[pct-l] Filters vs. Chemicals; what size water bladder?

[David Thibault]

Dan you'll hear lots of opinions on the amount of water to carry.  It
depends a lot on the person, but most people have about a 6 liter capacity
(+/- 2 liters).  I would recommend several smaller containers over one large
one as you WILL spring a leak in the container you have (especially if it is
only one - Murphy loves the PCT).   You can just get a couple of extra water
bottles for the drier sections from your local convenience store and dump
them when no longer needed.

I'm willing to bet after about 600 miles you will rethink the 20 oz water
filter.  Aqua Mira or even bleach will be a full pound lighter.  HYOH and
enjoy the amazing journey.   I just wish I could do it again this year.

Day_Late


..

> From: Dan Africk <danstheman at gmail.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] Filters vs. Chemicals; what size water bladder?
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Message-ID:
>        <1b15d4fc1001201706y578d7386l85cf3424f5f0e64 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Hi, I've joined this list recently in preparation for my thru-hike this
> spring, and appreciate the tons of useful info and perspectives. I'm still
> trying to catch up on the deluge of emails from the list. Anyway, I thought
> I'd throw my 2 cents in about filters vs. chemicals.
>
> I'm a big fan of clean water. I also don't like the idea of drinking
> chlorinated water for 5 months straight, nor am I willing to wait 4 hours
> or
> more for iodine, which apparently is not as effective and also doesn't
> taste
> very good. So I'm pretty much set on using a filter. And most of you will
> think I'm insane, because as of now I plan on bringing the heaviest water
> filter on the market, a Katadyn pocket(20oz).
>
> What I like about the katadyn pocket is that its extremely reliable and
> bombproof- It can handle the dirtiest water you can throw at it, and when
> it
> starts to clog, all it takes is a quick scrubbing and it filters like new
> again. It served me well in Alaska, filtering water that was gray colored
> due to glacial silt. Its nice to be able to pump water from a small muddy
> puddle and get crystal clear water thats drinkable right away.
> The filter element will easily last the whole trail without ever needing a
> replacement (unless I'm extremely careless and drop the ceramic element on
> a
> rock- the capacity is rated at 50,000 liters). There are no small plastic
> parts to break, and the only part you need to keep clean is the output
> hose,
> everything else can safely touch contaminated water.
>
> I also bring a few chlorine dioxide tablets as a backup, and for peace of
> mind with really sketchy water sources
>
> On another note, I'm trying to decide what size water bladder I should
> bring
> to haul water for the desert sections. I plan on bringing either the MSR
> Dromlite 6 liter, or the MSR Dromedary 10 liter(they don't make a 10L
> dromlite). This is in addition to two 1 liter bottles, so I would have a
> total of either 8 liters or 12 liters max capacity. I'd like to have enough
> capacity to carry enough water for almost all if not all of the waterless
> sections.
> I would like to hear from people who have done the PCT or done a lot of
> desert hiking, how much water do you normally use in a day in those areas,
> and how much do you need to carry?
>
> .
>
>
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> End of Pct-l Digest, Vol 25, Issue 88
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>