Looking for Advice

[backcountrybob]

I will be doing John Muir from Devils Post Pile,in August Any advice would be most welcome,Its my first major hike in years,Also as a anti social hike normaly solo ,will be part of small group.

[azbackpackr]

Life is short. You'll be in the Sierras. Enjoy every minute, even those pesky other people!

Hey, you asked for advice, that's advice!

I love the sierras and got to go there for a one week backpack for the first time in 28 years, about 3 years ago. It was great, but some in our group were annoying to me. I tried to just enjoy it despite them. It was not that hard to do.

One thing I did that helped a lot with that. I bought a new big agnes solo tent, and insisted on using it! So I had some nice privacy, such as on a day when we hiked only 4 miles in the rain and set up camp at Lower Crabtree Meadow, and I had a good book to read and some hot chocolate and just hung out in my tent and read my book. I was semi-aware that two of the other women, who were sharing a tent, were having a personalitly conflict, but it didn't have to affect me.

Oh, and then there is the bear canister. Get a big one. Make sure it fits in your pack! Pack everything a couple weeks before the trip into the bear canister so you will have plenty of time to refine your packing in that thing.

Be self-sufficient. If you must share anything, let it be your stove, but make the other person carry their share of the fuel.

Life is short, enjoy!

[Jim]

Did you permit up? Do you even need to? Check out the Whitney Portal Store forum or CHATROOM for some local beta. Ignore the no filter religious nuts, in fact don't even ask about filtering in the chat room or you'll be subjected to condescending responses.

[azbackpackr]

Wow, what's that about? Some people are not filtering? We didn't used to, of course, back in the 70's. But I did this last trip. But, come to think of it, I did drink out of a few streams that you could see were running down off a snowfield. Just for old time's sake. No ill effects. Probably a lot of the water there is safe to drink, but why take chances? What's the big deal anyway, if some choose to and others don't? They get religious about that? Sigh...

[te_wa]

that doesnt mean they dont treat the drinking water. plenty of options afloat besides lugging a filter. maybe that's what their focus is about.

[azbackpackr]

Oh, ok. Such as boiling? I'm thinking if they are some kind of purists, they wouldn't want to use treatment chemicals--bad for you, etc., blah blah. I don't have time to look at more websites!

Maybe they put it in their bongs and then drink it?

[Jeffshadows]

UV. I swear by it, personally.

[te_wa]

i dunno elizabeth. im not reading those forums so cannot tell you what they do. from my extensive forum activity on most publicly accessable sites however, it is my understanding that 99% of backcountry water is treated by everyone and that if there is a group of protestors they must be very, very small.

and fwiw, check out the health benefits of chlorine dioxide (sodium chlorite) and its wide uses, one of which is the only EPA approved (not just recognized, but approved - there is a huge difference) - water treatment tablet in the form of MicroPur tabs. This is what i use, and most thru hikers use, along with another form of tablet or liquid made by the Aquamira co.

UV is another wonderful method, weighing about 3.5oz.
my ditty sack usually contains enough tablets to treat 5 gallons on an overnight even tho i dont drink nearly that much water, nice to know i can in case... 5 gallons' worth treatment weighs <1oz.

there are certainly purists who drink from snowmelt - it seems safe enough if you know the source
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorine_dioxide

[Jeffshadows]

I always carry a lot of tabs as a backup, of course.

[BobP]

I use a filter and tabs. I've never carried a filter on dayhikes, but I always have tabs. As for backpacking, I bring both. Tabs for quick fillups and filter for camp(assuming I'm camping near water). I've heard good things about UV, but never used one. 50 miles in the Grand Canyon I mostly filtered, but that filter(msr miniworks) sucked IMO. It doesn't matter what you do to the water in Garnet Canyon, it is nasty salt water and I will never drink it again ;) .

[Jim]

There is a weird contingent of the main people on the portal store board who drink straight from the surface waters of the Sierras. That is fine for them, they can do what they want to, but they attack people who choose to filter and post that the do. The Moderator (not DougSr, who is the owner) is a real pumpkin. He likes to lock threads on the subject and send harassing emails to people for disagreeing with him. Obviously, he did that to me, but also to another poster a few months after he did it to me. They claim to have studies which show all Sierra water is free from contaminants. Whatever, they can do what they want, but telling others they can't choose to filter is arrogant and stupid. The same logic might be: I have never been in an car accident, and I drive on most roads with out seeing other vehicles, so I never wear a seat belt. I don't wear a seat belt, and YOU must absolutely never wear one when you ride with me.

