Water Treatment on the John Muir Trail By Roleigh Martin Copyright 2011-2013, All Rights Reserved. 5/31/2013 9:01 PM Water Treatment on the John Muir Trail... 1 Pack Inventory... 1 The Two Most Important Things Listed in the Pack List... 7 Specifications:... 8 General Commentary on how these items are used... 8 Pack Inventory Description Ozs Cost Photo (Optional). SteriPEN AdventurerOpti Water Purifier. This is a new improved SteriPen which I beta tested in 2009 and am acquired and used a production model in 2010 on the JMT (with no problems). The Steripen AdventurerOpti (http://www.steripen.com/adventurer-opti ) is the perfect purifier in areas where the water is clear and all you want to do is purify the water (that is, kill the invisible stuff such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa (including Giardia and Cryptosporidium). It purifies one liter of water in 90 seconds of stirring (using a 1 liter plastic bottle as mentioned above). It uses 2 CR123A batteries which kept their charge for a 8 day hike purifying between 2 and 4 liters of water a day. Our hike was 25 days total and at two points did I changed batteries on purpose (but I only use the Steripen during the day on the trail at night because I am lazy and tired, I use the Chlorine Dioxide tablets to do enough water for supper and breakfast most of that water is for cooking, so I do not care if it tastes a little like tap water.) http://www.rei.com/product/799003 Weight shown is without the carrying case I stored it in a pack shoulder pouch bag, equally protective. Unit comes with 2 CR123A batteries. Weight includes those 2 batteries. 3.5 100
Chlorine Dioxide Tablets # Effective against bacteria, viruses and cysts, such as cryptosporidium # Makes questionable water bacteriologically suitable to drink # No aftertaste - improves the taste and odor of water # Proven effective against Giardia Lamblia, Cryptosporidium, and Viruses # Available in 20 tablet and 30 tablet sizes Cheapest is 30 tablets for $10.99 at Campmor - http://tinyurl.com/yb8tamy Cost is for 5 packages of 30 tablets apiece (150 tablets in all good for 6.5 quarts a day for 23 days) Recommended as low cost option too. This is recommended for those who use the Steripen as a fallback option. Some people assert they notice an aftertaste. There may be some truth in this. Myself on the 2009 JMT, I used the tablets to treat water at night at camp, doing about 6 quarts of water which was used for handling supper and breakfast and starting of hike. I used the Steripen throughout the day hiking. This provided a combination of ease and minimal time waiting for water to be ready. For the low cost option, one just needs to skip use of the Steripen. 1 54.95 Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide and AquaMira Chlorine Dioxide tablets are chemically identical to the best of my knowledge.
Dudadiesel.5 or 1 Micron Filter Bags. 4"x8" 1 Micron Polyester Filter Bags - Use a wire cutter to remove the steel ring and it is a 1 oz, 1 micron filter. If you pre-filter the water before you treat with the Chlorine Dioxide tablets (either Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide tablets or Aqua Mira tablets, either are chemically identical), one only needs to wait 20 minutes after putting one tablet into each quart of water. If you filter 6 quarts of water a day, you ll need 5 units of 30 tablets. Weight of 150 tablets (good for 6.5 quarts a day for 23 days) is estimated at 1 oz. 1 2.99 I recommend the.5 micron filter bag, it is a little bit more expensive than the 1 micron filter bag though..5 Micron Filter Bag Link 1 Micron Filter Bag Link Recommended as low cost option too Some links on efficacy of Chlorine Dioxide treatment of water and the benefits of 1 micron or smaller filters are here: http://aquamira.com/bpl_2_efficacy-of-water.pdf http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/travel/backc ountry_water_treatment.html http://www.cdc.gov/crypto/factsheets/filters.html Notes: C. [Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts can be as small as 4 microns (Flanigan and Soave, 1993) see http://biology.kenyon.edu/slonc/bio38/hannahs/crypto. htm Giardia (say "gee-ar-dee-ah") cysts are elliptically shaped and range in size from 6 to 10 microns. see http://www.water-research.net/giardia.htm Platypus 2+ [Liter] Water Bottle. REI Item 617926. 2.4 19.90 http://www.rei.com/product/617926 Weight shown is for 2 bottles I tried the Japanese brand in 2009 and they failed after one day. Stick with Platypus brand as they perform (at least for those I know) without failure.
