Finding Water on a Dry Ridge Route

Nothing ends a day faster than an empty bottle and no water source on the map. Dry ridge routes demand planning, because the line between okay and in trouble is a single liter.

Build the habit before you leave.

• Carry one liter more than you think on any dry section
• Mark every stream and spring on the map before starting
• Fill at every source even if your bottle is half full
• Learn to read the terrain for where springs hide in drainages

Water weighs eight pounds a gallon, but it is the one load you never regret carrying. Dry lips are a late warning sign, not an early one.

Learn to read the drainage lines on your map before the trip. Springs hide in the folds of the land, and knowing where they sit turns a scary dry stretch into a routine refill.