Finding water.

F

fnc

Joined
Nov 13, 2005
Messages
328
Do you use your knowledge of geology?

Are topo maps good for this?

Look for green. Look for birds, especially dawn and dusk.
Bees?

Dry wash with sand, easy digging, outside curve,
north-facing, if possible. If there is no tree already there,
why is it worth digging?

I have tried none of these, but have happened onto water
in the dry plains. When I was in the Mojave, I was just a
kid and never actually looked for water, because I always
had plenty. I wish I had taken advantage of that opportunity.
 
In the mountains:

all valleys have lots of plants and trees in them, i wonder why? /sarcasm

snowmelt for the win
 
kershlack,

In mountains of northern Idaho, for example, one would
expect to find water; one might actually have to avoid
lakes and streams.

Nevada has several small islands of high mountains that always(?)
have water; you can see snow sometimes. Pretty obvious.
If you were way out in the desert,
you could die trying to get to one of these.

In areas south of Boise, there is some very dry country.
(Southern Idaho and northern Nevada)
Can you add some detail for low desert mountains?
 
I recently read an article in The Backwoodsman Magazine. It was called Real Survival by Don Kepler. Among numerous other tidbits of information was one I'd never heard of before. Apparently if you're on a beach you can find fresh water by digging in any low spot about 50 to 75 feet back from the shore line. He said that a hole three feet or so deep will fill with fresh water. . . Rain water that gets held in suspension in the sand. He also said you can do this pretty much anywhere along that 50 to 75 foot line but you don't have to dig as far if you look for a low spot.
 
xinel said:
Salamander42, its generally after the first set of dunes.
Click to expand...

I'll keep that in mind. Of course, I don't expect to be anywhere near a beach anytime soon, but it's still good to know. Like I said, I'd dever heard of that before. I expect the results depend on how much rainfall there's been, aNd I wonder if the water is usually still somewhat brackish just from the salt that would be mixed in with the sand?
 
This is sort of obvious but if you are looking into the distance and see a gap in the mountains it is probably from a large river.
 
Thats a very intresting info about finding water close to the beach.. That kind of info can realy make a diffrence. Here in SO CALI if you go to santa monica mountains or places with chaparel. The area is mostly dry with very thick brush so its not as easy to bushwack as many might think. In the winter time there are alot of streams flowing. In the summer very few and they all can be found in the valleys. Like it was said before i look for not only green trees but thick very green grass. As they need more water and water closer to the surface. Some digging would be needed the main problem is the ground is hard with lots of rocks. The best thing to do here is to carry more water then you might need. Thats in my parts of the woods..

Sasha
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top