[pct-l] Water treatment

[Reinhold Metzger]

So that is why REI stopped selling iodine crystals....I often wondered why?

Different folks, different strokes....the same holds true for water 
purification.
As with bears and snakes some folks are overly concerned about the water 
in the wilderness, others are
overly naive.
I know some hikers who never purify and drink straight from the river 
with a cup.
There are others, however, who do get sick.
Even Scott Williamson, the undisputed king of the PCT with 13 
"Thru-hikes", has gotten sick more then once.
Giardia is out there, there is no question....the question is....WHERE?
A water source may be safe today and tomorrow cattle, horses or other 
animals may contaminate the stream upstream and it all flows downstream.
Also, because some folks can drink the water straight from the river, it 
does not mean all folks can.
Some folks may have greater tolerance ore immunity to giardia.

Back in the old days we used to boil the water....then about 30 years 
ago a chemist in our Boy Scout Troop supplied all the adult high 
adventure leaders with a bottle of crystal iodine in solution.
Now days, on my solo hikes, I carry a small 1.5 ounce bottle of iodine 
crystals in solution.
These 1.5 ounces give me peace of mind and eliminate all the guessing 
and wondering.
I don't like filters....to heavy,  time consuming, can plug, can crack, 
etc.,etc.
Takes me 5 minutes to fill and treat my 2 liters and I'm on the 
way...and there is not much to go wrong.
The trace of iodine flavor does not bother me anymore....I've been 
drinking it to long.
And if I want a more refreshing taste, I add a dash of Crystal Light 
which I carry in a film spool container,
which is usually sufficient  for a one week trek.
WORD OF CAUTION.....wait 20 minutes or so, to give the iodine time to do 
its job, before adding the
Crystal Light.
And yes, the iodine crystal solution should be in a glass 
bottle....plastic will absorb iodine.

The good news....in 30 years of hiking with the scouts in S. California, 
the Sierra and the Grand Canyon,
nobody ever got sick drinking iodine treated water.
Not a bad record....the iodine must be working reasonably well.

JMT Reinhold
-----------------------------
Ryan Brooks wrote:
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2007/fr0702.htm