Shawn W. Baker wrote: > > Someone downstream has to drink from that river! Don't you think deer, > elk, and bears pee on the shore? I think improper disposal of solid > waste (#2) and toilet paper is the bigger problem--pee at least 100 feet > from water!!!! I don't want to have to hope my MSR filter will filter > out the stuff your bladder didn't want anymore!! > > Peeing in the ocean is a different story than peeing in a "fresh" water > source. Shawn- although it looks like you are from Montana I think we're talking about different rivers. 1) Nobody drinks downstream from the rivers I'm describing- the Colorado, Green, San Juan, Dolores. I don't think there are any cities using Colorado river water for drinking below the Grand Canyon. 2) Your MSR filter would clog in about 10 seconds if you tried to pump this water. It is western desert river water full of suspended sand the color of chocolate milk. Visibility is about 1/2". 3) It rarely rains other than occasional thunderstorms. The smell of accumulated urine in the bushes near the few level campsites reminded me of eastern city stairwells when I first moved out here from New England 4) Rarely can you get 100 feet away from the river due to vertical cliffs. Seriously- BLM rangers on all of these rivers and I think most other western big water rivers instruct all river runners to pee in the river. It seemed illogical to me at first- but now I completely agree. BTW I grew up near Philadelphia and our drinking water came from the Schuykill river downstream from several large cities and their sewage plants. It had been recyled in various ways several times by the time we got it! Walt Park City, Utah *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Sep 28 1999 - 21:53:18 PDT
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