Backcountry Water Sources

[luvmystang67]

Okay,

So here is one thing I need help for.  Does anybody have any creative ways to get water up high, especially on the eastern side of PCT where it tends to be more dry?  I see pictures of people's camps seemingly away from water sources.  Do people pack water up when its something like that?  Does everyone just set camp near water? 

Just looking for any tricks that I might have missed.  I'm a little bit wary of the idea of melting snow as it often seems to have a red fungus growing on top of it by the time I get up in the mountains in the summer. 

Any other water topics would be appreciated.  I use a filter because I don't care for the taste of the tablets, but I really dont want this conversation to turn into the type of tablets and such used unless its some kind of monumental discovery.

Thanks!

[shootnrun]

I had the same question, and it has influenced where I camp. Scouting is the only real way to know what's available. I don't get too creative, try to find running water if possible and filter it. I will bring capabilities to carry 2-4l of water, depending on availability and ease of access to water. If it's a ways ill filter a mess of it and keep some at camp. Its too important to risk running out/low, imo.

[brocka]

I pack the Sawyer Squeeze filter with its reservoir along with a 4L storage reservoir. At the last known water Ill fill them up along with topping off my Camel Bak. I also try camping near water.

Here is the storage reservoir I use.

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sportsmans/Sea-to-Summit-Pack-Tap-Group-Water-Storage/productDetail/Water-Bottles/prod999901361644/cat100878

[300rum]

I try to camp near known water (mile or so) if I can.  USGS maps can be o.k.  One of the worst feelings I have had in the woods was using the last of my water knowing that the closest water (that I knew about at the time) was 3 miles down hill.  I like to camp just off the ridge tops so that can be tough in the late fall as far as water goes.

I carry a 96oz bladder and my Sawyer Squeeze bladder for my water filter, that holds 64oz (I think).  That gives me one good day and two if I stretch it.   

[daddysprad]

Look up SODIS (solar disinfection) on the internet.  All you need are some clear plastic bottles (very light and crushed, take up little room), a water source and the sun.  Fill the bottles with any water that you can see through (if not, you may need to filter it with clothing or cheesecloth.)  Lay the bottles on their side in direct sunlight and in 6 hours 97% of the pathogens are removed with a combination of temp and UV rays.  If you have partial sun, it can take up to 2 days.  You can speed up the process by laying the bottles on black trash bags.   Lots of variables, clouds, elevation, temp...but an option.  Do some research first.  Look at the Swedish study for great results...

[boneaddict]

Let me put it to you this way.  There wont be any game there unless there is water.

[Jingles]

Of all the time I have spent in the wilderness and the high country,  a little over 20 years, as a packer for the local outfitters and hunting on my own If I come across water I fill the canteen. (Knock on wood) never had a case of the water squirts so guess I'm either lucky or have a tough gut. if you're gonna melt the snow melt it to the boiling point is what I have been told but usually I just grab water out of the creek/ lake and go with it. When I camp it is usually by a creek or stream and just use the water straight from the source.

[runamuk]

Of all the time I have spent in the wilderness and the high country,  a little over 20 years, as a packer for the local outfitters and hunting on my own If I come across water I fill the canteen. (Knock on wood) never had a case of the water squirts so guess I'm either lucky or have a tough gut. if you're gonna melt the snow melt it to the boiling point is what I have been told but usually I just grab water out of the creek/ lake and go with it. When I camp it is usually by a creek or stream and just use the water straight from the source.

been drinking out of creeks and streams and garden hoses my whole life.....grew up on wells shallow dug and drilled deep..and natural springs...maybe we were made different back then...never been sick due to drinking wild untreated water
if it seems sketchy I boil it

[boneaddict]

Me too.  I do filter when my water source is stagnant.   

