water in the back country

[Colorado Cowboy]

Water treatment methods:

1) No treatment. Studies have shown in most backcountry areas of the Western US this is pretty safe, and people are far more likely to bring a pathogen into the backcountry than get infected with a pathogen from the backcountry. I don't like this method for peace-of-mind reasons.

I guess I'm old fashioned and yes I'm just old too. But I really don't use much in the way of filters, treatment and such in my backcountry water consumption. First of all I won't use water from areas that have livestock there. I will only use water from sources that run freely in gravel, rocky stream beds, preferably as close to their source as possible. I am pretty picky about where I camp and what water I use. I don't ever remember being sick that could be attributed to the water I drank. Just my take....

 

[RckyMtnNative]

Lot’s of great info on this thread from previous posts. I myself have switched to using AquaMira for almost all of my backcountry trips later in the season in areas where I know I’ll have regular clear water sources. It does take some time, but 30 minutes always seems to fly by for me in the backcountry. If you’re looking to cut ounces from your pack, it’s one of the best options in my opinion. A full two bottle set (it’s a 2 part system that will treat up to 30 gallons) of AquaMira is only 2.8 ounces compared to 14.6 ounces for the Katadyn Pro Hiker (these are the weights I recorded from my Pelouze digital scale). And to me the taste is unrecognizable. I still use the Katadyn Pro-Hiker during early season when there’s runoff or if I’m unfamiliar with the water sources in the area since the filter is nice to have for murky or muddy water. Either way, you can’t go wrong. I use the liquid AquaMira (haven’t tried the tablets yet).

 

[gretch6364]

I also am 100% Aquamira liquid. Never been sick and I think it improves the taste of the water. We always fill up our bottles at night or in the morning...and fill back up throughout the day before you run out of water. I am in CO, so I know it is different for everyone, and we hunt a valley with lots of springs.

 

[Chippy Hacky]

I go with the Sawyer Squeeze, it is light and compact but it takes some time and your hands get wet. I never had a problem with it freezing but the heat off my back (while it is in the pack) probably helps. The bladder(s) can also be used for extra water storage which has come in handy.

 

[trkytrack2]

I'd like to hear from somebody that "has gotten the bug" from drinking bad water while out in the backcountry. Does it come on fast or is it one of those get sick after you get back home?

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

tt2,

I haven't gotten it myself, but here is what the CDC says:

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/giardia/gen_info/faqs.html

Incubation takes 1 - 3 weeks. Most folks are out of the woods (so to speak) when it hits them.

 

[wapiti66]

Giardia sounds very bad. But, I have drank from a stream only after I watched another person who drinks from that same stream every year without any problems. If it's been tried and tested I will probably drink the water if it is flowing good. If I am unsure I use the Iodine tablets...
1)Very inexpensive way to cut weight
2)saves a lot of space
3)I don't mind the taste, and usually add Emergen-C powder

Just a thought: To deal with the wait, I'd try to replenish my supply of water before I have run completely out even though that means carrying some extra weight I like to drink a lot so Im willing to lug extra water to be safe. I guess instead of carrying the weight of a filter carry that extra weight in water and haul similar weight? that's a lot of waits/weights haha

 

[Chippy Hacky]

There is not much better then drinking from a high mountain stream. I don't think I could get myself to put some kind of tablet in the water, that's just me though. If I have to drink out of a pond or something, maybe, but a stream, I am taking the chance. Everything I have read suggests that it is very unlikely to get something and I have never gotten anything.

Just think about all of those guys 20-70+ years ago, our fathers and grandfathers. They never put tablets in water, they didn't filter it either. I carry a filter for when something looks iffy.

 

[AT Hiker]

I filter everything with my hiker pro, if you dont have a treatment system you better get the water from the source and pray..I actually pray when using a filter too! Technically viruses cannot be filtered, but a .2 micron filter of the hiker pro (or other similar size filters) works pretty good. The theory is viruses attach themselves to larger particles and is therefore filtered through your filter.

The "bug" usually affects you when you get home, but if you get it while in the backcountry you are in a heap of trouble. I seen someone get carried out of the Appalachian Mountains that had it, dehydration was a understatement.

