Re: Camping Equipment Recommendations
Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 4:47 pm
As to your filter and the treatments mentioned: I lost 30% of my kidney function due to a virus(it was thought that I had Epstein-Barr virus) but I never learned which one as there are many and also many that have no conclusive (read affordable) test available. I got it while backpacking in the the Rockies a few years back. Not a fun or cheap experience, what with 3 days in hospital and $10,000! Words to the wise-don't use a filter unless it does the little stuff beyond bacteria(ghiardia is big, not little when it comes to filters) like VIRUSES!!! Iodine tabs WILL NOT DO THE JOB!!!Boiling works and some filters-make sure you use one that goes all the way.I'll leave the looking up on the one you bought to you. I thought I had a really good one and it got me very sick.Beware what you drink...
iowabeakster wrote:Since you are planning on stopping at places where tap water is unavailable...some random thoughts about water filters.
That model you have is fine. I have used the same one. It is not fragile, but it is breakable. Be careful, if the plastic cracks it may be inoperable (don't ask). It is tedious pumping water. It seems like on our fishing trips, we always had somebody pumping water. It gets old, fast. We usually had four people, so plenty of water was needed.
Then we tried one of the "gravity" filters. It is a flexible plastic container that hangs from a tree limb. The gravity pulls the water through the filter and down a rubber hose. The nice thing is no pumping is needed. It did require frequent stirring, as the lake gunk accumulated on the filter element and it worked slowly.
Don't forget about boiling water or those chemical tablets. The tablets are the least desirable, but you can have drinking water in a hurry. They also take virtually no space. A very good back-up plan.