Giardia in the water

[Trailer]

I've drank stream water before too, to later find a dead sheep in it when I hiked up the mountain. Yes, we have good immune systems. And ultimately, humans evolved drinking water like that.

[Grandpa]

The biggest issue is do not let yourself get dehydated when you are out of range of immediate help. The incubation period for ghiardia (the most likely pathogen you will encounter) is about 96 hours before the nasties set in whereas dehydration becomes critical immediately. By all means filter, treat, or boil if possible but failing the means to do that, drink it anyway.

[IndianaHiker]

Ghiardia yes it is out there and some of us probable have it to some degree in our bodies at all times. Yes I use a Steri Pen or a filter most of the time but not always. I really do not believe that is is a dangerous as we are lead to believe by the industry that makes all the purification gear and chemicals. Have read some studies where some come in contact with it and yes they became host but never get sick from it.

Once again hike your own hike and do what feels right for you.

[wvbreamfisherman]

When I did an AT section hike in Virginia back in June, we used a filter at all times.

About half of the thru-hikers I talked to never used one, and of those who did maybe a quarter of them only used it when the water looked dirty.

I'd say the odds are in your favor if you're careful about where to get your water, BUT, if you play the odds, you may be laid up for a while if you come down on the wrong side of them.

There were some pretty good water sources on the section we hiked, when we were there, but I imagine that as the summer went on, a lot of them dried up. It was a REALLY dry summer here.