Water Purifier (needed?)

Hello,

Regarding our (maybe) 12 hours hike in Grand Teton National Park (The Paintbrush Canyon/Cascade Canyon Loop). I have read that most of the water in the United States are infected, you cannot drink out steams and rivers. Is this also true for GTNP, more specifiek the Paintbrush/Cascade loop?.

The SteriPEN (for filtering the water) cost around 90 dollars, a huge amount consider we only need it one day (the other days are short hikes, but carrying water for twelfe hours in such warm conditions? I think we need four liters per person..).

Any toughts on this subject?

Maybe we can rent it in there?

Thanks!

Jerry

Water Purifier (needed?)

Yes you need to purify the water. Consider that animals have been in all the streams and have carried micro-organisms everywhere. Without a purifier, you will have diarrhea almost for certain. Spoken from experience.

There are small pump units that are less expensive than the SteriPEN. They are a bit larger but you can pump your container full in a matter of a few minutes.

Water Purifier (needed?)

Most filters are fairly expensive, but you can get a water bottle filter for $20-$40. I have heard good things about Aquamira products, and they are relatively inexpensive. Plus you can get water treatment tablets. There is a small ';straw'; type filter for emergencies I%26#39;ve seen for about $10. www.aquamira.com

Having had Giardia once I can say it would be a real trip spolier. I spent three days in a hospital. A basic filter plus tablets would be a really good investment. Giardia cysts are endemic in most all US streams and rivers.

Oke, thats clear! Thank you.

I wil look into the suggestions.

Do you think its worth the money and trouble to use a waterfilter for just a dayhike? We can bring enough water from basecamp (3 liters) for the hike.

The downside is that we have to carry so much weight in water, but.. what do you think?

Or maybe it is needed in Yellowstone as well?

(I guess the water from campsites is already clean?).

Greetings,

Jerry

Water at the campgrounds is fine. I would have a filter and/or tablets instead of carrying that much water. Much cheaper than a hospital visit, or a ruined trip!

Oke, than i hope we can buy it in Yellowstone National Park (the SteriPen for example, lightweight and very good if i must believe te internet :) ).

By the way, and this is totaly off topic, but seems this is my own topic i think i can slipp a quistion in between: We are visiting Washington DC for four days, so we will be at the center (tourist locations, like the White House) are there any good outdoorshops near (well, i meen in) this location?

(Four days is not so long, we dont want to trow our ';schedule'; all around for a shop).

Thanks!

Greetings,

Jerry

Not exactly ';downtown'; in the tourist areas but a fairly short Metro ride would put you a block away from Hudson Trail Outfitters (HTO) at Tenley Circle (exit Metro at Tenleytown Metro stop).

http://www.hudsontrail.com/

I checked for REI as well but could not find any as close to a Metro stop but it would be worth checking in the District of Columbia forum area.