[pct-l] Filters vs. Chemicals; what size water bladder?

[Dan Africk]

Hi, I've joined this list recently in preparation for my thru-hike this
spring, and appreciate the tons of useful info and perspectives. I'm still
trying to catch up on the deluge of emails from the list. Anyway, I thought
I'd throw my 2 cents in about filters vs. chemicals.

I'm a big fan of clean water. I also don't like the idea of drinking
chlorinated water for 5 months straight, nor am I willing to wait 4 hours or
more for iodine, which apparently is not as effective and also doesn't taste
very good. So I'm pretty much set on using a filter. And most of you will
think I'm insane, because as of now I plan on bringing the heaviest water
filter on the market, a Katadyn pocket(20oz).

What I like about the katadyn pocket is that its extremely reliable and
bombproof- It can handle the dirtiest water you can throw at it, and when it
starts to clog, all it takes is a quick scrubbing and it filters like new
again. It served me well in Alaska, filtering water that was gray colored
due to glacial silt. Its nice to be able to pump water from a small muddy
puddle and get crystal clear water thats drinkable right away.
The filter element will easily last the whole trail without ever needing a
replacement (unless I'm extremely careless and drop the ceramic element on a
rock- the capacity is rated at 50,000 liters). There are no small plastic
parts to break, and the only part you need to keep clean is the output hose,
everything else can safely touch contaminated water.

I also bring a few chlorine dioxide tablets as a backup, and for peace of
mind with really sketchy water sources

On another note, I'm trying to decide what size water bladder I should bring
to haul water for the desert sections. I plan on bringing either the MSR
Dromlite 6 liter, or the MSR Dromedary 10 liter(they don't make a 10L
dromlite). This is in addition to two 1 liter bottles, so I would have a
total of either 8 liters or 12 liters max capacity. I'd like to have enough
capacity to carry enough water for almost all if not all of the waterless
sections.
I would like to hear from people who have done the PCT or done a lot of
desert hiking, how much water do you normally use in a day in those areas,
and how much do you need to carry?



-- 
Indifference is the one trait that makes the very angels weep. Indifference
is the essence of inhumanity. Indifference to evil is more insidious than
evil itself -- Cornel West

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