High Sierra Topix

I had the same problem with my gravity filter, but I learned that it isn't clogged with dirt, but air. Every time you put it away it fills with air which clogs the filter tubules. Simply get a small amount of water in your clean water bag and then roll it up and then compress that water back through as a back flush. The dirt and bubbles will be pushed out of the filter toward the dirty bag and the filter will work like new every time. If you need to, google back flushing gravity filters in the back country.

THanks. I definitely backflushed the filter daily in the field once it started slowing and it helped, but never really solved the problem. There really seems be something wrong w the filter given how slow it is.

The exception to the 100 ft away from trail/water rule only applies to well established campsites if terrain presents no other options. Then there is a 25 ft ban with no exceptions. There are no well established campsites at Clouds Rest, so you are ok to camp there as long as you are 100 ft away from the trail (obviously not on summit proper).

I always interpreted (maybe incorrectly) the rule to not apply in Winter/Spring because technically the snow being camped on is a water source and there isn't really a trail. In any case, common sense goes a long way here. I don't think anyone cares if you are 80 ft vs 100 ft from trail as long as you are out of sight.

My hiking crew on occasion has given particularly obnoxious offenders wake up screams.

Have not forgotten about this, still trying to get clarification on this matter by someone who has the final word on it.

Here is Yosemite's answer:
No camping is allowed within 100 ft of all trails and water sources, since there is a designated trail on Clouds Rest, one cannot spend the night on or near the summit proper because you would be violating the 100 foot rule.

Good to know.
There are a number of bloggers out there who have bragged about their stays on Cloud's Rest and I met fair number on trail who had done it or were considering it. Perhaps they should be explicit in issuing permits beyond simply the 100 foot rule; I'd venture w social media it may only gain in popularity otherwise.