Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Water Filter

I hear that water filters are a necessity in the pack, but it doesn't look like many of you pack them. For a day hike, do you drink the mountain water without filtering it, or do you carry enough for the day?

We did a one day summit and used our Katedyne filter twice. Once heading up, after Trail camp and once on the way down. I suggest you buy one. I bought this one for 70.00 at REI. Flush it out before you take it up with you, and have it ready to go.
Good luck!

If you click the Search link above, and enter ,"water filters", you will get some good links on the topic discussing the philosophy of filters; Iodine; etc.

First time up Whitney last Tuesday. We brought 2 liters of water each, and used the potable aqua pills we bought at the hardware store. It looked like a urine specimen, but no bad taste. The last water we took was from the springs going up the switchbacks. No big difference between those with pills and those with filters, and, a week later, no giardia symptoms.

Much of the water in the Sierras is actually very clean and relatively safe to drink. Consequently many of us leave the filter home and drink the water straight.

That being said, the regular Whitney trail has much more traffic then other areas. I don't trust the water there like in other surrounding areas. So it would be a safe thing to treat with pills or a filter just to be sure.

A filter only weighs about 1 pound. That is the weight of less then 1/2 quart of water. Pound for pound it is much better to carry a filter and stop more often to pump water. On the average day one could easily drink 6-8 quarts of water, about 15 pounds worth.

I carry a filter (I like the MSR Waterworks) on the Whitney day hikes I've done, especially when I'm with a group. It allows us all to carry less by "pumping as we go." But RockeyRoller is right, there are lots of good discussions on this topic already...just use the search link.

Take a look at these links for a better understanding of the water issue.

<a href="http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=003378"> Water filters and water purity in the Sierra Nevada</a>

<a href="http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=003118">water filters etc</a>

<a href="http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=003019">water quality of the Mt. Whitney trail</a>