Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Water sources & purity on Langley & Mt. Irvine

Sorry if I'm beating the "Langley/Irvine" details to death. Just one more: I've done the MR without treating water and have had great success. Is this the case on Mt. Irvine and the New/Old Army passes out of Horseshow Meadow?

Also, about both lakes: Are these sufficient water sources, or, from your experience, must hikers stop anywhere before? Gotta double-check here, since dehydration sucks. Thanks, guys & gals.

I drank unfiltered water for Cottonwood Lake #4 and Lower Soldier in mid-August and I'm still alive.

Langley: I like to restock my water supply with snow from (near) the summit. There's also snow on New Army Pass.

Irvine: When hiking up the Meysan Lake trail, I enjoy water from streams flowing between Meysan Lake and Camp Lake.

I drank unfiltered water from 3rd lake...haven't got the trots yet

However....I was v. disappointed to see that some campers using DISWASHING SOAP or something in the lake. I saw lots of suds. Ewwwww.

Two weeks ago I used water out of Horseshoe Meadows and Cottonwood Lake no. 5 without treating it and I have suffered no ill effects yet. Similar story for the Meysan Lakes area, have drank unfiltered in the past with no problems. Of course, you're always rolling the dice, right? Well are ya feeling lucky? (Just saw "Dirty Harry" with Clint Eastwood, haha)
If you're not too thirsty on the trail to Cottonwood Lakes you can probably get by with just 1 liter, as there are sources to refill along the way. From Cottonwood Lake no. 5 to the summit via Old Army Pass I would bring at least 2, and probably 3 liters to make it up and down, as there is no water above the lakes save for unmelted snow (if any).