[BobP]

"jhodlof" The same logic might be

See the guy with the glasses, he drinks right from the toilet bowl and never gets sick. You'd never catch me doing that


As far as advice, just be yourself and have a great time.

[big_load]

There is a weird contingent of the main people on the portal store board who drink straight from the surface waters of the Sierras. That is fine for them, they can do what they want to, but they attack people who choose to filter and post that the do.

I've never visited that particular site, but that attitude has many adherents among those who hike mainly in the Sierras and the northern Rockies. Many sources are surely fine without treatment, but I choose not to take the risk and anyone who would criticize me for it is wasting their breath and testing my forbearance. I'd like to see them get by without treatment on some of the nastier desert sources that have saved my bacon.

[te_wa]

thats it.. im going to the Sierras and then im going to poop in the creek. see how they like them apples

[JoelHazelton]

thats it.. im going to the Sierras and then im going to poop in the creek. see how they like them apples

[azbackpackr]

thats it.. im going to the Sierras and then im going to poop in the creek. see how they like them apples

Since the tablets you've been discussing are not available locally, I haven't thought much about trying them, and my filter, a Katadyn, works fine, but I will remember to get some to try next time I'm in a shopping mode. Thanks for the info.

[te_wa]

or, you could buy a really cool gravity filter, for the whole camp.. and support a cottage gear-making american guy.. the ULA Amigo Pro
http://ula-equipment.com/amigo.htm

oohhhh, the link pasting feels sooo goood.

[PaleoRob]

Many sources are surely fine without treatment, but I choose not to take the risk and anyone who would criticize me for it is wasting their breath and testing my forbearance. I'd like to see them get by without treatment on some of the nastier desert sources that have saved my bacon.

Yet another major critique of mine of Kelsey's guides is that he advocates drinking untreated more than I think is wise. If you've been around and know what the deal is, but newbies can pick up the guide and get the wrong impression, and end up in a world of trouble.

[azbackpackr]

No kidding! Symptoms of giardiasis, from an internet site:

"The most common symptoms of giardia include:

Diarrhea, usually lasting 7 to 10 days. It can last longer but can also get better within 2 to 4 days. There first may be a large amount of watery diarrhea followed later by greasy, foul-smelling stools that may float. This is a sign that fat is not being digested properly and instead is being passed from the body in the stool.
Abdominal cramps or tenderness.
Nausea and loss of appetite.
Passing more gas or having more bloating than usual.
Fatigue.
People often do not seek treatment for these symptoms. In most cases, the symptoms gradually get better on their own. But if giardiasis is not treated during the first episode of symptoms, the illness may become a long-term (chronic) problem.

People with chronic giardiasis have bouts of diarrhea that come and go along with the other common symptoms of giardiasis. These episodes alternate between periods of constipation and normal bowel movements, and they last only a few days at a time. Because of this, many people do not seek treatment. Other symptoms of chronic giardiasis include:

Loose, soft, greasy stools (not always watery or liquid). Sometimes the stools may be foul-smelling or foamy and are often passed in small amounts.
Discomfort in the abdomen or pit of the stomach that is often worse after a meal.
Belly cramps, bloating, or pain.
Passing more gas than usual.
Persistent bad breath or belching that sometimes smells of sulfur.
Occasional headaches.
Weight loss.
General feeling of discomfort or illness (malaise), weakness, or fatigue."

Gee, sounds fun, doesn't it?

[backcountrybob]

Wow ! the advice was good to start,I will use solo shelter,I take a survival straw as emergency.I had amoebic dysentry in 1979 from the only spring in the bible,{it nearly killed me } but I seem to be able to drink almost any water that I find .Looked at a sportsmans shelter on Cebelos a bivvy /with awning thing ,same found on sportsmans guide very low cost.Will be going on a shake the bugs out next week on the highline trail Payson .see how much I do not need gear wise. THanks for input .Oh! Does any one know of a low cost motel in Mammoth Lakes.