[pct-l] Fw: Water purification/shower

Fri Nov 19 11:48:21 CST 2010

Hi Mendorider,

I recently read a book by a kid named Hawk who rode part of the PCT in the 70s from northern Ca to Washington (he had to hire a trailer to get him & the horse over the Columbia river bridge), so I appreciate that a horse is not a car. He also walked quite a bit.

One liter is barely enough. Sometimes 5 gallons would not be enough to REALLY clean my feet. I do not heat the water. If I have left over water at the end of the day it is no longer freezing River water is COLD.I get damp, i soap up & I rinse off, all from top to bottom. I use only drops of soap. 

This is not enough to get clean, it is only enough to get the worst of the stench off before going into town.

hm

--- On Thu, 11/18/10, Edward Anderson <mendoridered at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Edward Anderson <mendoridered at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Fw: Water purification/shower
To: "Mike Cunningham" <hikermiker at yahoo.com>
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
Date: Thursday, November 18, 2010, 5:13 PM

Hey Mike,
When you ride just one horse, unsupported, as I do, and must bring 6 pounds/day of processed feed for your horse you must also be very conscious of both weight and bulk. I even wear a knapsack. There are lots of other things that a solo rider must also bring related to his horse - even a saw to cut fallen trees that the hikers can simply climb over or crawl under. I had to cut many dozens of trees during my PCT ride.  Also, I didn't always ride. I sometimes walked.  Next year, because of the extra weight of having to carry three Bear Canisters for the entire 500 miles (I don't visit towns), I will probably walk as much as 25% of the distance.

One liter for a shower, in my opinion, is not nearly enough.  I usually use about five liters and often start by washing my hair and then working my way down.  How do you warm the water in your one-liter soda bottle? It would work if you put something black under it (having put on an extra cap without holes).  For an extra 3.5 ounces you could have a real shower and even have extra water left over to provide you with camp-side gravity-fed water from a faucet.
    MendoRider

From: Mike Cunningham <hikermiker at yahoo.com>
To: PCT-l at backcountry.net; Edward Anderson <mendoridered at yahoo.com>
Sent: Thu, November 18, 2010 1:24:46 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Fw: Water purification/shower

Interesting, yet you ride a horse, so can carry that weight. .

Several years back I purchased what amounts to a bottle cap with holes in it as part of a "shower kit" (the other parts were a bit of string & directions.) put out by Cascade Designs to fit on their water bladders. I found that it also fits on a soda bottle. One could probably just make some holes in a soda bottle cap & get the same effect.

I have found that I can take a reasonably adequate shower with one liter of water using a soda bottle. It is helpful before getting off the trail to avoid those looks from non-hikers. It weighs less than one ounce.

hm

--- On Thu, 11/18/10, Edward Anderson <mendoridered at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Edward Anderson <mendoridered at yahoo.com>
Subject: [pct-l] Fw: Water purification/shower
To: PCT-l at backcountry.net
Date: Thursday, November 18, 2010, 3:07 PM

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Edward Anderson <mendoridered at yahoo.com>
To: giniajim <jplynch at crosslink.net>
Sent: Thu, November 18, 2010 11:15:23 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Water purification/shower

I wonder why the hikers don't bring along a solar shower - yet complain about 
being dirty and "stinky".  I always bring along my solar shower and make good 
use of it to sometimes shower and also for having the convenience of 
having gravity-fed running water from a faucet right at my campsite.  Mine holds 
2.5 gallons and weighs only 11 ounces. I have had it for over 20 years.  The 
Pocket Shower, which I will bring on my PCT ride next year, also holds 2.5 
gallons and only weighs 4.5 ounces.

MendoRider/Ed Anderson

________________________________
From: giniajim <jplynch at crosslink.net>
To: Pct-L at backcountry.net
Sent: Thu, November 18, 2010 10:52:01 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Water purification

I'm good for a quick clean-up, but wouldn't water do as well?  
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ellen Shopes 
  To: Pct-L at backcountry.net 
  Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2010 1:31 PM
  Subject: [pct-l] Water purification

  Used the wet wipes and they were great for a quick clean up before I stuck
  my filthy legs in my bag.  Costco sells an over-sized alcohol wipe that was
  cheaper and good to clean up with, too.  A third option that I found in some
  towns along the way were 'feminine hygeine wipes' which were about the same
  and smelled better:-)
  Elderly Ellen
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