The Thirst For Adventure Requires A Water Filter

Take that exposed ridge path, use that connector piece, drink that soda, sleep in that shelter. 

A natural born hiker

After being a couch potato at my mom’s (Mom finally gave in, letting Dude up on the furniture, though it’s important to note that a blanket would be between dog and couch) Dude had plenty of pent up energy. Dude could hardly contain himself. He was tugging on the leash to go faster, eager to reached the woods along the river that first day leaving Hot Springs. 

Dude has his own pack. He carries his own food, most of which is a dehydrated dog food so it’s lighter then kibble. We practiced with his pack, adding weight to it during walks and hikes long before stepping foot on AT. Dude was prepared for the trail. He took to backpacking like it was what he was breed to do.

The only thing I can tell that bothers him is there aren’t enough soft spots to lay during our rest breaks. He’ll often try to curl up in a bed of dried leaves. At the end of the day, right after getting his dinner, he immediately goes and lays on my sleeping quilt or puffy jacket on top of the sleeping pad in our tent. Though Dude has his own sleeping pad, it detaches from the back of my Gossamer Gear pack, he generally lays on my clothes and pushes half my body off my pad so he can press himself as close to me as possible. 

A path diverged 

On the second day we were on trail together we were given a choice. Or rather I was given a choice, seeing as how Dude couldn’t read the signs. The trail split in half with a sign reading Bad-weather trail one way and an Exposed ridge trail the other. The weather was fair enough, no imposing storms so we went the Exposed route. I believe that was the true AT way anyhow. It was rocky, it was steep, hard going. We were led up to a narrow ledge straddling the mountain top. The view was astounding. 

Filtering

At the Jerry Cabin Shelter, mile 302.1, after filtering my water, I couldn’t for the life of me find my bottle cap. The lid to my Smartwater bottle vanished into thin air. Luckily my Sawyer filter came with a white pop-top close-able cap. So after a prolonged search, which included pulling out all the pockets in shorts and jacket multiple times, I used the Swayer cap to close and contain the water in my bottle.

It’s convenient that Swayer and Smartwater products are compatible. It makes filtering so much easier. I use the blue connector piece to attach my water bottle to the filter then hang it from a tree limb or a nail in a shelter to hands free filter water. At the beginning of my hike I hadn’t used that blue connector piece, though I was carrying it around. I was trying to hold my waterbottle between my feet or legs to keep it in place while I balanced my filter over the bottle to squeeze water from my water badder into the bottle. Angler, another hiker showed me the hands free way.

I knew before starting my hike that I could attach my Swayer filter directly to my Smatwater bottle to filter water as I drink. However, it’s hard to get water from a spring, creek or stream into the small opening of a Smartwater bottle, so I have a water bladder. I fill the bladder up, attach my Swayer filter to it then attach my Smartwater bottle to the filter using the blue connector piece. I let gravity do the work, pulling the water from the bladder through the filter and into my Smartwater bottle. Filtering water is a part of life on the AT. I filter water from every source, I don’t want to risk Giardia. Filtering is a constant task on trail. Got to stay hydrated. 

Mountain Dew 

At Devil Fork Gap, mile 311.5, there was trail magic. A cooler was left at the sign for the Gap. It contained soda and a bag full of Poptarts and Rice Krispy treats. For the first time in my life, I drank a full bottle of Mountain Dew. I’ve only ever had sips of it from others before and throughly dismissed it, along with most other sodas. The trail puts you into deprivation. For days at a time you only consume water and the food you carry on your back. When given the opportunity to have something you haven’t had access to, you take it. Water all day, everyday, even with flavored electrolyte packs thrown in gets a little dull after a while. A cold fizzy soda jazzed up the day. 

Sheltered

Dude and I stopped for a snack break at a waterfall. I gave Dude the edges of my Poptart, leaving myself the soft gooey frosted center. We ended the day at Hogback Ridge Shelter, mile 317.6. I set up my tent then went to make and eat dinner at the picnic table in front of the shelter. There were two older gentlemen occupying opposite sides of the shelter, Trail Dog and Aragorn. They were happy to see Dude, missing their own dogs. Trail Dog showed me a picture of one of his pups that looked remarkably similar to Dude. Dude ended up curling up on Trail Dog and his sleeping bag while I ate my dinner. There was a chance of rain that night and with the men being so friendly with Dude, and there being room… I ended up taking down my tent and sleeping in the shelter. It was Dude’s first Shelter sleeping experience. Luckily there were no mice in this one so he did great.

The bald and the beautiful

Big Bald at mile 326.5 was just as it sounds, a big bald spot on the mountain top. There are no trees or shrubs, just grass, so the view from summit is unobstructed and expansive. In the little valley after coming down from Big Blad but before going up the next hill, there was a man and woman sitting in Iawn chairs with a golden retriever at their side. They usherd me into the lawn chair across from them and offered me and Dude food. They were very generous and engaging trail angels, Grumps and Chipper were their names. I sat and talked with them for over an hour. Seeing storm clouds rolling in, I reluctantly had to say my goodbyes and continue up the trail.

Thirsty Boys 

As I walked further back into the woods, the damage from the hurricane became more pronounced. Trees down, sides of the mountain filled with cut logs to clear a path for the trail. I had another “feet slipping out from under me” falls as I went down a slope. Dude immediately turned right around and came up to lick my face, checking that I was okay, or just happy that my face was now at his level.

I camped at Whistling Gap, mile 331.1, along with another hiker. When I first got into camp, before officially meeting the other hiker, I said to Dude “Who’s a thirsty boy?” as I poured water into his bowl and the guy already camping there laughed and said “That’s funny, that’s my trail name, Thirsty Boy.” We talked a bit, ate dinner then as the sky darkened we sought shelter in our own tents. The storm hit after dark, rain pattering on the rainfly above. Snug and dry inside the protection of the tent, Dude and I slept soundly. 

Daily Log of Location & Miles 

Hot Springs, NC – Spring Mountain Shelter ⛺️

Mile 275.2 – 286.2 

11 miles 

32 – 05/06/2015 

Spring Mountain Shelter – Jerry Cabin Shelter ⛺️

Mile 286.2 – 302.1 

15.9 miles 

33 – 05/07/2025 

Jerry Cabin Shelter- Hogback Ridge Shelter 

🛖

Mile 302.1 – 317.6

15.5 miles

34 – 05/08/2025 

Hodback Ridge Shelter – Whistling Gap ⛺️

Mile 317.6 – 331.1

13.5 miles