Does an old backpacking water filter need to be replaced?

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pamv

I have an old Scout backpacking water filter that has sat on a shelf in our basement for 20 years. It was only used 3 times. Does it need to be replaced or can we start using it again. The ceramic filter can't be replaced bc they don't make that model any more.

Answer
It'll need a clean but it'll be fine after that if it isn't damaged.
To clean it, rinse it off and brush it under the tap with a stiff brush.. If the hole through the middle is small a bottle brush or a toothbrush could be useful
Then put it into bowl of warm water with a few drops of normal household bleach in it for an hour, or even better (But I bet you don't have any....) is to make a solution of one Campden tablet in a pint or two of water and soak the filter in that for an hour.
Camden tablets (or powder) is what wine and beer bottles are sterilized with before filling them, in professional vineyards and in home wine making.
Find them in the supermarket or a health food shop that does all sorts of bits or in a home wine making store or through an internet shop like this
http://www.eckraus.com/PS115.html . . . .
Now it's clean and any bugs living on it are well gone to bye-bye land.. Put the filter in the holder and pump water through it.
Discard the first two or three pints and then empty the filter, wrap it well, and it's ready to go camping.
Some filters have a reverse pumping action for cleaning them out so you pump water through the 'outlet' side and that system is used as well in many of the expensive big filters for industry or large groups of people on campsites and by the Army for it's 500-gallon water bowsers..
.It was one of my jobs as an Army medic to test the water from those and train people how to do it.
Have a look if the instruction book is missing and see what you can do with it.

When the water is filtered it will need sterilizing. Three ways to go or just boil it for at least five minutes.

1...You can use those Campden tablets at one per gallon. You drink it every time you have a glass of wine. It's used to stop fermentation as well as sterilizing the bottles and it breaks down to a pure harmless salt but the water will have a whiff of sulfur, which boils off if you're cooking with it, or making tea or coffee.
It can be easily hidden by adding one Vitamin C tablet per gallon. In wine it's mostly hidden but you'll see some wine reviews which mention a sulfur tang in the wine....not always a bad thing and for cooking wines it doesn't matter at all. The tiny bit of sulfur soon gets boiled off
That method with Campden powder or tablets is done all over the world by trekkers and campers, and by local people who can get the stuff.
Even African villagers do it.....if the traveling water teccie has paid a visit and left some Canpden powder or tablets. I always take some for presents when I visit remote villages and not only in Africa.
I like Africa, seen some.. lots more to see. ...Cry at the bank for me. It'll get back sooner maybe. xx

2...Put five or six drops per gallon of pure bleach in the water instead of the tablet. Mix well.
Not bleach with caustic soda and perfumes and muck added....pure chlorine bleach....sodium hypochlorite with nothing else added.
It releases chlorine, same stuff tap water is sterilized with. It's safe to drink.
The tang of chlorine is very small unless you overdose the stuff...use the vitamin C tablet trick.
It works.

3... Pay through the nose for sterilizing stuff that tastes awful from a camping shop. Again, the good old de-taster magic is done with a vitamin C tablet..
In cold weather leave it for an hour whichever chemical treatment you use before using the water, to let the sterilizer do it's work. In warm weather, 30 minutes.
Have fun.

What do I need for a 7 day outdoor expedition?

triden55

I am trying to figure out what kind of things I will need to go on a 7-day canoe and portage trip on the Bowron Lakes in BC, Canada. It will be all outdoors and I will be camping every night. It will be slightly chilly but never below freezing. The trick is to keep all the equipment under 60lbs because that is all that is allowed. What are the essentials that I should try to bring?

Answer
You don't mention if you're going alone or with a group - if with a group you can share equipment (tent, stove & fuel, water filter) to save on weight. Here's a basic list:

Good hiking boots (I like the NRS neoprene for canoe/kayaking)
Backpack with rain cover
topographic map(s)
compass
gorp (trail food/snacks)

whistle
emergency mirror
first aid kit (with moleskin)

Tent (as I mentioned above you can share this with a group)
Sleeping bag (10 deg colder than you expect to sleep in)
Sleeping pad

flashlight/headlamp (plus extra batteries)
bug bite stick
sunscreen
insect repellent
toilet paper
Shovel, trowel, or spade
Fixed blade knife

saw/hatchet
matches/lighter

2-4 1L Nalgene water bottles
water filter (as I mentioned above you can share this with a group)

backpacking stove (as I mentioned above you can share this)
stove fuel (as I mentioned above you can share this with a group)

cooking gear & utensils (1 pot, 1 spoon/fork or spork)
dehydrated meal packs (I prefer the Mountain House brand)
- breakfasts x 7+1 extra day (just in case)
- dinners x 7+1 extra day (just in case)

repair kits (pack, pad, stove, filter, etc.)
Zip-Loc bags for trash
Rain gear
Fleece jacket, hat, & gloves

Good luck and have a great time. I'm jealous.

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