Hi, Phat. Regarding the chemical water treatment, I'm going to display my ignorance about the Lake Superior area. I know that, at Isle Royale in the Lake, chemicals aren't recommended because of a specific local parasite (I forget the name.) However, I don't know how "local" they mean when they say local. If the parasite also exists where walkover hikes, I'd recommend staying with the filter; otherwise, it's just a matter of preference (weight versus wait, so to speak.)
Superior - being up at the top - was clean to the best of my knowledge - although the area
has plentiful streams and you can always take from running water instead of risking that
someone sank a boat in the area <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
On a side note, I'm back using a Virga pack again, with the MSR gear I love so much; gets my load down in the 16-18 pound range most of the time. The Vapor Trail just seemed to be overkill. I'm using a 3/4 Prolite 4 for a backpad, and carry a Lite Seat for trail and camp seating, and as a pad extender (laid between the pack's straps or inside the pack, to keep it in place.) Works pretty good. How'd that spare Virga I sent you work out?
It works great - had it out for an inaugural day run on sulpher ridge in jasper, then took it
on West Coast Trail a few weeks ago. I had it loaded up as high as almost 30 lbs (8 days food!) at the start and it handled it very well, but I'm probably different than most in that
I'm carrying that in a 27" wide CCF pad rolled up inside the pack as a frame - I just stuff everyting inside the tube made from the pad. - The big wide pad probably helps a lot in the load department as compared to your smaller pad ( I take the huge wide one because I'm a hammocker) Even at 30 it was very comfortable, and after eating a few days food out of it, it was unnoticable on my back - except for the time in the middle of the trail I filled both my 2l and 3l platy full of water to take to a random campsite with no water - but still quite managable. (ugh 10 pounds of water !)
It's heading to Skyline on Friday afternoon with me and a far more typical (20 or so) pound load in it, along with another newb who has to be drug down the "best hike in the rockies"..But anyway - I do like it a lot. Thanks! I've tried to return some of the good karma you sent my way by sending some goodies to a few others here who needed things here! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
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