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Hi all

While hiking in the Drakensberg, I never bothered to purify water as long as it came from a source above any villages and was flowing and clear. (And actually, I drank standing water from the origin of the Orange River with no issue).

Now I'm in the USA and that flowing clear mountain stream may harbour, *gasp*, ghardia which requires a hiker to carry a filter or other way to purify.

Are there few such parasites in the Drakensberg water or is there a difference in water opinion between the South Africans and Americans?

Thanks!

North America has an extensive problem with Giardia infestation which, in the wild, is apparently spread through the deer etc. I've spent time in the mountains of Vancouver Island, Canada, as well as in the Canadian Rockies and am well familiar with the "beaver fever" problem and that one cannot drink water from, what appears to be, a fresh bubbling mountain stream. It wasn't always like this - I have friends tell me that up until the 80's they never bothered purifying the water in the wilds of Vancouver Island. Apparently it is relatively OK to drink untreated water very high in the alpine, and I did drink directly from a spring once in the Rockies.

The Berg does not appear to such a problem with Giardia - we would all know about it, since I don't think you can build up an immunity to it. I know from my trips to Nepal that once you get Giardia you have to treat it medically. There is undoubtedly some degree of contamination in the Berg, but more in the way of bacteria and foot-and-mouth (seen cases of both in hiking buddies) - theoretically it is possible to contract Giardia there, though I don't think its common. I am picky about where I drink there though (I take care around grazing areas, smuggling routes and popular hiking routes), but it is largely still safe and one of the things I really treasure about the Berg.

We so easily take fresh water for granted! A fresh reminder to conserve, protect and cherish the Berg!

Absolutely! Thanks for enlightening me Intrepid

Kerri, where are you in the US? Enjoy your adventures there. Been to Montana yet?

Also, remember that the "fresh" Berg water is only "fresh" if someone hasn't gone potty upstream. I'd really like to hope that hikers are responsible in this regard, but I've seen evidence otherwise in certain areas (perhaps from the locals and not hikers). In fact, in the Mweni I got to step on the evidence in bare feet. So, do be cautious. I use a Mioxx, perhaps overkill, but it give me a clear conscious. I'm from N. America, so I find it hard to wrap my mind around drinking directly from the stream...a new thought for me

The Mnweni is definitely one place to be cautious. I don't touch the water until well clear of all kraals, and even then I look for water that originates from seepage and drips from ridges and rock bands. I avoid water from the main rivers like the Mnweni and the Ntonjelana, even very far up the valleys. Even in April, while passing by the base of Mnweni Pass near ChiChi Bush Camp, we came across somebody's business (hikers I would think), right on the trail, which had been covered with small rocks, but bits of toilet paper still sticking out!

I think all of us have an important role to play in conserving our fresh drinking water. And it starts with realising that what you, as an individual, do in these mountains does add up and make a difference. Whether it means not driving your 4x4 onto the escarpment, or having eco-friendly toilet habits - all of it is important.

Something to think about next time we sip good, clean Berg water...whether it is freshly scooped from a Berg stream, or from a tap in Durban or Joburg.

@ ClimbyKel. I'm in Oregon and have been hiking various Cascade peaks and climbing in Idaho which I thought was brilliant! But my adventures are on a bit of a short leash as I'm in graduate school til next March.

I recently summitted Mt. Adams and was introduced to the blue bag method where you pack out solid waste. A valid method because I can only imagine what a mess the unforested slopes of Mt. Adams would be with the volume of hikers. Not that I could hope that the Berg would adopt the same method but yes, starting with our outdoor toilet habits and educating other hikers will go far.