[pct-l] Water Purification

[g l]

I would like to reiterate the poor field performance of the PUR water filter.  I spent over a hundred dollars on one a few years back.  I then went for a short jaunt of about a week in Yosemite.  I had used it for several days without any problems when I came across a man and his son at a creek.  Their PUR had just quit working.  So I offered mine to use at the creek.  I had just used it several miles back to "camel up".  However, when they attempted to use MINE it too failed!!!  No amount of coaching or sweet-talking or re-finagling it helped.  Two failed PURs in the same place at the same time.  All that money for nothing........

I now carry an MSR Sweetwater that I like VERY much.  It is well designed and pumps easily.  I will however most likely abandon it for Aqua Mira on the PCT next year, just to cut weight.  I researched AM online last week to see if there was any known ill effects from it's use.  As near as I could tell, it's non-carcinogenic, etc.  However, it appears that not a lot of studies have been done in humans.  As hiking consumers I do think it warrants a little research before we blindly put chemicals in our bodies without knowing the effects.  (Especially over the course of a long distance hike).  Those concerned would do well to carry their (reliable) water filters and then chemical txs as a backup.

Wheeew

Deems <losthiker at sisqtel.net> wrote: 1. How much of the PCT have you hiked?
2. What did you do about water purification?
3. Would you make changes? What would you change?
~~~~~~~~~
1.  31 years so far, but they keep changing the route and rearranging the 
scenery..

2.  In 1976, I used Halozone tablets. By the mid 1980s and up until 2001 I 
used water filters. I've found that most filter and/or pump filter systems 
will fail. I've seen 4 Pur Hiker systems fail on the trail in seven years, 
causing concern, fatigue, and failed hikes; even though I consider the Pur 
Hiker the best designed water filter system I've used.  In 2002, I started 
using Aqua Mira for all my hikes, and have had no problems. In 2007 on the 
PCT I met two hikers having Pur Hiker problems. The first I met at Raymond 
creek, one of the finest creeks I've enjoyed. He started pumping, and I told 
him it's pure, feel free to drink it's soul. He worried about knowing that 
some unknown critter may have unknowingly disgraced the drainage, 
unknowingly even to Rummy. His pump was clogged from some other creek up the 
trail as he struggled to pump a quart of water; so I asked him "what is your 
backup water purifier system?" He said, "I have none, just the Pur."  I told 
him, "I'm on my back up now", the wisdom of knowing which creek is clean, 
and which ones I should use Aqua Mira upon. The second hiker left the PCT at 
Lake Tahoe due to a clogged Pur Hiker filter to buy another, and re-entered 
the PCT further south, missing a section. The third Pur failed in Evolution 
valley due to a cracked case, and even though this hiker carried Aqua Mira 
he still abandoned his JMT hike due to his inexperience with on trail water 
strategy decisions. The fourth Pur Hiker failed in the Ruby Wilderness when 
the case cracked while pumping. I don't trust water filters, based upon the 
failure rate I've encountered with many different models and manufactures. 
If it's all you've got, then your adventure is vulnerable to its weaknesses.
~~~~
I  judge my water by the potential upstream risks, condition, temperature 
and amount of usuage by wildlife and humans. If it has no upstream risks 
from trails, roads, livestock, and humans, and looks clear and cold, I 
generally drink freely from it. Many of the Sierra lakes are the cleanest 
water sources you will encounter along the PCT, and I've drank freely from 
them south of Muir Pass.  If I question its conditon, then I use Aqua Mira. 
My water source style may not work for you, since my water source here at my 
house is also a wilderness creek, Little Grider Creek, and my body has 
gained some tolerance over the years.

3. I have already made them based upon wildereness trials, errors, and 
experience. I've had no sick days from my water choices along the trail.

 www.pbase.com/losthiker
 http://users.sisqtel.net/losthiker/pikastove/ 


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