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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Listening Point - General Discussion How many of you still don't filter? (don't want debate) |
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01/11/2019 04:57PM
Not looking for debate on this, just want to know how many of you still don't filter your water ?
After 87 trips, I still drink straight from the lake. Most who travel with me do the same. Just wondering, on this board, how many of us there are ?
After 87 trips, I still drink straight from the lake. Most who travel with me do the same. Just wondering, on this board, how many of us there are ?
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly
01/11/2019 05:23PM
Nope. I don't do the frequent trips I once did, but I never have. I've never had problem, but I will NOT drink water I haven't personally "dipped." Back in the '90s, a trip mate accepted a drink on Monument Portage at the Ottertrack landing. Ten days later...
"Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." Mark Twain
01/11/2019 05:32PM
ozarkpaddler: "Nope. I don't do the frequent trips I once did, but never have. I've never had problem, but I will NOT drink water I haven't personally "Dipped." Back in the '90's a trip mate accepted a drink on Monument Portage at the Ottertrack landing. 10 days later..... "
LOL! That reminds me... once on the Wind Lake portage, I accepted a slug of Jim Beam from a woman that I'd never met before. It was 8:00 in the morning!!
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly
01/11/2019 05:43PM
I drink right out of the lake, primarily when traveling or out fishing, and have been on many trips with no filters. No problems. It seems like when our (then) young sons started coming along, we took more precautions for drinking water in camp. The funny thing is, now that they're older, they'll drink out of the lake, too.
"Keep close to Nature's heart, yourself; and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." ~ John Muir
01/11/2019 06:05PM
I carry a Lifestra and an IMUSA cup. With the Lifestraw filtered water is no more bother than unfiltered so no reason not to add a level of protection. I am typically solo so my decisions assume that I will need to self rescue should I become sick or injured.
01/11/2019 06:21PM
Filter:
I have drank from the middle of the lake if needed or feel like doing it, but we filter all our water. I guess it really doesn't take that much more of our time. We just hang a filter and go on with other chores while it filters.
I have drank from the middle of the lake if needed or feel like doing it, but we filter all our water. I guess it really doesn't take that much more of our time. We just hang a filter and go on with other chores while it filters.
01/11/2019 06:40PM
Stumpy: "ozarkpaddler: "Nope. I don't do the frequent trips I once did, but never have. I've never had problem, but I will NOT drink water I haven't personally "Dipped." Back in the '90's a trip mate accepted a drink on Monument Portage at the Ottertrack landing. 10 days later..... "
LOL! That reminds me... once on the Wind Lake portage, I accepted a slug of Jim Beam from a woman that I'd never met before. It was 8:00 in the morning!!"
9 months later....
01/11/2019 06:45PM
analyzer: "Stumpy: "ozarkpaddler: "Nope. I don't do the frequent trips I once did, but never have. I've never had problem, but I will NOT drink water I haven't personally "Dipped." Back in the '90's a trip mate accepted a drink on Monument Portage at the Ottertrack landing. 10 days later..... "
LOL! That reminds me... once on the Wind Lake portage, I accepted a slug of Jim Beam from a woman that I'd never met before. It was 8:00 in the morning!!"
9 months later...."
(LOL) that's great!
"Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." Mark Twain
01/11/2019 08:56PM
While I would be ok drinking from many BW lakes if I needed to. But using a gravity filter is so easy now, why take a chance?
Years ago we took a sister in law to a secluded northern lake, no motors, little used. She didn't want to drink any lake water, filtered or boiled or treated. Because fish etc poop in the lake. No, we did not take her again.
Years ago we took a sister in law to a secluded northern lake, no motors, little used. She didn't want to drink any lake water, filtered or boiled or treated. Because fish etc poop in the lake. No, we did not take her again.
01/11/2019 09:06PM
Mostly filter now especially if there are a lot of beaver lodges in the area. Used to never filter. If I run out of water in canoe and all looks good I will not hesitate to refill my water bottle from lake. On my solo I filtered all water because just to lower risk of any problems.