[kentrek]

Of all the time I have spent in the wilderness and the high country,  a little over 20 years, as a packer for the local outfitters and hunting on my own If I come across water I fill the canteen. (Knock on wood) never had a case of the water squirts so guess I'm either lucky or have a tough gut. if you're gonna melt the snow melt it to the boiling point is what I have been told but usually I just grab water out of the creek/ lake and go with it. When I camp it is usually by a creek or stream and just use the water straight from the source.

been drinking out of creeks and streams and garden hoses my whole life.....grew up on wells shallow dug and drilled deep..and natural springs...maybe we were made different back then...never been sick due to drinking wild untreated water
if it seems sketchy I boil it

evidently your body can build up immunities against the bad stuff...like it takes more than few particles of "bad stuff" before ya get sick, typically every time ya drink from a creek you only get one or two particles..thus you build up an tolerance to it

i couldn't figure out why ive nev been sick yet so i did alil research,i drink everything..even an elk wallow one time   

my source could be wrong tho

[fillthefreezer]

Let me put it to you this way.  There wont be any game there unless there is water.

ive said this before but ill say it again, mule deer dont drink water. i swear it!

[runamuk]

Of all the time I have spent in the wilderness and the high country,  a little over 20 years, as a packer for the local outfitters and hunting on my own If I come across water I fill the canteen. (Knock on wood) never had a case of the water squirts so guess I'm either lucky or have a tough gut. if you're gonna melt the snow melt it to the boiling point is what I have been told but usually I just grab water out of the creek/ lake and go with it. When I camp it is usually by a creek or stream and just use the water straight from the source.

been drinking out of creeks and streams and garden hoses my whole life.....grew up on wells shallow dug and drilled deep..and natural springs...maybe we were made different back then...never been sick due to drinking wild untreated water
if it seems sketchy I boil it

evidently your body can build up immunities against the bad stuff...like it takes more than few particles of "bad stuff" before ya get sick, typically every time ya drink from a creek you only get one or two particles..thus you build up an tolerance to it

i couldn't figure out why ive nev been sick yet so i did alil research,i drink everything..even an elk wallow one time   

my source could be wrong tho

this is the whole basis behind vaccination...you give small doses of the offending toxin/virus and the body builds immunity.  I rarely use antibiotics I mean I could count all the times I have taken one on a hand an a half, I touch dirt, I hate this new germ fighting juice in a lotion bottle that everyone runs around dumping on their hands....I use soap and water...a lot....so yes my immune system is probably pretty good even on a bad day.....people need to stop being such germ a phobes unless they have a real reason...like say chemo destroying your immune system......

iodine tablets and boiling have been around forever no point making things more difficult or expensive than need be .....

[wilsongideon]

I always carry a filter when I hike...for personal comfort and enjoyment. Sometimes its hard to find water in the high country, alot of the areas I am in the closest water is stagnat. and on our latest trip the puddles had some sort of rodent in it pretty unnerving to be filtering water and have a large mouselike creature swim out from under the edge and dart past you. it would have been a little more then unnerving if i didnt have the filter. as far as finding water, scouting is your best bet, but if you scout to early some smaller sources are dry by end of august. but some places water pours out of the side of 7000k mtns in september. I take a GPS and mark all water sources or likely sources for hunting later. It helps. only once have I sucked down my last water and didnt have a known water source nearby. That was not a fun last 4 miles in 80 degree weather.

[luvmystang67]

Let me put it to you this way.  There wont be any game there unless there is water.

ive said this before but ill say it again, mule deer dont drink water. i swear it!

This is the basis for my question.  I'd love to camp at 7k feet, but if the nearest water is at 5k feet then I'm kind of strapped to that.  The problem is if its hot, whether Im camping down low or up high, I drink half of my water either leaving camp in the morning or lugging water with me back to camp.  I know those mule deer need water less often than I do.  I've seen their tracks in places I would not want to camp due to water.

Here's a better question, how far will people camp away from a water source.  My mentality is I'd rather camp right next to the water and not have to pack it (and hike a little further to my hunting destination) rather than pack water a mile but be camping right where I want to hunt.  Plus I don't want to scare away game by having a camp where I'm going anyway.

Should I just pack water and stop being a wuss?

 

[fillthefreezer]

i will try to camp near water but i also like to glass from camp, tough to do both, priority lies in if its a summer trip or a hunting trip.
i like to be within 20min 1 way to water. ill pack about 4L plus my 3L bladder and wifes 2L bladder from last water source if going to camp above the water