Ziploc Twist-N-Loc Quart Container (2) (my pre- 2013 recommendation) 3.8 4.00 I've communicated many times with Steripen tech support and the Steripen handles a liter or a quart, and in fact, the Steripen works just great even with a 1.9 oz Ziploc twist n Loc Container plastic quart container -- which has the advantage of much less weight and is 100% easy to clean out. Makes a great shake/drink container too (with the lid). I checked with Steripen about the okayness of such and it was okayed by Aaron in their tech support and I used it with a steripen for 23 days on the JMT this last summer. Just make sure the container is leak proof -- some of the ZipLoc containers are not. You have to fill it up with some water, put lid on, and shake it to see if it is leakproof. Here is what Steripen's support told me about this container (06/30/2009): "The container shape of the Ziploc twist n Loc Container will not be a detriment to the effectiveness of the SteriPEN. When using your SteriPEN Adventurer, remember that you must agitate the water for effective treatment. To ensure the container shape does not adversely effect the treatment, simple stir the lamp of the SteriPEN Adventurer through the whole container. My only concern with this container is solarization. Do you know what material is used to manufacture this container and its thickness? Certain plastics will yellow and become brittle when exposed to UV radiation. The container may crack after extensive use with the SteriPEN. This is the same as when you leave it outside in the sun for extended periods." Links about container: http://www.ziploc.com/?p=b7 (you want the medium size weight shown is for two containers, I only bring one lid. I use a sharpie and label one Dirty the other Clean ). 2013 note: I no longer recommend this option because these containers too easily crack on the hike. Housewrap sheathing tape can be used to fix the crack though.
For 2013 I recommend, instead of the two Ziploc containers, a rugged Nalgene 1 liter bottle and a Ruffwear Bivy Bowl, each is shown below in a separate table row. Ruffwear Bivy Bowl, medium size. I made the below posting to the JohnMuirTrail Yahoo Group and it s worth requiting entirely. 2.1 19.95 After trying out substitutes for the below for the last several years, I've decided this is a far better solution. First of all, I'll explain what I will use with this. I bring along 4 small chamois towels "Campack 431 16-by-17- Inch Towel, Orange", each labeled with a sharpie (L=leg/feet; K=Kitchen; G=Groin; F=Face). These are super ultralight towels. If I swim, I'll use the Face or Leg towel to dry off. I'll rinse them without soap. Amazon has these, so does REI. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/b002hrfila/ Anyway, at night if I am not near a place to swim, I'll take a sponge bath, using 3 of these towels and a bowl that can stand up by itself without my help and hold soapy water, along with a container of fresh water, and soap. I like an ultralight, foldable, flexible bowl that can be used for the following purposes: 1. as a bathing tub (to hold soapy water) for the "sponge bath" 2. as a water scooper/bucket in case I want to filter water away from the stream 3. as a underwear bathing tub, since I wash my underwear nightly. Actually one could use this for just doing your Merino Wool Tshirt too. A little small for doing pants though. 4. as a kitchen sink if you need to clean anything else out. 5. (and when you are not on the JMT, it can be used as a dog bowl, if you have a dog). The Ruffwear Bivy Bowl, Medium, holds a gallon of water (listed capacity is 51 oz but you can put a gallon of water in it, but it's only 3/4th of an inch from the top at that point). It only weighs 2.1 oz. In the past I'd use a 1.9 oz 1 quart Ziplock Container but I found they easily crack and they're easy to tip over -- no fun if your sponge bath is inside a tent which is where I prefer to take mine in privacy. For my soap, I use http://www.shaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=00015 BASIC H2 ORGANIC SUPER CLEANING CONCENTRATE This is extremely concentrated, instructions state: "For allpurpose cleaning: Add 1/4 tsp. to 16 oz. of water." "This little 16 oz bottle creates
