Cdt water - Continental Divide Trail

imported
#1

Would you recommend a water filter on CDT? Or could I get away with using aqua mira??

aqua

#2

Grizzly bears have killed a few people in Yellowstone Park area in recent years. Glacier Park has Grizzlies. Search for Bear Spray on line and carry it ready to use.

Dean Graham

#3

…has as much to do with the original question as Dean’s reply.

Unfortunately i don’t have an informed reply either. Jack and the Beanstalk has a good CDT journal on here going. Maybe read up on him and see what you think about the water situation. My first (UNINFORMED) guess would be that drops would work fine as long as you had a bandana or a couple of coffee filters with you for the handful of times when i water source is truly disgusting. :cheers

markv

#4

I think you have to ask yourself: "How long can I continuously put these chemicals in my system.

I have Aqua Mira in my daypack for emergencies. I will always take my filter for extended trips, seems like a frargin’ no brainer to me but I would READ THE LABEL.

Double Cabin

#5

Uh, I think we may have a regurgitative spambot on our hands…

__

#6

Read Hydro Heidis ongoing CDT journal. Her water descriptions would tend to incline me to have a filter of some sort. Also though carry Sweetwater drops. Thats all I would normally use on PCT. Lots of Stock Tanks and Troughs to drink from in NM.

Or better yet just do the PCT and hang with the cool kids.

Guino

#7

I believe the Second Amendment secures the right to arm bears, but I don’t recall anything about the water filter versus Aqua Mira issue being addressed by the U.S. Constitution.

Thought Criminal

#8

I think you should definitely use a water filter in New Mexico. Bad water. I used a water filter in Colorado, too. I haven’t done the northern parts of the CDT.

Thought Criminal

#9

If you use a filter in a murky stock tank, the “cow” flavor will stay with the filter for several days. Use drops or pills and sweetener for tank water and filter your other sources.

bowlegs

#10

I just completed the NM section of the CDT (as well as a large portion of Co.) and used Aqua Mira the entire way. The water in NM is scarce but of surprisingly good quality. With attentive planning, I never had to drink from a mucky stock pond. Everything came from a creek, spring, or pipe-fed water trough and AM was more than up to the task of purifying those sources. No prefilters or masking flavors were ever needed. Wouldn’t hesitate to take AM on my next trip.

As for Double Cabin’s health concerns, it is my laymen’s understanding that AM relies upon the same chemicals to purify the water as used by municipal treatment facilities. So I don’t think your putting anything into your system in the woods that you’re not also consuming on a daily basis at home. Take a look at their website though for a more complete and informed explanation.

Matt