Backcountry Water Sources

[pd]

Hey, FillTheFreezer,

No, you are not a wuss for asking this.  Water is extremely important (we all know this).  I agree with many of the others, in that I drink lots of water (1 liter in the morning before setting out, about 3 liters during the course of the day, and another liter at night, or more at elevations about 8,000').  I always drink from the available source (if it is running water).  In other words, I never drink from stagnant sources.  And, I have never carried a filter or pills in my life.

What works for me might not work for you.  Water in WA has never made me sick, and I am not worried about it.  High steppe in Eastern WA is a problem, I agree.  The simple answer is this: Drink from available sources, and if there aren't any, pack it in.  Camp where you have to (close to your glassing area?), but pack in the water.

Sorry, this isn't helpful.

[Andrew]

While scouting I punch every seep I find into my GPS.  I carry a bladder just for camp and a hydration pack for out in the field.  The bladder is for cooking only and can last two days.  I'll visit a seep I find or if lucky a new one to fill my hydration bladder while out hunting.  When the camp bladder dries up that comes along with me.  I carry my filter everywhere...NEVER pass up a chance to fill-up is my moto.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Here's a better question, how far will people camp away from a water source. 

It all depends on where I want to be the next morning. So... that could mean 2,000' or 2 miles away from water. When deer need water beyond what they get in browse, they'll go a couple miles, or a couple thousand feet at night to get it. But, there's a lot to be said for 'if there isn't any water, there won't be any deer'.  So camp adjacent to water sources or even 500' above known springs/creeks to keep yourself in the right environment. If you're five or six miles away from water, you're probably beyond habitat.
 
-Steve