High Sierra Topix

but I deal with the water filter problem by not taking one. For forty years I have just been drinking the Sierra backcountry water and never gotten sick from it. I prefer to get water from big lakes that have lots of volume (for dilution) and have been soaking up the sun's UV radiation (for disinfection). I also like creeks that flow directly down the mountainsides with no trails above.

I do take a Steri-pen for animal (cattle) and human infested areas.

sambieni wrote:Have you heard about the ban on Cloud's Rest camping? Ranger was very clear that it is not permissible to do so, yet I know tons folks who have done it and folks here said it was ok too.

Of course they have all done it and got away with it. People also get away with a zillion other things that are against the rules out there.

Pretty sure there are still people who leave all their food out all night, too, and have yet to pay the price.

Doesn't mean you should do it again....

I knew it was illegal, and I've told plenty of people it is, but they keep going to Clouds Rest overnight anyway. Some people don't care about that kind of thing...

I filter water anyway. not a big deal, and then i don't have to guess. Almost every animal or person has defecated above where you are on the trail and even near the water source. I appreciate the UV comment on the lake thing, but I still filter unless i'm boiling for a meal anyway. And most filters come with a cleaning kit for the field strip/clean thing. Boiled water helps to seal the deal to make sure the filter flush is done. As pointed out, YMMV. Not sure I trust Steripen yet.. Hard to know unless someone takes a non-sterile sample, treats it with the pen, and then drinks it, and then sees what happens about 2 weeks later. Volunteers?

I have broken a clogged filter down before in the field, and it really only needed some of the silicone grease and it was fine again; not a clog at all. just a bit of algae.

I'm looking at the sawyer filter but I swear by my Katadyn right until my friend stepped on the output while pumping. Of course, he was carrying a spare as I insisted.

Of course they have all done it and got away with it. People also get away with a zillion other things that are against the rules out there.
Pretty sure there are still people who leave all their food out all night, too, and have yet to pay the price.
Doesn't mean you should do it again....
I knew it was illegal, and I've told plenty of people it is, but they keep going to Clouds Rest overnight anyway. Some people don't care about that kind of thing...

I do care about the illegality of Cloud's Rest assuming that is the rule. I received very clear info on this forum (find the thread if you wish) that indicated it was acceptable assuming good weather, same on other forums, plus when we gave rough itinerary to Rangers getting our permits they did not say anything. The Ranger after the fact was the first who very clearly told us it was out of bounds. We asked about it and he explained it clearly. I would not do again and I would not encourage others to do so. I posed the question here given the very mixed info received from variety of sources, I was curious what others may say. I am still grateful for my an amazing night and will leave it at that.

Water - I will almost never drink straight from the source; not a risk I want to take. My filter was like new with maybe 30 liters under its belt before the trip. Thankfully backcountry.com is taking it back since it seems to be a warranty issue. And I intend to simply replace w same filter because I love the system. Plus I will continue to bring a backup system of some kind as well.

Thanks for the enjoyable TR and nice pictures, to bad about the phone. Well one of the many things you have learned from this trip is that you need a new filter and add an 1.5 hrs to your expected departure and/or arrival times when hiked with your buddy.

Totally! My buddy said next time we camp, he will bring his own tent. So with that in mind, next time, I am just gonna get up and pack out to my schedule and see him later down the trail.

what filter were you using? Brand...

Platypus' Gravityworks 2L
https://www.rei.com/product/849794/plat ... it-2-liter

My warmup trip near Mammoth Lakes was 2-5 minutes for my reservoir. This ran 10-15 (if not longer) for same reservoir x 2 people. Ugh.

hmm. filters seems to be a personal choice. Sticking with my choice. she gets a pre-wash before a trip and try and keep the intake clean and has worked fine for 5 years now, 10 days at a time. Good luck with what you choose/trust. Of course it'll probably be 10 months from now, unless I get a break.

I think OldRanger was sporting a sawyer and it looked very useful, If you had a tree to hang it from..

Is that an old Mountainsmith pack, circa 1990's?

ERIC wrote:Is that an old Mountainsmith pack, circa 1990's?

I think you're speaking of the green pack w yellow pull in one of the photos? That is my buddy's pack - an old Dana Design Terraplane pack. Good pack, but a touch outdated features' wise.

Mine is in orange - Arc Teryx Altra 65. Super comfy pack, but on the heavy side. May upgrade to an Osprey Exos or similar next summer.

sambieni wrote: I do care about the illegality of Cloud's Rest assuming that is the rule. I received very clear info on this forum (find the thread if you wish) that indicated it was acceptable assuming good weather, same on other forums, plus when we gave rough itinerary to Rangers getting our permits they did not say anything. The Ranger after the fact was the first who very clearly told us it was out of bounds. We asked about it and he explained it clearly. I would not do again and I would not encourage others to do so. I posed the question here given the very mixed info received from variety of sources, I was curious what others may say. I am still grateful for my an amazing night and will leave it at that.

Water - I will almost never drink straight from the source; not a risk I want to take. My filter was like new with maybe 30 liters under its belt before the trip. Thankfully backcountry.com is taking it back since it seems to be a warranty issue. And I intend to simply replace w same filter because I love the system. Plus I will continue to bring a backup system of some kind as well.

The thing is, the rangers don't even agree on the rules in the park. I generally assume that if the peak is popular, there will be a ban on camping on it -- the goal is to facilitate public use while preserving the wilderness and that's pretty darn hard to do, as we all can see, and there are similar issues in Sequoia and Kings Canyon -- there is for example nothing posted anywhere about whether one can overnight on Alta Peak. One year, we got a permit and the issuing ranger was down with it -- no problem. The following year we were chewed OUT, big time, for the plan to spend the night in the light of the super moon on the peak top.

I think it is hard to see the consequences of our actions in these matters -- we are but a handful of backpackers and pass through these spots one group at a time, without awareness of the thousands who have gone before or come after -- the rangers who patrol have the best awareness of what's really going on, and they aren't able to address everyone who goes. Rangers behind desks have different ideas of the rules. Some are volunteers. I have corrected rangers at the wilderness office in Yosemite when they are dispensing blatantly incorrect information -- also camp hosts. The host in Bridalveil campground insisted that bear spray was "okay" -- it is most definitely against the regulations, which can be read on the website, but the paranoid hiker was of course going to believe the host instead of me.

Things like camping restrictions are not always written down, so I don't wonder that they are not clear to everyone. And many are going to think asking forgiveness is preferable to asking permission, or are just going to do what they want anyway, because they really don't give two figs about those fragile ecosystems, they just want their vacation the way they want it, who cares about anything or anyone else. I'm glad to hear you aren't one of those. I try not to be as well. It isn't a popular stance, but I tend to view public lands as a public responsibility, which is not at all the attitude of so many others who think "my tax dollars paid two bucks of the park budget, therefore I can do what I want out there without consequences."

As for water -- yeah, I filter/treat/boil all the time. Another thing people like to assume. I know too many who've had Giardia to not be careful.