A Well Placed Leaf                                              

Water is a big issue when walking the AT. One big question to settle before one even begins walking is what sort of system to use for filtering water. There are a number of options and as with other issues, every choice has its upside and downside.
Nephew and I chose to utilize the Sawyer Squeeze filter for all of our water filtration needs. The filter requires one to fill up the squeeze bag from a water source. Then one squeezes the water using hand pressure through the filter into the water bottle carried in your back pack. The filter can be back flushed if it becomes clogged by dirty water. The tip of a Smart Water bottle can fit onto the filter for back flushing so we each carry 2 one liter Smart Bottles.
The downside of having to fill up the squeeze bag is encountered when the water flowing out of a spring is very shallow. We like it when a pipe has been placed in the spring because one just holds the bag under the pipe's mouth.

That is where a well placed leaf can help when a pipe is missing. As you can see from the picture, when the water flow is slow and shallow, one can use small rocks and a leaf to create a spigot of sorts. This maneuver has been of great help to me in the south where the springs are starting to dry up and at times are further apart.
Clean water is so essential to life and good health. I am thankful that this far on my trek, our chosen method has worked so well.


Uncle

John 4:14
but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”