 

[jjenness]

Back in 2007 my hunting partner and I were packing in around 6 miles into the wilderness out of the Cinnabar Basin, north of Gardner MT, for an archery elk hunt. We had hunted the area before and we always drank right out of a stream that was about 2 miles in. Just like in the past we drank from the stream, only this time something wasn't right. By nightfall I had a raging temp, chills, vomiting, diareaha, and a splitting headache. We hastily made a camp in less than ideal terrain and I proceeded to eat every single medication in both of our first aid packs. I have never in my life thought that an illness in the backcountry was going to come so close to killing me. We woke up the next morning and my temp had broke but I still wasn't feeling to well. We hunted the morning and then decided we needed to head out. To top it all off we ran into a young griz at 10 yds on the hike out. Learned a lot of lessons on that particular hunt, or I guess you could say hike since it only lasted less than 24 hours.

 

[lookinforwater]

Have any of you used the katadyn base camp hanging filter. I thought this would be nice to keep at spike camp and fill my camelback up each morning. I had a hiker pro and it broke after 2 backcountry hunts.

 

[tdub24]

I have the katadyn base camp system. Tested it out this summer, and it worked fairly well. Took approximately 1 minute to fill a 12oz bottle. Not the fastest filter, but the water tasted good. Everybody in camp seemed to like the taste of the water. Took me a few hours to figure out how to get the bottom from leaking, but now that I got, I am happy with it. Doesn't weigh too much, so if I hit the back country I think it will be with me.

 

[lookinforwater]

What did you have to do to keep the bottom from leaking? I was also worried about if it is bulky when you are packing it.

 

[tdub24]

Fixing the leak really wasn't that difficult, just had a bad decision. The filter comes in from the bottom and is threaded. But the bag is not threaded. There is a black piece that screws around the bottom holding the filter in place. Ultimately, I figured out that I had this black piece screwed on too tight. I just twisted the filter a little, then put the black piece just barely snug and the water stopped leaking out. Not sure why they would design the filter to be screwed in, but no threads on the receiving in.

As far a packing goes, you can put everything inside the bag and roll it up. Doesn't take up too much room and is light. I think I have the weight on my computer at home, if I remember, I will post it.

 

[lookinforwater]

Thanks for the info, I think the base camp and hiker pro are pretty much the same weight if I remember right.

 

[tdub24]

My Katadyn Vario weighs in at 19.9 oz, and the Katadyn Base Camp weighs in at 12.2oz (all components stuffed on the inside and bag rolled up). I carry the Vario 90% of the time, but like I previously stated, I will be carrying the base camp in addition if I decide to walk in and stay on the mountain for a few days. Just will have to make sure I am somewhat close to water. Box says the base camp can hold 2.6 gallons, so if I fill it up, I don't want to walk too far with that in my hands.

 

[ArmyArcher]

Used the Katadyn Hiker Pro first time last season and worked great. Also use tablets for back up.

If you don't like the after taste of tablets, pack you some Mios or other beverage mix of choice...

Another thing that helped us was packing in a Coleman 5G plastic container. Once we found water, we filled it up and left at camp to reduce trips back to the water source.

 

[arwaterfowler]

I have used the Katadyn Hiker Pro for years and really like the way it packs in my pack. I also bring some Iodine tablets as a backup. Mark

X2, two old standbys

 

[Squirrel tail]

Back in 2007 my hunting partner and I were packing in around 6 miles into the wilderness out of the Cinnabar Basin, north of Gardner MT, for an archery elk hunt. We had hunted the area before and we always drank right out of a stream that was about 2 miles in. Just like in the past we drank from the stream, only this time something wasn't right. By nightfall I had a raging temp, chills, vomiting, diareaha, and a splitting headache. We hastily made a camp in less than ideal terrain and I proceeded to eat every single medication in both of our first aid packs. I have never in my life thought that an illness in the backcountry was going to come so close to killing me. We woke up the next morning and my temp had broke but I still wasn't feeling to well. We hunted the morning and then decided we needed to head out. To top it all off we ran into a young griz at 10 yds on the hike out. Learned a lot of lessons on that particular hunt, or I guess you could say hike since it only lasted less than 24 hours.

i had the same symptoms but it took 2 weeks for me ..... in all not a good time ..i still will drink out of a spring if im right where it comes out but if im not within 20 yds from the source i filter

 

[dihardhunter]

Sawyer MINI - hands down winner in my opinion. Just make to sure to keep it cozied up to you at night otherwise you could have freezing malfunctions.