[pct-l] Giardia Lamblia - Excellent informative article by Robert L. Rockwell, Phd

[Eric Lee]

Ken wrote:
>
Were I to hike the trail starting today, I'd treat water south of the
Sierra, I'd treat none in the Sierra, and I'd look at the situation in
Oregon and Wash.
>

I try to "drink smart" and often don't treat my water, depending on where I
am and what I know is upstream from me.  I rarely treat my water in the
Washington and Oregon high country.

Do remember, though, that a lot of Northern California is cattle country and
there will be cows all over the high wilderness areas where you wouldn't
expect them to be, like in the middle of the Marble Mountain wilderness.  I
don't know if cows spread Giardia or not but they definitely spread E. Coli.
A couple of years ago when I hiked through that area I got careless about
treating my water a couple of times and came down with what I believe was E.
Coli (not officially diagnosed).  I was a pretty sick puppy for a week but
fortunately it hit after I returned home, not while I was out on the trail.

Cows are evil incarnate and I'd personally recommend treating your water if
there's even a remote possibility that there might be livestock in the area.

Eric