I feel like this subject must have been covered but I only found one short thread a couple of years old.
So basically I'm planning to hike the PCT this year and am wondering if a filter is something I should strongly consider taking along. I hiked the AT thru in '04 and almost thru in '06 and only used aquamira. All shorter hikes I've done in the east since then have been with aquamira. I've drank some pretty nasty looking, cloudy, beaver pond water but have always been careful to follow the instructions (maybe throwing in a few extra drops) and let it set plenty of time and have never had any ill effects.
My problem is that I have absolutely no idea what to expect on the PCT. I'm mainly concerned about the southern section, of course, where I envision water sources as cattle troughs thick with unknown putrid matter and an occasional dead animal floating around for affect. I'm sure I'm blowing that out of proportion but I really am curious what to expect and whether or not I should be including a filter in my pack.
I've gotten very used to the light and cheap aquamira method and would very much like to stick with it if at all possible. I feel like if I had a filter I would maybe only use it a few times... but then again I guess it only takes one bad source to make you sick and put a big kink in your hiking plans.
What did you guys do/What do you think? Thanks a lot.