01/11/2019 09:28PM
First 25 to 30 trips I drank and used water right out of the lake, and not always out in the middle either. Then I took 15 years off to raise a family and when I started up again we just started filtering. Used a couple different hand pump filters that were enough to make me drink lake water again but now we have moved on to gravity filters. It is simply so easy to filter water that increases your odds by 99% that I see no reason to not do it.
It was cool back in the day to drink right out of the lake and think we were in this most pristine wilderness area and the water was pure and safe. I have read about the adventures of giardia related illnesses and it is something I am willing to go to my grave without.
Filtering water for us has become a ritual and a tradition like many other parts of our trips and it fits in just fine. I think the odds are still good that if you drink from the lake you will be just fine. But then, I was never really very lucky either.
It was cool back in the day to drink right out of the lake and think we were in this most pristine wilderness area and the water was pure and safe. I have read about the adventures of giardia related illnesses and it is something I am willing to go to my grave without.
Filtering water for us has become a ritual and a tradition like many other parts of our trips and it fits in just fine. I think the odds are still good that if you drink from the lake you will be just fine. But then, I was never really very lucky either.
01/11/2019 10:12PM
Stumpy: "ozarkpaddler: "Nope. I don't do the frequent trips I once did, but never have. I've never had problem, but I will NOT drink water I haven't personally "Dipped." Back in the '90's a trip mate accepted a drink on Monument Portage at the Ottertrack landing. 10 days later..... "
LOL! That reminds me... once on the Wind Lake portage, I accepted a slug of Jim Beam from a woman that I'd never met before. It was 8:00 in the morning!!"
Well, why not indeed!
"It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”
01/12/2019 08:29AM
I usually filter or treat. But if I'm really thirsty and in the middle of the lake I'll drink without it straight up even though I know that fish pee in the lake!
You're going to HELL and you're going to drag me with ya!! -Gunsmoke
01/12/2019 09:04AM
I've treated or filtered for many years, but this summer finally just started dipping out of the middle of clean looking lakes on hot days, but still filtered my water for camp. I know it is probably fine not to, but use to have a neighbor who would retell his story of getting G every time I was packing up to go, and the gravity filter makes is just effortless.
Drinking out of the lake reminded me of the feeling the first time I let unwashed chicken eggs from a farm sit in a bowl on my counter for up to a couple weeks before eating them.
Drinking out of the lake reminded me of the feeling the first time I let unwashed chicken eggs from a farm sit in a bowl on my counter for up to a couple weeks before eating them.
01/12/2019 09:47AM
Stumpy: "Annoying (no surprise )
I'll reword the question, and post another question, for those who insist on talking about how they filter. "
What did you expect? It is sort of a question that invites people to share their practices, and I don't see a lot of "debating" going on here. ;-)
We used to drink from the lake. Did it for many years. Got more serious about not doing that after Spartan1's kidney transplant, as he is now immune-suppressed and that makes you think twice.
01/12/2019 10:07AM
My first 20-30 trips mostly dipped from the middle of the lake. I bring young kids now and it isn’t always convenient to go out away from camp to get water. So we have a gravity filter now as well to supplement.
We still dip though at times.
T
We still dip though at times.
T
01/12/2019 03:25PM
Spartan2: "Stumpy: "Annoying (no surprise )
I'll reword the question, and post another question, for those who insist on talking about how they filter. "
What did you expect? It is sort of a question that invites people to share their practices, and I don't see a lot of "debating" going on here. ;-)
We used to drink from the lake. Did it for many years. Got more serious about not doing that after Spartan1's kidney transplant, as he is now immune-suppressed and that makes you think twice."
Well I did say "not surprised".
