Winter Water - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

My question is how do you get drinking water in winter when there is no snow on the ground? The springs near shelters are probably frozen, and water filters don’t work in freezing conditions anyway.

Shane

#2
  1. Break up chunks of ice from the frozen springs.
  2. Remove stove and ccoking pot fromm pack.
  3. Place chunks of ice in cooking pot.
  4. Strike match and light stove.
  5. Place cooking pot contaning chunks of ice on top of the
    lit stove.
  6. In time, the chunks of ice will melt and become drinking
    water.
  7. Allow the water to cool down enough so it won’t burn
    your lips and throat as you drink it.
  8. Lift pot to your lips and drink.

Water-boy

#3

Shane, if it’s not cold enough to keep snow frozen on the ground, it ain’t cold enough to freeze running water most times. if it’s that cold with no snow, you’re someplace i’ve never been and don’t want to go!

Big Dee

#4

Ding-dong on that BigDee.

And throwing a pot full of ice directly on a stove will scorch your pots/pans. First hold the pot near the stove (using your pot gripper) to get some liquid. Or dump whatever water you have into your pot first. You do have water leftover I hope because otherwise you shouldn’t be hiking when the springs are frozen.

“Don’t die on the mountain”

Officer Taco

#5

I’ve lived through 2 open winters in Maine and yup the ground freezes down to 3 or 4 feet and all the lakes and streams freeze over too. Large rivers stay open somewhat but it is usually too dangerous to get to the open water part. A good spring will usually continue producing an outflow under the ice so there is always a good build up to chip at. Also, where lakes discharge, there will be open water. But that is Maine. As one goes south, even as close as Massachusetts, open water can be found.
Big Dee, don’t you want to go to Maine no matter what?

that guy

#6

you will have no problem this winter is warm and if you start at springerthe springs will be flowing, the only problem you might have is the wet filter will freeze that is why you take back up bleach or what ever till the air warms up.

john

#7

I’d love to go to maine! I’ve been to buffalo in january, is that close enough?? (heh heh)

as for warm winter, it’s 70 today here in north carolina, 60’s up on the trail, and supposed to be 5 degrees warmer tommorrow and stay in the high sixties for over a week. I guess Jaws and other early starters are carrying some snowshoes for nothing right now…

Big Dee