Filter or not on the WA PCT

imported
#1

Does the WA PCT intersect with alot of cattle country?
I was contemplating not bringing a filter this time.

gruel

#2

I havent used a filter from Campo to here (Burney CA), but then some say I am crazy.

I have heard from a few of the ‘local’ washington folk that are hiking the PCT this year that the water there is great.

I always assume this is a judgment call, as I have known people who used filters who got sick, and people like me who never filter who never get sick…do what feels safe to you.

Lion King

#3

Having hiked for 4 years in WA and Oregon and done all but 40 miles of those two states i can concur with Lion King in saying i never filter and never get sick… I mean i drink out of the Colorado River and Hauser creek so there!!! Now all said and done you have to at times use a bandana to filter the glacieral silt out of a few places in Wa. Before the reroute you had some silted water to deal with but on the reroutes that i did not do maby thats not a problem…

Meadow Ed

#4

We never used a filter from Kennedy Meadows onwards but will use it again next year from Campo to KM just as it makes getting water in the desert sections just that much easier esp. as some sources would take more than a bandana to clear or be a hassle to reach. After KM water is much easyer to get to but we also carried a small bottle of Iodine tablets which we used only 2 times after and in areas where cow pats where a litttle to plentiful and we never suffered any problems.
One important thing to consider is your age and how much travel you have done outside the USA. If you fall in to the “younger” generation (or never spent extended time out of the USA or any other developed country) category the chances are you have little or no exposure to a whole host of bacteria and such (inc giardia) so will be more prone to coming down with a case of the trots on the trail. The other factor is if you travel in a group or not. You are more likely to catch a bug from other hikers due to poor hygiene than anything else.
Having said all this nothing tastes better than fresh untreated water from a mountain stream or spring.
Hope this was some help.

Gordon

#5

If it doesn’t kill ya it will only make you stronger. And save a pound off your pack.

gruel

#6

I didn’t filter at all in WA when I hiked the PCT, and have almost never treated water in the two years that I’ve been living and hiking here. The only exceptions are certain lakes.

Suge