an unbelievable 48 gallons of super-safe, really powerful, all purpose cleaner." My friend who turned me onto this said it is rinseless, and that has been my experience too. I am able to do the entire JMT with only two ounces of soap. You can get 24 uses (each at 1/4th of a teaspoon) from one ounce of soap. You may need the soap more than once a day, so two ounces (at most 3 ounces) will do. You can have half of your supply awaiting you at Muir Trail Ranch. So what do you think? I read the reviews of this bowl and it appears once in a blue moon a bowl might arrive that is not 100% waterproof, test it out immediately, amazon will send you a replacement one if you get a defective one. I ordered two (one for me, one for a friend), and they're both leakproof. Nalgene HDPE Wide Mouth Water Bottle (1-Quart) On my 2012 JMT hike, I needed a quart container after my Ziploc containers split and got a used quart widemouth Gatorade bottle but that cracked too. I then bartered and bought a Nalgene bottle and I now realize that although it is an extra 2 ounces of weight, it is virtually bullet-proof and you can depend upon it for the entire JMT hike. It also does not leak when you make a shake too, the lid stays on that securely even under pressure (of whatever is in the shake mix). The CamelBak Pakteen Hydration System by CamelBak. Features include: Integrated MOLLE/PAL attachment system, use D ring attachment points to place unit anywhere, exterior fill port with ergonomic two finger handle for filling on the go, closed cell insulation and neoprene tube cover keeps water cool or warm for hours. I use this to provide front-side offsetting weight so that I am more centered rather than all the weight behind me. The weight fully loaded with water although only about 2.5 pounds provides a strong centering effect and I have become addicted to the comfort of this centering feeling even though it adds a few ounces to total weight. 4.0 8.96 9.6 36.20 http://www.professionalequipment.com/hydrationsystem-camelbak-76050/first-aid/ * Capacity: 50oz (1.5 L) * Dimensions: 12in x 7in x 1in (304mm x 177mm x
25mm) * Volume Including water: 92cu in (1.5L) * Weight empty: 0.6lbs (0.2kg) * Stand Alone Water System. Google and read up about the increased comfort of hiking with a front pack. See http://www.thesyncpack.com/biomechanics.html (although the SyncPack weighs 2.2 pounds empty, the CamelBack Pakteen only weighs.6 pounds and serves a critical function (a durable water bladder). This is my front pack and it does not interfere with my vision of what is beneath my feet. It can also be used as a backpack-stored water container and the cover prevents condensation effect in the pack. Also read the scientific studies (see aarn.com website in New Zealand - http://www.aarnpacks.com/sports_science/index.html. Note, the below totals include the pre-2013 container recommendations (add 2.1 oz if you substitute the 2013 alternative). Total with Pakteen and Steripen (extra Steripen batteries not included) 21.3 218.04 Total without Pakteen 11.7 181.84 Total without Pakteen and Steripen 8.2 81.84 The Two Most Important Things Listed in the Pack List The two most important things listed above are the Dudadiesel.5 or 1 micron filter and the Chlorine Dioxide tablets. To understand how the.5 or 1 micron Dudadiesel filter should protect you against Giardia and Crypto, read the below from the government. With those two items taken care of, on the JMT, the Chlorine Dioxide tablets need only 15 minutes to do its protective work for you. B. Source in Nature: Crypto and giardia are naturally occurring in the intestines of most mammals, including humans. The highly contagious and infectious form, as found in water, is a hard-shelled cyst in the case of giardia, about 5-8 microns in diameter; and an oocyst for crypto, about 3-5 microns (which is pliable and capable of folding to 1 micron). Once ingested by a host, the hard shell is dissolved, releasing the organisms. Both then reproduce in the intestines, and form new cysts/oocysts which are passed from the body in the feces. Both are found in water contaminated by mammal feces. Surface (most common) and