I should have asked for a roll call, of those who never filter and don't even carry one.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly
01/12/2019 03:33PM
Stumpy: "Spartan2: "Stumpy: "Annoying (no surprise )
I'll reword the question, and post another question, for those who insist on talking about how they filter. "
What did you expect? It is sort of a question that invites people to share their practices, and I don't see a lot of "debating" going on here. ;-)
We used to drink from the lake. Did it for many years. Got more serious about not doing that after Spartan1's kidney transplant, as he is now immune-suppressed and that makes you think twice."
Well I did say "not surprised".
I should have asked for a roll call, of those who never filter and don't even carry one."
Maybe the administrators can add a polling function that sits at the top of the thread. Many other forums have them, especially ones that follow sports and they are polling which team people think will win. Could be really usefully for a number of questions, and fun to see averages. Not sure what information you may be trying to glean from this, other than curiosity, but would be interested if 50/50 filtered, or 90/10 or anything in between.
01/12/2019 05:17PM
Stumpy: "Spartan2: "Stumpy: "Annoying (no surprise )
I'll reword the question, and post another question, for those who insist on talking about how they filter. "
What did you expect? It is sort of a question that invites people to share their practices, and I don't see a lot of "debating" going on here. ;-)
We used to drink from the lake. Did it for many years. Got more serious about not doing that after Spartan1's kidney transplant, as he is now immune-suppressed and that makes you think twice."
Well I did say "not surprised".
I should have asked for a roll call, of those who never filter and don't even carry one."
Now I wish I had posted a fake 25 step filtering process instead of my beaver lodge pic LOL
T
01/13/2019 12:16PM
I mostly don't filter in canoe country waters, but using a gravity filter has resulted in essentially no extra effort to achieve filtered "camp" water.
But I have a couple of question for those who do filter ... What water do you use to wash dishes? Do you bathe/swim on canoe trips?
Just wondering.
dd
p.s. Just so you know that I'm aware of what can happen ... when my daughter was about 2 years old, she nearly died from swimming in a river. Diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome (which caused kidneys and liver to shut down), she did ultimately survive, but it wasn't at all certain for quite a while. Years later, the probable cause was established to be e coli.
But I have a couple of question for those who do filter ... What water do you use to wash dishes? Do you bathe/swim on canoe trips?
Just wondering.
dd
p.s. Just so you know that I'm aware of what can happen ... when my daughter was about 2 years old, she nearly died from swimming in a river. Diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome (which caused kidneys and liver to shut down), she did ultimately survive, but it wasn't at all certain for quite a while. Years later, the probable cause was established to be e coli.
"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs" chances are you missed something. (Inspired by Rudyard Kipling.)
01/14/2019 08:19AM
I have always dip and drank but I was choosy about what lake I did it in. Only deep water nothing shallow. I did just pick up last month a gravity water filter that will be part of my kit now. I ran into a dehydration issue many years ago waiting for a better lake to dip into. Just makes sense to carry it now that they are so easy to use. I hate hate hate those old hand pump ones....lol I always have a life straw in the pack but that is just part of an emergency kit. Long story short....One more vote for dip and drink.
01/14/2019 09:17AM
Pinetree: "usually use iodine pills. prefer to filter on rare occasions and iodine pill combo on like the Island river. Got giardi there before.
otherwise just iodine pills in Quetico and BWCA 99% of time."
Have you no taste buds? Haha! I made the kid face related to yuck. But I’ve seen others make that face when they see coffee.
I will dip from time to time. But with caution!
Nctry
01/14/2019 10:45AM
I only drank unfiltered water once on Kelly Lake when the Katadyn bottle filter clogged. Had just trekked the Burnt-->Kelly portage and was nearing dehydration. Just kept dunking cup and drinking middle-of-lake water. ah! The best tasting water I've ever drunk. No troubles afterward.
“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Sir Isaac Newton
01/14/2019 10:51AM
I rarely filter. Although, i do drink a lot of coffee which is done in the percolator. The exceptions would be in a small murky bay, stream/river, or when my kids are on a trip. Other than that, i drink straight out of the lake.
