of the spruce trees which grow into the trail. The northern end doesn't get much brushing. When I did the LT August of '11, I brushed several miles of trail where it was really bad using just my knife. I got tired of branches poking me in the eye. Doing this really doesn't slow you down all that much in the long run and is a good change of pace.

As for water, pleanty of water with most of it from springs so I don't even bother with a filter when hiking the LT. Just be careful of the occasional beaver pond.

[Alpine Bomber]

That's a really good idea, Slo-go'en! I'll definitely do that.

[Deacon]

The water on the LT is better tasting and cleaner than what comes out of my faucet here in Ohio.

[Alpine Bomber]

Hot Flash, I tried to send you a private message, but you have them disabled. I try to keep things very positive on the web, but you have attacked me personally multiple times on this site. You seem very concerned with upholding the purity of WB. Well, in my mind, White blaze should be a place where people support others who are attempting to follow through on shared passions. We should be helping each other, not tearing each other down, and certainly not dissolving serious posts into personal attacks reminiscent of the comments on youtube videos. This is a community. If you have any further criticisms, please contact me privately.

[Alpine Bomber]

The water on the LT is better tasting and cleaner than what comes out of my faucet here in Ohio.

I love that about the trail! Thanks!

[chall]

For what it's worth, the Long Trail E2E package (The Long Trail Guide, the Long Trail End to Ender's Guide, Vermont's Long Trail Waterproof Map) is on sale for $30 through the GMC's website store until Feb. 28th. Seems like a great deal. I plan to pick one up.

[lonehiker]

I'm not familiar with the Long Trail map but if it is a typical topographical map it should show springs, ponds, lakes, creeks, rivers etc. Am I wrong on this?

[Alpine Bomber]

Lonehiker- you are right, to a point (or so I'm assuming). It does show water sources, but from what I can tell (and I may be wrong) the scale is such that at many of the shelters I can't make out any water source. While I would expect that there is water there but it is such a small spring that it wasn't included on the topo, I don't want to rely on that assumption.

[RedBeerd]

I only used the map on my LT hike. I had the guide but it served as more reading material than anything else. And I also don't recall any dry water sources. In fact, the best water I've ever had was on the LT. It was divine..

[StubbleJumper]

There are a few dry-ish sections that I recall. In particular, the Breadloaf Wilderness doesn't have much water. And there was no water at Shooting Star lean-to. Other than that, water was plentiful.

[Dogwood]

I sent you a PM. My offer holds. Absolutely! We should be helping each other.

[Second Hand]

AB - Your post have been the source of a lot of conversation, LOL

I'm planning to Section hike the Long Trail in 2014 and have been doing a lot of research. Slo-go-en's advice seems sound. Springs are great but I've read there are a # of Beaver ponds in the North so you have to be weary of anything feed from those ponds.

Have a good hike!

[Alpine Bomber]

Haha that's very true Second Hand- at this rate I'm going need to change my trail name for my own safety when I get out there... (don't worry that will never happen I'm way to attached to it already). Thanks for everyone's input, I hope to see you all on the trail this summer.