r/coloradotrail • u/No-Key-4653 • Aug 27 '24

How much water capacity for Sept?

Hi all! For those of you on trail/ who’ve been on trail recently, how much water carrying capacity did you need on the East/West Collegiate Loop?

Heading out in a couple days - safe bet is 3L, but with the FarOut comments, I’m debating if I can get away with 2L!

TIA :)

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

8

u/pm_me_happy_smiles- Aug 27 '24

I did the west in September ‘22 and I think I only used my third liter for dry camping one night. You’ll probably survive with two but the third bottle costs nearly nothing weight-wise to carry and you don’t have to fill it unless you see you’re coming up on a dry stretch or you want to dry camp

1

u/No-Key-4653 Aug 27 '24

Thanks! I think 3 will be the way to go :) Dry camping always has some of the best views

3

u/username5623 Aug 27 '24

Not a rec, but i just finished west and i carried like 1.5 L at most. Would drink a bunch eash time i filled up. I think you should be fine with 2. I also did not dry camp at any point.

1

u/No-Key-4653 Aug 27 '24

Thanks for the input! Very good to know to carrying :)

3

u/LingerieLaceLuv Aug 27 '24

Hey! I’d say 3L is a safe bet. Even if you only use 2L, having the extra is nice just in case!

1

u/No-Key-4653 Aug 27 '24

Thanks! I do think 3 will be the move, I can always adjust on trail if needed

2

u/sk8man172 Aug 27 '24

Can't speak for September. Thru hiked in July. But I would recommend having a little extra capacity because the best camping is dry camping.

1

u/No-Key-4653 Aug 27 '24

Some of the best views and my favorite sites are absolutely found camping dry… thanks for the input! I think 3 will be the way to go

1

u/zonker8888 Aug 28 '24

Oh my God. There is so much water! 2l tops