[pct-l] Mistakes I made while hiking

[Bob Bankhead]

The water at the Kennedy Meadows store and at the KM campground just north of there is safe to drink as is. It's the Kern River and the creeks through the nearby meadows that are potentially dangerous due to the grazing cattle and the chemical fertilizers used on the meadows north of KM. 

One spot to definitely avoid getting water is the very tempting bridge crossing over the South Fork of the Kern 11.5 miles north of KM. It's an idyllic lunch or snack spot under the trees before you start the march across Monarche Meadows. All those swallows you see flitting about are nesting under that bridge. Where do you think all their bodily wastes go? Look upstream across the large open meadow. There are large herds of cattle out there. You'll see some of them on your march north.

Load up your water bottles before leaving KM campground, and if you must refill, filter and/or treat all water sources, even the springs (if you can find them) until you reach Death Canyon Creek or the year-round creek just south of it.

Wandering Bob