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Vent: Almost got stranded on the High Sierra Trail because of a broken water filter
I was 3 days into the High Sierra Trail last summer and my MSR filter just gave out completely. Like full on clogged, no water coming through, and I was above 10,000 feet with no backup. Stupid mistake on my part for not carrying tablets or a backup filter. The nearest creek was still a mile up trail and I was already dehydrated from the heat that day. I ended up boiling water for an hour that night just to have enough to drink. Now I carry two filters everywhere but man that was a rough lesson. Has anyone else had a filter fail deep in the backcountry like that? What do you use for a backup now?
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the_nathan10d ago
Boiling water for an hour sounds like a real party...
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the_jordan10d ago
yeah honestly I used to be one of those people who thought carrying backup water treatment was overkill. like I figured if my filter broke I could just boil water or find a spring and be fine. but after reading stories like yours and hearing from a buddy who got giardia from a supposedly clean stream I totally changed my mind. now I always pack aquatabs in my first aid kit even on day hikes. they weigh nothing and take up zero space so there's really no excuse not to have em. boiling for an hour when you're already exhausted and thirsty sounds like a nightmare I don't ever wanna repeat that.
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