Water, or the lack of it, is a really big challenge on adventures. Each day I need to find enough water to cook and keep myself hydrated if there is any leftover then I might have a wash…
On all the adventures I have been on this year, water has been one of the biggest concerns. On Aconcagua, water was available at the base camp but other than that we had to melt snow. On my hike through Utah, the water was very sparse and when found was either very alkaline or from a cow trough. In Iceland, there was water, but I had to think about how best to transport it while running and in Australia, once you get north of Port Augusta, you must be self-sufficient and that means being able to carry large quantities of water for long distances.
So, in this blog I am going to run through all the kit I use when adventuring.
Filtering water:
I use a Sawyer Mini water filter. It is small but does a great job. Make sure you take the cleaning syringe because it becomes useless if clogged up with sediment. The Sawyer Mini comes with a bag to squeeze water through the filter – warning, it is useless. Buy another bag that will be more durable. I use the Hydrapak Stow 500ml.
TIP 1: If the water is very dirty or muddy, strain it through your buff or t-shirt first to keep as much dirt away from your filter.
TIP 2: Mark your collecting bag as “dirty” so you don’t end up using it for filtered water.
Melting snow:
If you are on an adventure and need to melt snow, then remember a couple of things. Firstly, you need about 5 times the volume of snow to what you get in freshwater. So, take a snow bag so you can collect lots of snow at once and keep it next to your tent.
You will need to take into consideration how much gas/fuel you have because melting snow is a long process, especially at altitude.
Your resultant water may have grit, so take something to strain it.
Electrolytes:
When on adventures, take at least 1 sachet of electrolytes per day. For example, when we were on Aconcagua, we were informed that the water there is so purified that there are no minerals.
Transporting water:
I use a number of bits of kit for this and it depends on the type of adventure I am on. These include:
The Nalgene Bottle: This is a great 1 litre, wide-mouthed bottle I use this when I am hiking or up in the mountains. It is especially good if cold as it can be used with warm water.
TIP: Before you go to bed add hot water, fresh mint teabag and then use it as a hot water bottle.
Hydrapak Seeker 3L & 4L: I use these water reservoirs on most adventures as they pack down small, are light and rugged. They also have loops that enable you to clip them to your backpack.
Hydrapak Expedition 8L: I used this one while cycling across Australia. It packs down small and can be clipped to the rear rack of your bike. The cap very cleverly has an attachable tap that makes filling up bottles or pans a lot easier.
Lifeventures Flask: If you are going on cold adventures then I would suggest taking one of these flasks. They are well-sized and not too heavy. I tend to fill them in the morning with a mint tea bag stops along the route.
Packable water bottle:
If you are looking for a water bottle to travel with but are conscious of space then take a look at the Hydrapak Stash 1L. It has a hardtop and bottom, but a flexi body, allowing it to be “stashed” away when it is not in use.
When can you drink water from a tap?
The rule I use is: if there is pressure when you put your finger over the tap, then it is more likely to have been treated. If in doubt, you a Chlorine dioxide tablet
NOTE:
I am a Cotswold Outdoor Ambassador so all links go directly to their online store. I have been a Cotswold Outdoor customer for years and am now proud to be partnered with them.
Hydrapak is not a sponsor. I got to know their brand when in the US doing my Hayduke Challenge. I contacted them on my return and they have very kindly supplied various items for me to trial while on adventures.