groundwater contamination can occur as a result of surface runoff through urban areas, woodlands, pastures, or feedlots; on-site septic tank/sewage disposal system leakage/failure; sewage treatment plant/disposal system overload or malfunction; or raw sewage deep well injection. The FDA recommends use of a 1 micron medical grade filter to remove both. Improving well casing/sealing or drilling deeper wells can improve groundwater quality. Boiling water for 1 minute (5 minutes at higher elevations) is the traditional POU treatment method. http://www.usbr.gov/pmts/water/media/pdfs/crypto.pdf BackpackingLight.com has published below what time is needed with Chlorine Dioxide tablets to protect water. http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgibin/backpackinglight/kaytadyn_micropur_mp1_purifier_tablets.html Specifications: Purification Method: Chlorine Dioxide Tablets Output: 1 tablet treats 1 quart (1 liter) of water Capacity: 30 tablets Wait Time: Microorganisms Killed Contact Time EPA Water #1 (Clear, 20 C) EPA Water #2 (Dirty, 4 C) Bacteria 15 Min. 15 Min. Viruses 15 Min. 15 Min. Cysts 30 Min. 4 Hours Note: Product instructions specify a four hour wait time. General Commentary on how these items are used The water on the JMT Hike is the best tasting water I have ever drank. During the day I like to use the Steripen to gain access to this water without the water having any chemical taste. The Chlorine Dioxide tablets gives the water a slight tap water taste. For those that do not mind that taste, they do not need to think about the use of a Steripen. Some people are concerned about the reliability of a Steripen. This is what Backpackinglight.com
had to say about the Steripen in its indepth study of its reliability. Overall Rating: Recommended The SteriPEN Adventurer gets a Recommended rating on several grounds. It is quite light, it works faster than the competing technologies of filters and chemicals, it handles viruses which filters generally don't stop, and there are no chemical residues to worry about. In addition, most chemical treatments have problems with protozoa such as Giardia lamblia and have to be left for a very long time to be fully reliable, up to hours on end for some chemicals. It doesn't get a Highly Recommended rating because it is still a little heavier than could be and it is a bit hungry on batteries. Should a similar unit come out which uses UV LEDs instead of the gas discharge lamp, I suspect it might achieve our highest rating, but the technology may take several years yet to arrive. "SteriPEN Adventurer Water Purifier REVIEW," by Roger Caffin. BackpackingLight.com ISSN 1537-0364). http://backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/steripen_adventurer_review.html, 2007-02-28 03:00:00-07 But since precaution is important, I do bring Chlorine Dioxide tablets as well. I bring enough to do 4 quarts a day, operating on the premise that it is not likely the Steripen will fail on day one, and on the basis that I will not thirst to death being guaranteed one gallon of clean water a day. I also use the Chlorine Dioxide tablets for the supper and breakfast meals because when I make camp at the end of the day, I am so tired and do not want to take the time to Steripen 4-5 quarts of water, and if I am helping a hiking mate (who is doing me a favor doing something else), double that amount. For those meals, being so tired and using the water for cooking or drinking mixed drinks, having the untainted taste water is not as important. It is always best to do the water in a couple situation if possible, for then one can hold the one Ziploc quart container marked dirty and scoop up water and pour it through the Dudadiesel.5 or 1 micron filter into the Ziploc quart container marked clean. Then your partner if you have one, or else if it is not windy, have the clean container standing still on the ground pick it up, and either Steripen it, or if treating with Chlorine Dioxide, pour the water into the Platypus 2 liter container. Repeat until the Platypus is full. Then add 2 tablets to the Platypus if treating with the tablets (only if you are not Steripen ing the water). 2013 note: if you go with the Ruffwear/Nalgene containers, use the Ruffwear as the dirty container and the Nalgene as the clean container. The Camelbak Pakteen adds a little weight, but it offsets the weight of the pack so nicely, that it is a nicely appreciated counterweight to the pack and it so nicely slips over the Chest Sternum of your pack. See this photo with me with the Pakteen on me. (I have a ear piece hanging on my shirt pocket, so ignore what is clipped to the shirt pocket, it is not part of the setup it was for listening
to music.) You will also note the Dudadiesel filter hanging at the back of the pack to dry off too.