le Voyageur

Been awhile since hiking the John Muir.... this trail should be on every backpacker's bucket list even if they've got the AT under their belt... however, know that this isn't a trail for the novice, lots of ducks to get in a row

Your synopsis is fairly well dead on... it's the reason that I've been loosing interest in Scouting. Too much technology replacing old school skill sets. Eventually, technology will fail....and being in the back country when that happens doesn't bode well...

The point is, which is non political, and the reason the subject is being posted on this board.... is how does a unit leader ensure the health of his unit with these new risk factors.when engaged in high adventure activitives......so please, no politics....

Knew this would happen....Was just a matter of time....... http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/scie...lvania-stream/

No Bibles,.......Just Thoreau, Abbey, the Tao and a canoe........

The Seychelle is a purifier, not a filter.... from there website "The bag features Seychelles's in-line filter which contains EPA approved iodinated resin for extra safety, which has been proven effective against bacteria and virus to a reduction of up to six logs (99.9999%). Therefore, under EPA guidelines, the water bag filtering system is a water purifier. It also removes up to 99.99% of chlorine, chemicals, VOC’s, heavy metals and micro-organisms such as Giardia, E-Coli and Cryptosporidium"... The Pur filters are not in the same ball park. They'll remove the bugs, but not the nitrat

I'v always found it it interesting how certain religiou sects will cherry pick the biblical standards they want everyone else to follow..... as Teaparty Jesus is so found of saying..."Do unto others before they do unto you."

Used one for several years...had the same problem to the point that it was no longer reliable for back country travel. As such, I've upgraded to the Seychelle's. Unlike the Basecamp, the Seychelle has two prefilters, the advanced filter (purifier) and the bag is ballistic nylon. At 40 bucks, it's the better buy then the Basecamp at 70 to 80.... http://store.seychelle.com/Pure_Water_Bag-Pure_Water_Bag_Advanced.html

http://www.bikemap.net/en/#gsc.tab=0 http://mobac.sourceforge.net/ http://www.velomap.org/ http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/

Links for those with Garmin devices http://www.garmin.com/en-US/shop/downloads/basecamp http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/

I carry enough safe water in the canoe to last for several days.... when those sources are exhausted then I'll switch over to the purifier. If there's only bacteria to be concerned with, I'll save the filter and use the pressure cooker to sterilize water....as always, before heading out I'll do a bit of homework to find out what is not only in the river, but also the watershed. This way I know what test/s to stock the kit with.....

In reclaimed areas suspect traces of mercury, PCB's and dioxins from coal powered plants, and logging operations. If the watershed is being farmed, pesticides and herbicides. In rural areas using out house and septic systems, fecal contamination. Same goes for cattle, hogs and chicken farms, as well as growth hormones and antibiotics. For cities and suburbs, heavy metals such as copper (vehicles braking system), as well as those chemicals used in lawn care products which don't break down.....maybe the best way to put it is that every creek, stream, river, lake, or waterway in this country

Here's the links http://www.filters-now.com/products/www.html#WFWW487197?CA_6C15C=1400808742 http://www.firstalert.com/home-security/environmental-test-kits/home-test-kits/wt1 http://www.prolabinc.com/pesticides.html http://www.prolabinc.com/bacteria-in-water.html The filters I'm now using http://store.seychelle.com/Pure_Water_Bag-Pure_Water_Bag_Advanced.html http://store.seychelle.com/Pure_Water_Straw-Radiological_Drinking_Straw.html

This season I've added the following to my kit...a water test kit for heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides; and, an e coli test kit to ensure that my purifier is doing it's job when it has reached it's half way point, and at three fourths of it's useful lifespan. Any postive results at these stages, and the filter is replaced....

Never had a problem backpacking with just light weight sneakers ... the only time I consider a boot is, if I need to use crampons, or in cactus country.. Might consider a fewl easy trails to see if a lighter shoe is the answer. Just be aware that when it comes to gear. be it boots or whatever of the hype factor which is to drain your wallet....the only defense against hype is experience....

It's an easy mistake..... you're not the first, nor will you be the last. Been many times I've heard it... would be sitting at the Fruit Yard in Modesto enjoying an early breakfast before heading out to Yosemite. and hear tourists gushing about seeing Old Faithful.. However, I truly doubt they were disappointed. None the less, you need to visit. The John Muir trail is a awesome hike....

You've confused Yosemite with Yellowstone - no geysers, no volcanoes, no Old Faithful....just awesome backcountry backpacking, and climbing. Best time for a visit, October.. few people, and the bears have moved on to greener pastures

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Ridge_Mountains_Council

IIf I may, I'm not a Unit Leader, but a Council Member at large that serves as a river guide for our Council's high adventure programs. It's from that perspective that I'm coming from. . As canoeists we've more options then backpackers as to weight...... following LNT guide lines, we've said goodby to campfires except on those rare occasions where fires are permitted, and are now using Stansports Outfitter propane stoves with 5 gallon tanks as they are more efficent for groups then Whisperlites, and Pocket Rockets. As such, the safety concerns of using PC's (mine is a Hawkins 3L hard anodized)

I see teachable moments being passed up on this topic.... consider WAAG bags and urine bottles as a solution

Been wondering why I've never used PC's in the outdoors. I've now become aware that traditional pots and kettles waste fuel, a lot of fuel compared to a PC... made beef stew, done in 20 minutes vice 1.5 hours. And my favorite bean recipe, down from 2 hours and 30 minutes to just 15.....steel cut oats with dried apples, a mere 7 minutes...talk about a wake up call for this old dog.....

I've been away from this forum for a while and decided to poke my head up here...needless to say, this was more then a shock. I never met OGE in person, but we did become friends sharing our love of reenacting via emails and messages. Belated sympathies to the Arno family, your John and our OGE will indeed be missed... en roulant mon ami.

Was filtering with a Seychelle Advanced Filter (water straw) which I will continue to use due to heavy metals http://store.seychelle.com/Products-Pure_Water_Straw.html

Besides currently owning three PC, and a Pressure Canner that could hold a nuke .... I'm far more interested in making pickles, jams and jellies, then bombs....got no interest in harming others, so, no concern. If some agency has concerns, they're free to drop by. I'll serve black coffee, scones with homemade butter along with homemade blackberry jam.....but, switching horses to this http://www.salon.com/2013/08/04/glob...worse_partner/

Boiling is pasteurization, not sterilization. Boiling will kill, or render harmless most bacteria, where as sterilization kills everything. The problem of concern are spores. which can not be deactivated and render harmless by boiling, the temperture is too low... thus, the pressure cooker serves an autoclave that will raise the temp to sterilize water. Additionally, at higher elevations boiling becomes less effective. I know for backpackers that weight is everything...but, that small amount of additional weight is not a concern for canoeing. However, for those interested both Hawkins and GSI