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plawrence
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SoCalCPA
The ranger checking permits had to run down to Echo Valley for a couple of teenagers that were dehydrated (At least that was what I heard) How can kids get dehydrated in Echo Valley, the Merced runs right through it - Go figure.
Possibly they didn't have a water filter with them and they were too damn scared to drink the water directly from the Merced because they didn't want to end up with giardia. Maybe they were willing to risk dying of dehydration and heat stroke than risk having to vomit and sit in the toilet for three weeks if by small chance they contracted giardia by drinking unfiltered Merced River water in Echo Valley.
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True - Nobody would want Giardia obviously but wasn't there a discussion on this messageboard that the possibility of contracting Giardia is pretty remote in the Sierra (I really can't say, I'm no expert) But if I was dehydrated enough that I had a ranger with a full backpack loaded with medical supplies bolting down from Subdome to Echo Valley - I would take a good long drink from the merced, water purifier or not and risk the three weeks on the hopper
That said, I don't go anywhere in the Sierra without a filter - just in case - Why take a risk when you don't have to or need to.