Mt Whitney Webcam
Mt Williamson Webcam
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 155 guests, and 16 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
filtering water question
#18928 10/04/11 01:55 PM
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 29
J
JG1975 Offline OP
OP Offline
J
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 29
A nice man at REI suggested getting a collapsible water bowl, just in case there's a lot of sediment in the stream. I could fill up the bowl, let the stuff settle and filter off the top. Do you feel this is necessary? The nylon bowl doesn't weigh too much, but I would rather not carry it, if I don't have to.
Any comments/suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.

Re: filtering water question
JG1975 #18930 10/04/11 02:04 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
S
Offline
S
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
You don't need a bowl if you are hiking in the Sierra. I suppose if you are up there during a storm, and the streams are running brown (I have seen that), then it would be a good idea.

But wouldn't you also be carrying a pot or two to cook with?

Those REI people... they do like to sell stuff.

...but then, I don't carry a filter or any other treatment method, either.

Re: filtering water question
JG1975 #18931 10/04/11 02:31 PM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 849
Likes: 3
Offline
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 849
Likes: 3
Pack some coffee filters...

Better yet, don't get your water in a muddy stream!

No filtration necessary except through your teeth. grin


Journey well...
Re: filtering water question
Steve C #18935 10/04/11 04:20 PM
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 29
J
JG1975 Offline OP
OP Offline
J
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 29
I'm day hiking, so no pots. The REI guy didn't sell me the nylon bowl; got it at Big 5. I won't take it. Thanks much.

Re: filtering water question
JG1975 #18940 10/05/11 01:17 AM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 215
Offline
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 215
Originally Posted By: JG1975
A nice man at REI suggested getting a collapsible water bowl, just in case there's a lot of sediment in the stream. I could fill up the bowl, let the stuff settle and filter off the top. Do you feel this is necessary? The nylon bowl doesn't weigh too much, but I would rather not carry it, if I don't have to.
Any comments/suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.


A paper coffee filter over the intake gizmo will catch virtually all sediment. If the sediment is big stuff then pouring the unfiltered water through a hanky prior to filtering will get that and the swimming things out.


Mike
Re: filtering water question
JG1975 #18947 10/05/11 08:44 AM
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,158
Offline
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,158
The typical sediment load above treeline in the High Sierra (including Mt Whitney) is decomposed granite (sand) with a small amount of fine material (silt) and very little organic material. The sand sinks to the bottom, but the fines might be in suspension and hard to see. Organic matter can be invisible, but there is very little organic matter above treeline. The water is mostly clear above treeline and you're only on Whitney for 1-3 days. However, with 17,000 people on the Whitney trail every year, I recommend some type of insurance against water contamination in this area. Filtering seems like a heavy option. Consider Aquamira drops, a UV penlight, tablets, or other lightweight methods instead of filtering.

I really like the Aquamira drops. Mix the two parts and then go get your source water. By the time you fill up your container, the 5-minute premix is done. Then there is a 20-minute delay before you can drink, but the taste is clean, its very convenient, and lightweight. I usually go with about 1/2 the recommended concentration unless the water is sketchy.

I can share a few lessons I've learned the hard way over the years using a variety of filters. This is mostly applicable to popular camp locations at lower elevations below treeline where some slow creeks (and many lakes) might have organic matter (mush) at the bottom and/or a higher concentration of fine material (silts). This stuff will clog your filter quickly if you aren't careful with the location of the intake in the source water. This may require you to be hunched over in a pretzel position with a third hand to hold onto the clean water container. Prefiltering is usually a very good idea in this situation. Use the prefilter that comes with your filter, or any decent prefilter that connects to your intake hose. Bring a spare prefilter especially for a long trip or big group. Coffee filters with a rubber band or twist tie to seal around a prefilter will help extend the life of the prefilter, but will increase pumping resistance and its another hassle to deal with, but it seems to work and its lightweight.

You can do as REI recommended and pour the untreated water through a bandana or other cloth before filtering (coffee filters are too slow for drip filtering). This technique allows you to sit down on a rock or log while pumping. You should still use a prefilter and perhaps a coffee filter depending on the fine sediment load. This approach requires an additional container you are trying to avoid, but your cookware might work for small batches. Platypus makes a large bag container with a ziplock open top which can be useful and not too heavy. This approach is surely overkill above treeline especially when dealing with snowmelt as the nearby source.

Re: filtering water question
SierraNevada #18955 10/05/11 01:01 PM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 27
Likes: 1
Offline
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 27
Likes: 1
If you are considering a bowl, you might want to try one of these:

Backpackers Pantry Lightweight Pack Bowl



I carry one in my filter kit. It's 1.2 oz and wraps around my Hiker filter so weight/space is fairly negligible.

It's handy when you can't find a comfortable place to pump directly at the water source. Fill up the bowl, find a nice place to sit, and pump there. And if the intake tube to your filter happens to detach, it won't get washed down Yosemite Falls.

Re: filtering water question
QITNL #18958 10/05/11 03:53 PM
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 29
J
JG1975 Offline OP
OP Offline
J
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 29
Oh, that lightweight pack bowl looks pretty cool. Thanks!!

Re: filtering water question
JG1975 #18962 10/05/11 06:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18
D
Offline
D
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18
Most filters have a foam pre-filter on them anyhow. For Whitney, the water is not cloudy to begin with, so it should not be an issue. As for me, the Steripen works great.

Re: filtering water question
docdiamond #18977 10/06/11 06:00 AM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,253
W
Offline
W
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,253
What's a water filter? wink

My Pur Hiker has been gathering dust for a half a decade.

Re: filtering water question
wbtravis #18978 10/06/11 07:05 AM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
S
Offline
S
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
wbtravis wrote> What's a water filter? wink

I'm in the dip and sip group too. Time to trot out Bob R's 60,000 Liters of Water Consumed -- Untreated and the study: Giardia lamblia and Giardiasis

There are more links in the first post in the Reference forum.


Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4
(Release build 20200307)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.4.33 Page Time: 0.041s Queries: 36 (0.036s) Memory: 0.6251 MB (Peak: 0.7118 MB) Data Comp: Off Server Time: 2024-03-28 23:00:24 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS