[pct-l] filtering in the Sierras

[Lindsey Sommer]

There's been a few posts recently about water quality, filtering etc. For
me the take away lesson is that you should do what you feel comfortable
with. It seems like there's many on this list you choose to forgo filtering
in the Sierras and those who do filter. I fall into the camp of always
filtering. NOT because I think every water source is taunted (I'm sure many
are very good), but filtering just offers me an additional peace of mind,
same as the hiker Matt mentioned below. I have a very sensitive stomach, so
taking precautions, even ones that simply exist to help me feel mentally
better, are worth it.

So, do what you feel comfortable with! If you choose to forgo filtering but
are going to spend the whole time worrying about getting sick then maybe a
different solution will work better for you. Hike your own hike :)

Enjoy!

Lindsey

On Mon, Aug 6, 2012 at 2:02 AM, Matt Geis <mgeis at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I didn't filter anything in the Sierra, and it worked for me, but I'm just
> one hiker.  I read all the stats about how Sierra water (flowing) was
> cleaner than San Francisco municipal tap water (known to be very good), and
> my experience bore that out.  I also met another hiker who, possessed of
> the same facts, filtered almost everything -- because earlier in his life
> he became gravely ill from a waterborne parasite in Central America.
>
> He knew that his previous experience was different from the PCT, but he
> chose to filter anyway because it gave him the peace of mind that he needed
> in order to fully enjoy his hike.  I didn't filter, and enjoyed my hike.
>
> As for the guy at REI, take his info, respect it, add it to your other
> info, and make the right decision for you.  I asked a guy at REI in the
> footwear department about his thoughts on a sock for hiking 2700 miles in a
> summer.  All he could say was (smugly), "I would not recommend hiking 2700
> miles."  The point being, your mileage may vary with any one person's
> opinion.
>
> Best of luck,
> Iron Chef
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
> All content is copyrighted by the respective authors.
> Reproduction is prohibited without express permission.
>