Ran into a park ranger on the Lost Coast Trail who changed my whole water plan

I was filling up at a creek near Shelter Cove last weekend, and a ranger named Carl stopped to chat. He said, 'That filter's good, but the real problem here is the silt after the spring rains, it'll clog a pump in two days.' He showed me his own setup, a simple gravity bag with a pre-filter, which he cleans with a soft toothbrush. I've always trusted my pump, but seeing his gear, worn from a decade on that trail, made me rethink my whole system. Anyone else switch their main water method after a trail talk?

4 comments

4 Comments

calebb571mo ago

Yeah, that's a solid point about silt. I read a trail report from up in the Olympics where a guy's pump failed on day three for the same reason. He had to borrow a friend's Sawyer squeeze bag to finish the trip. Makes you realize how much local conditions matter, lol.

jordan3052d ago

My buddy's filter clogged in Utah sand.

mary_wells1mo ago

Good call from @calebb57, local tips are gold.

elliotr982d ago

Exactly. It's wild how much water sources can change even within the same state. I remember a trip up near Rainier where the glacial melt was so full of fine grit it felt like sandpaper going through a filter. @calebb57 is right on the money, you really have to plan for the specific gunk you'll find. A pre-filter cloth is a lifesaver in those spots, but I've seen people forget that step and wreck a good pump fast. It makes you double-check your gear list every single time.