01/14/2019 12:11PM
timatkn: "Stumpy: "Spartan2: "Stumpy: "Annoying (no surprise )
I'll reword the question, and post another question, for those who insist on talking about how they filter. "
What did you expect? It is sort of a question that invites people to share their practices, and I don't see a lot of "debating" going on here. ;-)
We used to drink from the lake. Did it for many years. Got more serious about not doing that after Spartan1's kidney transplant, as he is now immune-suppressed and that makes you think twice."
Well I did say "not surprised".
I should have asked for a roll call, of those who never filter and don't even carry one."
Now I wish I had posted a fake 25 step filtering process instead of my beaver lodge pic LOL
T"
LOL !!!
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly
01/14/2019 12:22PM
We use Aquatabs.
Honestly never looked into a gravity filter - assumed they were a hassle & expensive, and we were always very content with the tablets. Everybody seems to be saying they are no hassle whatsoever though, so maybe I'll take a look.
Honestly never looked into a gravity filter - assumed they were a hassle & expensive, and we were always very content with the tablets. Everybody seems to be saying they are no hassle whatsoever though, so maybe I'll take a look.
01/14/2019 12:48PM
40+ years of tripping, never filtered until these past 6-8 years. Never a known related illness. Always collected out in the lake, tho. The first trips that I experimented with filtering, I was pumping it from next to shore and gave it up with the tannins clogging it so quickly. When we started going on trips with the family, my wife insisted on filtering so we got a Sawyer gravity system. (Would never have heard of it except for suggestions on this site.) Still collect our water mid-lake, however, to begin with a relatively clean supply. Very painless, simple routine allows for a plentiful enough ready supply that even members of our seasoned men's group -- chest-beating, nay-sayers all -- have become converts to the "better tasting" filtered stuff.
When paddling, I'll still dip and drink a bit, and even attempt (rather unsuccessfully) the 'drink a stream off of the paddle handle' method shown to me on my very first trip.
When paddling, I'll still dip and drink a bit, and even attempt (rather unsuccessfully) the 'drink a stream off of the paddle handle' method shown to me on my very first trip.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." -- Yogi Berra
01/14/2019 05:23PM
HowardSprague: "timatkn: " "
Yep! That's the way to do it!
Stumpy,...let me impart some wisdom upon you....
,,,,never mind, I'd end up jumping from this subject to a bunch of others, then the post would be ten paragraphs long.."
I really have done that. (drank near beaver lodge)
In fact I've drank from shore a ton, and even from couple inches of water flowing over black mud, on the Dettbarn Creek.
Better chance that, over heat stroke I was thinking at time. (95 degrees, in middle of insane bushwhack)
&....I was waiting for you to give me the "business", Howie :)
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly
01/14/2019 09:23PM
It's so easy to do it using a Katadyn BeFree (middle of the lake or at camp) or a gravity filter (at camp) that there's almost no reason not to, unless of course your gear malfunctions. I was really tempted by the beautiful clear cold water on Knife and Kek back in June but opted to filter it. It was still cold and amazing. I might take the risk on the latter half of a trip this year if the conditions are right (on the lake on a warm day with cold clear water right there). I also bring water purification tablets and a LifeStraw as a backup (in case I'm on a river or near beaver lodges or just dirty water). Be prepared, folks!
01/15/2019 03:56PM
Both.. If I run out of water during the day I will drink from the lake.. this goes for at home too. I won't drink from a beaver brook.. We have one around the corner.. McLodge sized.
Other animals do poop in the lake and springs are not immune either. We had moose foul our camp well.
Other animals do poop in the lake and springs are not immune either. We had moose foul our camp well.
01/16/2019 07:25AM
I've been drinking straight from the BWCA/Quetico lakes since 1979. No problems. I never drink from shore or in places like the Moose Chain, streams, or beaver flowages, though.
On the other hand, I always filter water out in the Rockies where giardiasis is not uncommon in the high country.
