[pct-l] Sierra runs

[CMountainDave at aol.com (CMountainDave@xxxxxxx)]

In a message dated 11/6/03 2:04:34 PM, edmond@mydogmeg.net writes:

<< The pink snow is snow algae. I've heard it's toxic, but have no idea if 
accidental consumption would cause diarrhea. It could be the pink snow 
and/or all the melting snow collecting the previous season's marmot, deer, 
bear and hiker scat into the otherwise pristine water sources.
 >>

When it hasn't rained for a while, most water in creeks filters itself out 
fairly well in a short distance. It is when it is raining hard -- or just rained 
hard -- that contaminants overwhelm the creeks ability to cleanse itself. 
That is the only time I am somewhat leery to drink untreated water -- when the 
creeks and rivers are running brown. 
   As Obi Wan Kenobi, Yoda and Jardine would say, "feel the force" Your 
anxiety comes from fear of getting giardia, even though there isn't much you can do 
about preventing exposure. Studies show that just as high a percentage of 
people-or higher-treating their water contracting giardia as those who don't 
   It's just like aluminum pots and eggs. They've been given bad press so 
everybody is going to believe they're not good for you for decades to come. So it 
is with wilderness water. The forest service has given IT a bad rap by 
declaring "treat all water" even though it is a fact that the drinking water of San 
Francisco has a higher percentage of giardia cysts than any Sierra lake ever 
tested. Studies suggest that giardia is spread just like e-coli -- through 
social contact such as rummaging through a hiker box or sharing gorp
  I am utterly convinced of that. Delusional or not, it allows me to drink 
wilderness water with complete mental immunity. If I were to get the runs, I 
would just assume I got them from some non water source. I can't and won't 
mentally accept that the wilderness water I have drunk for nearly 50 years with 
impunity is not potable. 
   Now any major city's water untreated is another story. I just assume its 
unfit to drink and that is why they have to chlorinate it