If you or your dog are thirsty enough you will probably drink from a creek or any water-way that has drinkable water. But, high altitude or not, it might be a good idea to bring your own. Here is why:
Practically speaking, it takes about 10 giardia cysts for a normal, healthy adult to contract the runs, and alpine water typically has less than a cyst per liter, according to a variety of surveys conducted in the High Sierra.
But if you fill up next to a vole’s favorite commode, that could mean thousands of cysts in your Nalgene. Is that a chance you want to take, or would you rather pack the filter just to be safe?
So, from the sound of it, if your pooch takes a lap or two from the water you are taking your hike next to you and he are probably in the clear. But it might be a good idea – for those longer walks – to bring Rover his own bottle of water, just to be safe.
Thank you to Backpacker for this interesting article!
