And for another opinion regarding water treatment...

Ever since I read the Giardiasis paper by Robert Rockwell, PhD, I have never treated or filtered Sierra water. It is ok with me if you want to carry a filter or Steripen or chemicals, but just so you know, there IS another option.

The water treatment discussions and links to additional studies are in threads listed in the "Links to important Whitney information" topic in the Reference forum:

Quote:
Water discussions (Drink untreated, or filter/treat/boil/etc.)
  Water and Giardia around Mt. Whitney
  60,000 Liters of Water Consumed -- Untreated
  Filter question (links to studies, etc.)