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The backcountry is no place to be if you’re going to fall short with adequate preparation - particularly in the hydration arena. Although very common at the higher altitudes, dehydration can occur at anytime and anyplace, and it doesn’t take much to get the ball rolling – particularly in warmer, drier environments or in direct sunlight. Since I mentioned them earlier, you probably already guessed that soda pop and beer are major contributors to dehydration. Drinking soda pop or beer may fill you up and taste really good when you’re thirsty, but they actually increase the problem and pull even more water from your body – much more than you could ever imagine. I had to learn that one myself the hard way.

CONSIDERING AN ALTERNATIVE

One of the most common misconceptions that I hear all too often is that cleaner water can always be found upstream. Supposedly, the farther upstream one travels, the more pure and clean the water becomes. This is complete bullshit. Most of the backcountry water pollutant issues that trouble human beings are derived from contaminants found in animal fecal matter. Believe me; a deer, coyote, bear or marmot can crap in the water just as easily at ten-thousand feet as they can at a thousand. From that thought I believe we can safely and reasonably assume that the possibility of a parasite being found in the water anywhere along the way is present no matter how far upstream we travel.

It’s a given - everyone’s styles are different. Some people carry water in Nalgene-type bottles or small plastic store-bought bottles, or (if they’re like me) they simply carry none at all. Speaking for myself only, I don’t carry water with me when I leave the trailhead. The reason I don’t carry water with me is because I most always plan on being near a water source during my entire trip. Not carrying water means I don’t have to carry a lot of excess weight from start to finish. By looking at a TOPO map I can plan ahead. If the area I’m going to be in consistently shows water within a half-mile of where I’ll be at any given moment, I’ll drink my fill at the trailhead and then wait until I reach the next water source for a drink. When I drink, I use a portable filter bottle. I can scoop water right from a stream or lake and drink it immediately. What I get is the benefit of drinking safely filtered, cold mountain water without the questionable water worry. When I’ve had my fill I simply empty the remainder and place the empty filter bottle back inside my pack. I can then continue on my trek freshly hydrated and not weighed down by several pounds of water that otherwise would have to be stored in my pack or carried on my back.

Even with the advent of portable water filters there is still a handful of “hold-outs” that don’t buy into the thought of using portable water filters or pumps – or filtering their water at all for that matter. Some outdoor enthusiasts believe that water filters, “Take away from the total backcountry experience” and that, “Real men shouldn’t use no stinkin’ water filters.” Okay, I can agree to disagree with those thoughts because I believe everyone has the right to do things how they feel is best suited for them. But in the real world that I live in, I don’t feel like I have the luxury of considering every water source safe just because they appear to look that way. Real life is a live performance and there is no going back for a do-over after the harsh reality of a gastrointestinal bug sets in.

I know of one, nationally recognized book author who proudly boasts that he routinely practices drinking unfiltered water straight from the source, and he is willing to assume the risk of acquiring a gastrointestinal bug and all the health problems that may be associated with it. He finds drinking water straight from the source one of the most enjoyable things about being in the backcountry. As true as that may be and as neat as it really does sound, I believe this is one of the most extreme examples of plain stupidity that I’ve ever heard anyone admit to. Why take the risk of ruining your adventure or being sick after you’ve returned home if there was no need to do so in the first place? Filtering pumps and portable filter bottles were invented to eliminate this kind of questionable water worry. Take advantage.

You may have recently or in the past considered purchasing a hydration bladder, filtering pump or portable filter bottle device, but just haven’t really known what would be best for your personal needs. You could easily ask your fishing or hiking buddies for their opinions, or if you belong to a great forum like this one you could easily start a new thread and receive tons of opinions and information from people that have first-hand experience with these things. My own thought regarding filtration devices says alot of what will be the best choice for you will depend on what types of outdoor activities you’re going to be involved in. Let’s see if we can’t iron out some of the possibilities together.


