I have a note that people might be interested in. I had sent a message to a man who runs a canoe-camping website asking about filtering the silty water. His response is below.   ---   Bruce Thompson

GREAT QUESTION BRUCE, AND I HAVE A GREAT ANSWER:

FIRST OF ALL, LEAVE THE FILTER AT HOME.

TAKE ALONG SOME ALUM (FOUND IN YOUR GROCERY STORE SPICE SHELF, USED FOR
PICKLING) AND A BUCKET. PUT THE RIVER WATER IN THE BUCKET (COUPLE OF
GALLONS) AND THEN PUT IN ABOUT 1/4 TEASPOON OF ALUM. STIR IT AROUND AND
LET IT SIT FOR AN HOUR OR SO. THE SILT WILL DROP OUT AS IF BY MAGIC.
THEN YOU CAN POUR OR SIPHON THE WATER OFF INTO ANOTHER VESSEL. NOW YOU
NEED TO EITHER BOIL IT OR TREAT IT WITH IODINE TABLETS. I THINK IT WILL
STILL HAVE ENOUGH SOLID MATERIAL IN IT TO CLOG A FILTER IN PRETTY SHORT
ORDER.

WE JUST DID A TRIP OF 12 DAYS ON THAT RIVER, AND WE TOOK (FOR THE TWO OF
US) ABOUT 9 GALLONS OF WATER. IT WAS PRETTY HOT, SO WE WERE DRINKING A
LOT. WE USED RIVER WATER FOR COOKING EVERY DAY (AFTER USING THE ALUM)
AND BOILED A COUPLE OF EXTRA QUARTS EVERY TIME WE USED THE STOVE. WE
NEVER HAD TO DRINK IODINE WATER (WHICH I DON'T LIKE SO WELL).

THERE ARE SOME SPRINGS ALONG THE RIVER, NOTABLY AT ANDERSON BOTTOM AND
TRIN ALCOVE, AND SOME SAY YOU CAN USE THAT WATER WITHOUT TREATING. I
WOULDN'T SAY THAT, BUT WE DID THAT ON A PREVIOUS TRIP.

THANKS ALSO FOR YOUR FEED BACK ABOUT OUR SITE. IT IS REALLY
APPRECIATED!

GOOD LUCK!

Mark McClain
http://www.canoe-camping.org Canoe Camping - Top 40  http://www.canoe-camping.org