On the other hand, I always filter water out in the Rockies where giardiasis is not uncommon in the high country.
“Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.” -Edward Abbey
01/16/2019 10:04AM
airmorse: "Always filter.
However the question has been brought up within our group about using unfiltered lake water to wash dishes and the risks of getting giardia."
I always rinse dishes with my Katadyn BeFree - it comes out fast enough to get a good rinse, but slow enough that you can use just as much water as you need, and no more. I don't know that the clean water rinse gets rid of all things that would be in the unclean water, but it gives me peace of mind, and we haven't had an issue.
Can giardia survive outside of water? Like if a bead of water with giardia inside a bowl was left to dry, and then later some food was added - will the giardia be inert by the time it is rehydrated? Anyone know?
01/16/2019 11:22AM
flynn: "Can giardia survive outside of water? Like if a bead of water with giardia inside a bowl was left to dry, and then later some food was added - will the giardia be inert by the time it is rehydrated? Anyone know?"
Yes. "In a dry, warm environment that experiences direct sunlight, Giardia can survive for only a few days." From the CDC website.
01/16/2019 11:38AM
airmorse: "Always filter.
However the question has been brought up within our group about using unfiltered lake water to wash dishes and the risks of getting giardia."
If dishes in lake water concern you swimming is a high risk activity.
Nobody exists on purpose, nobody belongs anywhere, everybody’s going to die.
01/16/2019 12:11PM
inspector13: "flynn: "Can giardia survive outside of water? Like if a bead of water with giardia inside a bowl was left to dry, and then later some food was added - will the giardia be inert by the time it is rehydrated? Anyone know?"
Yes. "In a dry, warm environment that experiences direct sunlight, Giardia can survive for only a few days." From the CDC website.
"
Good to know! Haven't had an issue yet. I do also swim if only for a minute or two to get the dirt and sweat off my body. I don't have any issues getting water in my nose or eyes so I'm not too concerned about getting sick from swimming. I'm not gonna be swimming in a river or creek or near a beaver lodge or anything anyway.
01/16/2019 01:24PM
airmorse: "...the question has been brought up within our group about using unfiltered lake water to wash dishes and the risks of getting giardia."
Been wrong once before, but I've never considered this a high enough risk to bother with using filtered water here. Seems as if all of our dishes have dried prior to their next use, anyway. Maybe if we were licking the dishes dry... :-)
"You can observe a lot just by watching." -- Yogi Berra
01/16/2019 09:53PM
Banksiana: "airmorse: "Always filter.
However the question has been brought up within our group about using unfiltered lake water to wash dishes and the risks of getting giardia."
If dishes in lake water concern you swimming is a high risk activity."
Working on the Pine River north pf Brainerd I just got water splashed on my lips or into my mouth and that was enough to get Giardia. I suppose it depends how concentrated those little guys are present.I said before on this site,its the fastest way I know how to lose 10-15 pounds in like a week or so.
01/16/2019 09:57PM
I don't filter when I'm moving. If I'm in camp and gathering water is easy, I'll use a gravity filter.
If I had to choose between pumping water and risking it, I'd risk it. I haven't had giardia, though, so that might change my opinion.
If I had to choose between pumping water and risking it, I'd risk it. I haven't had giardia, though, so that might change my opinion.
01/17/2019 08:24AM
Heh heh... Hi guys. I've only been on the other board, but in light of this discussion I thought I'd make an unwelcome appearance (as are all of my appearances).
Keep on doin' what you're doin'! Who the heck wants to crouch down by some quiet lake for five minutes to filter water? You's gots lots of other stuff to do - meeting to attend, or ....or whatever else. Too busy for filterin'!
I'll be seeing you.....oh, I'll be seeing you. You too, Stumpy,...just waiting for the right time, heh heh heh...
Skippy the Giardia Cyst
Keep on doin' what you're doin'! Who the heck wants to crouch down by some quiet lake for five minutes to filter water? You's gots lots of other stuff to do - meeting to attend, or ....or whatever else. Too busy for filterin'!
