I’m trying to lighten my pack for my CT hike. One of the last things left to possible get rid of is my water filter which weighs a little over a pound.
When I hike in the Smokies around my home the water is pretty clean and I just carry tablets with me to purify the water.
What would most people suggest taking on the CT. Do I need a water filter or can I get by with tablets and a bandana for keeping the bugs out.
Is the water pretty clean on the CT for the most part?
Swofford11
No need for a filter on the CT, in my experience. You won’t be drinking out of one single muddy cattle tank (assuming you stay on route). Good clear mountain water all the way. You’ll have to dip into a few rivers and creeks with livestock around, so occasional chemical purification is good to have. There are a few long dry ridge walks, so plan to carry water accordingly.
Garlic
Thanks,
I was thinking I could get rid of the water filter and still be ok.
I’m assuming it’s not too hard to get the water purifying tablets along the trail.
swofford11
Colorado has widespread infestations of Giardia. Crypto is not very common, but does occur here. I know of several people who have contracted Giardia from seemingly clean high altitude water sources including some on the CT. It is spread by mammals, and there are lots of those in the mountains.
I carry one full quart bottle and a filter plus a second empty bottle for camp or dry stretches, of which there are few. When I hit a water source I filter and drink a large quantity then fill my bottle for the next stretch. I am always drinking delicious water and the overall weight carried is actually less than if I carry treated water while I wait for the chemicals to be effective. It takes a minimum of 1 hour to chemically kill Giardia and up to 6 hours to kill Crypto. My MSR filter weighs 11 ounces and a full 32 ounce Nalgene weighs 38 ounces full, so I am actually carrying less weight with the filter than I would be with the tablets.
Some people don’t use any treatment method and don’t get sick. Others trying this method do get sick and it’s a good way to ruin a hike. I’ve had Giardia several times and although it has never stopped a hike it’s certainly not much fun to have and it’s expensive to treat.
bearcreek
I carried Aqua Mira on the CT but met up and hiked with friends who were using a filter. I was very glad to use their filter as we hiked through the Cotchetopa hills section. All water sources there were seriously contaminated by cattle.
Elsewhere on the trail the sources appeared to be good to very good.
RichardD
How are sections 11-14 for water? I was planning on just carrying Aqua Mira in order to go lighter.
Talia
Water is abundant in Sections 11-14 and almost everywhere else on the CT. Brief dry stretches occur in segments 2-3,(15 miles), 17 (12 miles), and 26-27 (20 miles)
bearcreek
I ended up getting one of those UV water treatment lights - very light, and kills everything.
Nirav M