View Full Version : Newb needs H20 advice (hiking SNP)
Hey folks -
This old man is goin hiking again - last time was '73!. I'm not sure if I'm going to be a section hiker or not, but I am going to do the Shenandoah section from South to North in two weeks. I hiked up to Hightop (SNP in VA) last weekend as a shakedown. At the shelter that night I was taking a poll of who filters/boils, etc. Most of the thru-hikers that were there just drank it straight from the source. My question relates to this section (SNP) in particular. Should I buy a filter? Or, boil it? Or drink it and don't worry about it? The box spring up at the top of Hightop was cold and clear - I just took my chances and gulped it down - was that risky? Thanks in advance for the advice!
BigE
Old man? I didn't start hiking seriously until I was 45! ;)
You'll get all sorts of advice, but I seldom treat water. If it looks really ratty or is from a pond or lake, I may use iodine or boil 1st, depends.
Footslogger
07-19-2005, 17:12
BigE ...I think you're going to get a lot of opinions on this one.
I'll tell you what I use - - AquaMira
I own and have used at least one of every brand of water filter on the market (and some of them are no longer on the market). Once you use a filter on the trail during a distance hike, the internal element remains damp and typically covered with debris and, in some cases, bacteria, protozoa, viruses etc. That just doesn't seem to me like the type of surface I want to use in filtering my water. That doesn't even touch on the issues regarding possible contamination of the input and output hoses during handling.
In the end you've got to do what makes sense to you and what feels safe.
'Slogger
AT 2003
We carry a filter with us all the time regardless. When hiking in Shenandoah if we're getting water from a stream or standing source it gets filtered. There's just too many animals and idiot people around for us to feel comfortable about the water quality. We hike a lot of the side trails and that's where most of your water will be coming from if you're off of the AT. If we can see the water is coming right out from the side of the hill/mountain then it's a 50/50 shot as the whether or not it gets filtered. Depends on time and how tired we are.
At a lot of the shelters the water comes out of a spring and goes into a collecting area which is where most people draw their water. It's also where they wash themselves, their dishes, the dog drinks, etc. Personally, I think a lot of the issues with filtering or purifying water are probably all in the head and the water is usually fine to drink without doing anything, but there's that infrequent time when it isn't, so for peace of mind we filter more often than not.
We carry a filter instead of chemicals as we like the convenience of being able to drink right away. We're not able to get enough time off from work/kids/etc. to be out for more than 4 or 5 days at a time so the weight penalty isn't that much of a consideration.
I take the little bottle of iodine tablets for backup but filter much of the time. If the water is coming right out of the the rock, I'll drink as is.
As a weekend warrior and thru hiker supporter, I usually carry a gallon and a filter. Personally, I consume about a quart and a half per day, but it can't hurt to have extra...and if a hiker's in need, I can help.
I got a "Hiker" model before that "expensive company" bought out the original design and use the "Guide" filter for better protection from Giardia Cyst (nasty bug that you DONT want). In my area (NJ), it's a necessary evil weight burden. The area you plan on sectioning is mostly ok...til you get close to civilization/blue ridge pkw/skyline drive...there are a lot of spring fed streams that aren't too badly afflicted by road run off, peoplepee and idiocy.
I've seen other hikers carry a gallon bladder with a PUR or First Need filter....they fill the bladder, connect a hose and filter rig and use gravity feed to fill 2 or 3 1-quart bottles. A hiker I ran into in MD this past weekend said he only fills at pumps or faucets (is that possible?). He carries 2 24oz soda bottles and fills once a day.
I know the trend is to travel light...and all that's fine and well. It's a subjective choice, but I like to err on the side of caution.
Lone Wolf
07-19-2005, 19:38
I never filter/treat/boil nuthin.
Thanks for all the feedback - I'm leaning towards no filter through the park - I'm thinking that I'll be hitting a few campgrounds along the way where I can tank up as well. Seems to me the springs that are up in the higher elevations in the park are probably fine. My son is going with me, so I'm thinking we'll both take 32oz Nalgenes + 72oz platy each, and I might carry an extra 80oz if it's as hot as it is this week. I read somewhere up here that the Blackrock hut source is sometimes "iffy", that's the only stretch I'm really concerned about.
Thanks again -
BigE
From Rockfish Gap all the way the Black Rock Hut has always been a problem for us as far as water goes. There is a small spring at Calf Mountain that was almost non-existent when we were through last time and then two more a couple miles up the trail. Those two dry up if you look at them the wrong way. There is a beaver (man made?) pond between the two shelters that should have water in it, but I'm not sure of the quality. The spring at Black Rock was flowing great the last time we were there, but I don't know if that's year round.
Have a great hike, we love SNP.
Untreated and unfiltered water can and often does contain viruses, protozoa, and bacteria of fecal origin. Many of these organisms can make you quite ill.
It's easy to treat or filter your water. Suffering through reovirus, giardia, or cryptosporidium would be anything but easy.
Although some on this site say they've never gotten sick from drinking untreated water, others tell you quite the opposite. You can believe either side, it's your decision. My two cents worth (after working 16 years in water microbiology) is to filter, boil, or treat drinking water, and be sure that your treatment method takes out viruses, protozoa, and bacteria. Personally, I like Exstream, but there are other methods that take out all 3 classes of pathogens.
Lone Wolf
07-20-2005, 21:02
Hog may know his book knowledge but after 19 years and 16,000 miles on the trail I have never treated/boiled/filtered or altered my drinking water. Never been sick either, contrary to what he says. I don't lie.
Oh and BigE, I was a "newb" once and never took any advice from any former thru-hikers before I hiked the AT. There was no internet then.
Wolf,
I bet you can drink the water in Mexico too without getting sick. :D
I always filter. It doesn't take much time for the peace of mind.
LW, I'm glad you haven't gotten sick. And I don't doubt you. My point was that other hikers HAVE come down with Giardia and other waterborne pathogens. That means that some fraction of all hikers can expect to get sick from drinking untreated water. Which in turn means that newcomers (and others) are going to be taking their chances if they decide not to treat or boil or filter.
I can appreciate both points of views on the matter - and thanks again for the input. I may get a filter - I don't want to spend a lot (spent a small fortune on everything else this year). I'm thinking maybe the KATADYN Hiker model for about $59 or maybe the MSR one that I saw at Dick's for about the same price. My gut feeling tells me if the source is on or near a summit, like the one on Hightop, and it's coming right out of the ground (into a box in that case) -- it's probably ok. Lower down, or streams -- that's when I think I might filter for peace of mind. And yep Kncats - that stretch from Rockfish to Blackrock is the one I'm thinking about the most. I picked up another 80oz Platy yesterday, so between the two of us we're going to carry 2 32oz Nalgene's, 2 70oz Platy's with a tube, and 2 80oz Platy's. Thats 360 oz's! Seems like a ton. From Blackrock we can re-supply at Loft Mountain.
Thanks again folks - 2 weeks from tomorrow, I'm outa here! Hope it cools down ;-)
BigE
360 ounces is over 11 quarts, roughly 22 pounds. That's a lot.
Why not get a better estimate on your consumption before trying to carry that much. I suspect that you may be able to get by with 2 quarts, or 3 quarts tops.
From Rockfish Gap to Black Rock Hut is only 20 miles, with a chance of picking up water along the way. Straight through, the most you should need is 4 qts.
Carrying an extra 3 lbs of water may require extra water still! :datz