PORTABLE FILTER BOTTLES

Several years ago while gathering data for a guide book manuscript I was writing, I was privileged to have crossed paths with a really cool man that took me under his wing and gifted me an incredibly valuable education concerning questionable water quality issues, tissue rehydration and various methods of obtaining clean, safely filtered water. That education came by way of Carl Palmer, the world’s leading authority and expert on water quality and water filtration. Mr. Palmer is President and CEO of Seychelle Water Filtration, based here in California. He is also Seychelle’s company founder and innovator of the complete line of their water filtration products. We spoke at great lengths about giardasis e-coli, cryptosporidium and a host of other water contaminants, issues and problems – including the best way to avoid dehydration and how to avoid drinking unclean, unsafe water when at altitude. Just up my alley.

I’ve carried a water filter pump for years – practically since the things were invented. To this day I still routinely carry a pump when backpacking as a back-up method for water filtering. My pump has always been a great tool that has always afforded me peace of mind when in the backcountry. When out and about on overnighters I pump routinely for cooking water and drinking water at camp side, or when I need a large amount of clean, filtered water to supply several people. I’ll be the first to admit that I used to fully enjoy bellying up to the bar of just about any sweet little backcountry creek and scooping mouthful after mouthful of real, ice-cold snow melt stream water just as much as the next person. The reality of doing that however is the distinct possibility of acquiring a host of ailments that could easily find their way into your body – particularly into your gastrointestinal tract, and cause some serious and painful cramping along the way – not to mention how it could absolutely ruin the rest of your vacation plans.

There are a mess of portable filer bottle manufacturers on the market today. Each bottle design that you come across was made possible because from the early research and product development of Carl Palmer. His designs are his alone, but every other manufacturer out there looks to his filter products when they move to update their own product line. That tells me a lot. When it comes to my own equipment, I use what I believe to be the finest and safest portable filter bottle on the market today, the Seychelle Flip-Top 24oz. Advanced Filter Bottle.

I’ve been using Seychelle products since learning about them back in 2002. Before the Seychelle bottle made its’ way into my pack I was using a product called SafeWater Anywhere. At the time it was a great, portable water filter bottle that did its’ job flawlessly for me. Ironically, the SafeWater design was courtesy of Carl Palmer. No wonder I liked it so much.

There is another corner in the store that contains even more portable filter bottles and water purifiers. Some of these filters/purifiers come with what I consider to be a host of serious problems associated with them – problems that I would never want to contend with - particularly while in the backcountry. When you’re thirsty, do you want to scoop up a bottle of nice cold water, and then add bleach or other chemicals, and then wait a few minutes to drink the water? Of course not, but that’s just one of the hoops some of these lesser filter/purifier bottle manufacturers are asking you to jump through when you purchase their products. A good filter bottle that’s worth its salt will allow you to scoop water from any questionable water source and drink it immediately, without chemical treatment. What you should be getting is the safest and tastiest drink of cold water that you deserve – without the questionable water worry.

When I’m out flyfishing, I prefer to carry all of my needs for the day in a large-capacity lumbar pack. My portable filter bottle fits both inside and outside the pack wonderfully. My bottle is never in my way and it never adds any extra weight to my pack. A perfect tool to have along if you’re a flyfisherman.

IODINE TABLETS AND BLEACH

Although not the tastiest method of purifying water, iodine tablets and bleach have long served the outdoor enthusiast well, and will continue to serve as an acceptable method of water purification for individuals that swear by it. With the introduction of portable water filters and water filter pumps, iodine tablets and bleach have lost most of their popularity – again, except among those who feel that iodine or bleach are the most trusted, time-proven methods. If you’d like to try this method of water purification, iodine and bleach can be purchased over the Internet or at most sporting goods stores. Remember to take along some type of container or bottle for the water you’ll have to scoop. Follow the directions to the letter, hold your nose and drink away. Remember to take along breath mints or chewing gum to help remove the foul, residual aftertaste from your mouth.

(As a side note, regarding that residual unfiltered water that is covering your bottle and dripping down the side when you tip it up to take a drink; if any of it gets in your mouth and there just happens to be a bug in there, you’re screwed).

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