I'll be seeing you.....oh, I'll be seeing you. You too, Stumpy,...just waiting for the right time, heh heh heh...
Skippy the Giardia Cyst
01/17/2019 09:55AM
I do both, depends where I am at when I need water. Back at camp we have a gravity filter for camp water, but when traveling or out fishing we will dunk a container or mug in the middle of the lake.
I can be followed on Instagram @queticomike
01/17/2019 10:57AM
Last year the handle on the filter pump broke off on the 3rd day of a 6 day trip. We filled the water bag from the surface over deep water for the balance of the trip with no problems. I like the way the waters taste from the lakes up there.
SE
SE
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog is too dark to read.
01/17/2019 02:22PM
Skippy the Giardia Cyst: "Heh heh... Hi guys. I've only been on the other board, but in light of this discussion I thought I'd make an unwelcome appearance (as are all of my appearances).
Keep on doin' what you're doin'! Who the heck wants to crouch down by some quiet lake for five minutes to filter water? You's gots lots of other stuff to do - meeting to attend, or ....or whatever else. Too busy for filterin'!
I'll be seeing you.....oh, I'll be seeing you. You too, Stumpy,...just waiting for the right time, heh heh heh...
Skippy the Giardia Cyst
"
Yeah, I'll meet you in McDonalds, but not Quetico.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly
01/17/2019 02:51PM
We take a quart of bottled water to two for each for the first day of tripping to our basecamp. Gravity flow filtering system in camp. If necessary, from lake while traveling to or from camp. Day trips, fill the bottle from the gravity filter.
the greatest come backs are reserved for those with the greatest deficits.
01/17/2019 05:44PM
Stumpy: "Skippy the Giardia Cyst: "Heh heh... Hi guys. I've only been on the other board, but in light of this discussion I thought I'd make an unwelcome appearance (as are all of my appearances).
Keep on doin' what you're doin'! Who the heck wants to crouch down by some quiet lake for five minutes to filter water? You's gots lots of other stuff to do - meeting to attend, or ....or whatever else. Too busy for filterin'!
I'll be seeing you.....oh, I'll be seeing you. You too, Stumpy,...just waiting for the right time, heh heh heh...
Skippy the Giardia Cyst
"
Yeah, I'll meet you in McDonalds, but not Quetico."
Guys, just ignore Skippy. He shows up on the ccbb now & then, and even in the busy days there he was largely ignored and would go away for awhile. Damn microscopic little troll.
"Enjoy every sandwich"
01/17/2019 08:22PM
Skippy the Giardia Cyst: "Heh heh... Hi guys. I've only been on the other board, but in light of this discussion I thought I'd make an unwelcome appearance (as are all of my appearances).
Keep on doin' what you're doin'! Who the heck wants to crouch down by some quiet lake for five minutes to filter water? You's gots lots of other stuff to do - meeting to attend, or ....or whatever else. Too busy for filterin'!
I'll be seeing you.....oh, I'll be seeing you. You too, Stumpy,...just waiting for the right time, heh heh heh...
Skippy the Giardia Cyst
"
The epitome of weakness...
“Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.” -Edward Abbey
01/18/2019 11:54PM
I typically filter my water. Last year I found myself dying of thirst on a long fishing excursion when I forgot my water bottle. I drank straight from the lake with no issues. Later in my trip coming to a Portage I noticed something that resembled a tape worn in the water. We'll just say I was second guessing my choice.
He has achieved success who has worked well, laughed often, and loved much. --Elbert Hubbard--
01/21/2019 04:29PM
I always filter in camp. Drink from the lake depending on the lake while paddling. Late last fall, I noticed a lot of small critters swimming in the water in my 5 gal bucket I use for filtering. Even in water from the middle of the lake. I think they were daphnia. I was a little hesitant to drink them, so I filtered everything on that trip. I don't think daphnia will make you sick. Probably just extra protein.
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