I agree, you definitely don't need a bladder. One water bottle (or two for balance?) is all you need and fill up at the checkpoints. As Karen said, take your own emergency food to get you through a low point between checkpoints, and graze on the checkpoint food.

John, I too enjoyed the challenge of the cold wet years in December. (The weather becomes irrelevant if your clothing is keeping you dry and comfortable.) I also remember the wall-to-wall sunshine and T-shirt weather we enjoyed one year in December.