Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Filter or Chemical

I usually hike in the desert so I am always carrying my water. Last time I hiked Whitney I brought a filter but since I have tried to lighten my load . What is everyone using, filter or chemical? Is the water clear enough to capture in a Nalgene then treat and drink or do I need to pre-filter with a coffee filter or bandanna? From previous experience I know this topic is usually split 50 - 50.

Steri-Pen.

Oop's,I see this has been hashed out on the Gear Head forum. I will check it out.

On June 12, 2010, just before the hike to Thor, I asked Bob R. how he filters his water.

He replied, "Through my teeth."

You won't need either chemical or filter on the MWT.

Hope this helps.

Good point. I have a Steri-Pen and a filter. They tend to stay home a lot. We did the entire JMT a few years ago drinking directly from the streams. Tastes good. Good for you.

I dipped my first Sierra cup into Lone Pine Creek in 1964. Went a long time drinking the filter Kool-Aid (OMG giardia!!!!) instead of the water. Dropped that years ago in most places I go. Looking forward to just dipping the cup again. I carry a vial of saturated iodine solution, but in the emergency kit, not my pocket, and I drink upstream of the herd.

+1 on the dipping and sipping...

I see way too many WAG bags to be comfortable dipping and sipping along the MMWT. Other places in the Sierra I dip and sip, here in the summer, it's a Steripen.

I still think I will treat, I don't think its worth the risk. Is the water still crystal clear at Trail Camp? Man i'm excited, 4th of July with my 16 year old. Like the beer commercial, "doesn't get much better than that".

Trail Camp is the one place that everyone appears to think requires treating, filtering, etc. Consultation Lake and the switchbacks are another matter.

Me, I love my Steripen. Still using the batteries that got me through last summer (though I am carrying spares and will swap out eventually).

I am thinking Steripen lately, I heard that they did make some improvements. My only problem is that most places I ever hike with a water source such as the canyon the water is real muddy. I think under those conditions a pre-filter then a Mini Works or something similar is in order. Thanks for the advice everyone!

The inlet to the Trail Camp pond is as clear and good as it gets. I'll dip and drink there every time.

I'm gonna go looking for that inlet. I assume that is to the West?

(I used a prefilter with my Steripen on Whitney, though the water didn't really need it anywhere.)

Thanks, that was what I was trying to figure out.

(I used a prefilter with my Steripen on Whitney, though the water didn't really need it anywhere.) [/quote]

> I'm gonna go looking for that inlet. I assume that is to the West?

Yes, to the west. A minute or so walk off the trail.

Here is an excellent article on Giardia, written by a certain fellow named R. Rockwell. (Thank you Bob.) Pay particular attention to the section regarding the Sierra's. I've never had the malady, drinking unfiltered, clear water, but I am careful to filter drinking water in the area below Bishop Pass (it's become one of the most trashed trails on the east side).

http://www.ridgenet.net/~rockwell/Giardia.pdf

There is definitely no need to pre filter, I don't know anyone who does. Both systems work fine, it is a matter of preference.

If you do use iodine tablets (might be hard to find right now!), many people don't know that the "neutralizing tablets" often sold with them, are vitamin C. So, if you use a flavoring in the water, like Gatorade, virtually all of which contain Vit C, you want to wait until the chemical is done working before adding the drink mix.

(I also do not treat the water, though)

Polar Pure iodine system is still available. I just got new one through Amazon. I'll scrap the big glass jar for a little one, however. Then into the emergency kit.