Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Clean water locations

Last time I hiked Whitney, Doug showed me on a map the location where i could get water, with out having to filter or sterilize it. This was a great help, as it allowed me to lighten my day pack to a max weight of 14.4 pounds when I hit the trail head.

I wish I would have know about this on my past hikes, when I was constantly stopping, and pumping water, and carrying the extra water weight. LOL

I have a friend who will be hiking the mountain for the first time, and I would like give her a list of the location, as I have lost the map, and I can only remember a few of the spots.

Does anyone have a link that I can access the info?

Thank you,

Mike

found it.

http://www.ridgenet.net/~rockwell/Whitney_water_trail.pdf

Not sure I'd drink the water without treating it... Even though it's fresh snowmelt & spring water coming out of the mountains, there are a lot of animals eating/pooping /dying in or near it. You might get away with it, but you might get sick.

Ain't nothing wrong with the water along the main trail...as long as you know where to get it and how to get it...

Your only problem is cracking the ice to get to it.

Hi You are right nickamudd it is a choice each person has to make.
Nnotice we sell only a few treatment systems and I honestly don't trust any of them , not because of the product but the many other ways one can exposure yourself , brushing your teeth after rinsing off in the stream , washing your face or hands from the creek ,washing your pot or pan ,cup the list is long so it is not just drinking that is a source.
Then the all time classic I got sick from the water I ask PCT hiker? ya Last bath 800 miles ago? Ya Thanks for your thoughts Doug

Saying the numbers of Giardia in the water can't make you sick
may be misleading. Sure it takes millions or billions to make a
person sick and you will not drink that many during a hike.

But Giardia is not a chemical, its an animal. A protozoa. All it
wants to do is latch onto the wall of your intestine and
reproduce until then there are billions and then you get sick.

Luckily they are not invulnerable, being soft squishy little
beasts, and are easily damaged so they can't reproduce
effectively. Boiling, chlorine, soap(hand washing), ultraviolet, and water filters can work to stop the strong
healthy ones getting inside you.