Himalayas: Preparing for and Hiking at High Altitude

Oct 10, 2017

I’ve joined friends and photographers, Dan and Janine Patitucci for a ten-day Himalayan adventure trek across the Gangotri Glacier organized by Ruck Sack Tours. This glacier is one of the main sources of the Ganges River, and one of the largest in the Himalaya. However, it is rapidly receding. We scramble over rock and rubble where ice once stretched to reach Tapovan, at the base of Shivling, the mountain we’ve come to admire. Itinerary basics: Gangotri Glacier Trek with Ruck Sack Tours 3-day drive, 1 free, 10-day trekking, 3-day drive, 1 free in Delhi Two main base camps in high meadows Four nights at Tapovan (4300 M) at the base of Shivling Three nights at Nandanvan (4400 M) at the foot of Bhagirathi Two nights at camps on the way…

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MSR’s Complete Guide to the Basics of Water Treatment

Jul 23, 2017

What kind of water treatment do I need? It’s a simple question, but there is no easy answer. Water treatment is far from a black and white subject; differing threats, varying standards and lack of information can make it a challenge to determine which threats you will encounter. To compound the matter, the various water treatment systems available can be difficult to understand; microfilters, chemicals, UV light treatments and purifiers offer different advantages. We developed this series of articles to help you make an informed decision. Each overview links to a deeper story on the subject. The information presented here is founded in peer-reviewed science and communicated by the experts at the Mountain Safety Research water research lab. What does MSR know about water treatment? MSR first approached backcountry water…

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Water Treatment 101: Viruses

May 19, 2017

Originally published on February 12, 2015.  Viruses take the cake as tiniest of the waterborne disease-causing microorganisms—smaller than both protozoa and bacteria. These nasty little bugs are also the least understood by scientists, and cause the greatest range of symptoms across infected individuals. The good new is, in North American backcountries, viruses are typically considered much less of a concern than the other pathogenic threats.

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Water Treatment 101: Bacteria

Feb 11, 2015

Bacteria are everywhere—on you, in you, in the soil, and yes, even in the wilderness’ cool, refreshing water sources. In fact harmless species of these single-cell organisms exist naturally in the backcountry’s rivers and pools. But humans and animals can carry harmful bacteria as well, and spread these pathogens to the water, making it risky if you happen to drink from the wrong place at the wrong time. Some of these bacteria are the same notorious headline grabbers associated with foodborne outbreaks or epidemics after natural disasters. We’ll discuss those and others, but first a few general facts.

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Water Treatment 101: Cryptosporidium

Feb 10, 2015

Research backcountry water treatment and you’re sure to be warned about cryptosporidium or “crypto.” And for good reason. This microscopic protozoan parasite is one of the most common causes of waterborne disease in humans in the United States. Like the parasite giardia, crypto is found in water sources worldwide, and affects individuals differently. Fortunately, the disease it causes is rarely life-threatening in healthy adults. In fact, some 80% of the U.S. population has had cryptosporidiosis at some time, according to the FDA. Still, its symptoms are nasty enough that you’ll want to take strides to avoid it on your next backpacking trip.

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The Gear Institute Tours MSR’s Water Research Lab

Nov 6, 2014

Earlier this year, we gave you a behind-the-scenes look into the world of MSR’s on-site water research lab in this article. The microbiology lab was established in 1997 and has been dedicated to quality control, as well as researching, developing and testing water treatment solutions for outdoor users, the U.S. military and citizens in developing nations ever since. Recently, The Gear Institute stopped by to take a tour of the facility and find out why we go through such thorough testing on our water treatment devices. You can read all that The Gear Institute learned here.

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Backcountry Water 101: Danger Zones

Oct 16, 2014

After a long day trekking in the backcountry, that idyllic, trickling stream may look extremely tempting, but a cool sip isn’t worth the risk of ingesting waterborne contaminants. The best way to greatly minimize the risks of infection is by treating backcountry water with a filtration or purification system (more on that later), but you should also educate yourself about the wilderness water contaminants that pose immediate threats to your health, and the backcountry “zones” in which you are more likely to encounter them.

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