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My go-to water filter failed on me halfway through the Sipsey Wilderness loop
Was about 8 miles in on the Sipsey Fork Trail in Alabama last month when my Sawyer Squeeze just stopped flowing. Tried backflushing but no luck. Ended up boiling creek water for the rest of the trip using a metal cup I barely brought. Added like 45 minutes each stop. Has anyone else had a filter crap out mid trip and had to switch backup plans on the fly?
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victor_adams1d ago
That's a rough situation, especially on the Sipsey Wilderness loop. I read a while back that the limestone water in that part of Alabama can sometimes mess with filters because of fine sediment or mineral buildup that clogs things up fast. What @skyler43 said about the air bubbles is a good tip too, but I'd bet your problem was more about the water chemistry. One thing I've done for years is carry a small backup like a Steripen or those tablets sarah531 mentioned, but I always make sure to let them sit the full time in murky water. Boiling is a solid fallback but you're right, it eats up time and fuel. Next time you might try backflushing with clean water from home before you head out, just to make sure the filter is fully primed.
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sarah5311mo ago
Oh man, that's rough. I've had a filter konk out on me before too and it's such a pain. I'd say the metal cup is a solid backup even if it's slow, you did good by having it. A trick I've picked up is to always carry a few purification tablets in my first aid kit just for cases like this. They weigh nothing and take way less time than boiling. Also, if you're using a squeeze filter, it helps to give it a good shake or tap the dirty side occasionally while filtering, sometimes air bubbles get stuck and stop the flow. Hope your next trip goes smoother.
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