Bad Water Source at Red River Gorge, KY

Now this isn't exactly hammocking, but I thought I should pass it along. I know there is a group here that goes there a lot. I went to RRG, KY a little over a week ago and I think I got the Big G from it. I didn't do any overnighters or drink any water from a source since the Mt Roger's Campout. So I'm pretty sure it is from there.

Most of the water I used was from the Rock House just past the backside of the Indian Staircase. I also got water once in the walk up from the trailhead. I am not sure of the trailhead, but it was about 4 miles into the backside of the stairs. I treated most of my water, but dipped and sipped at least once from both sources.

Just thought I would throw that out there. But if you want to find out whether your water treatments works, this would be a good real world test.:D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hammock engineer

Now this isn't exactly hammocking, but I thought I should pass it along. I know there is a group here that goes there a lot. I went to RRG, KY a little over a week ago and I think I got the Big G from it. I didn't do any overnighters or drink any water from a source since the Mt Roger's Campout. So I'm pretty sure it is from there.

Most of the water I used was from the Rock House just past the backside of the Indian Staircase. I also got water once in the walk up from the trailhead. I am not sure of the trailhead, but it was about 4 miles into the backside of the stairs. I treated most of my water, but dipped and sipped at least once from both sources.

Just thought I would throw that out there. But if you want to find out whether your water treatments works, this would be a good real world test.:D

---

sorry to hear that.

were you going native, using the Steripen that was acting screwy like mine at Mt. Rogers, or something else?

Grizz

Good to know. I'm gonna try and head to the RRG next weekend if things work out. I was heading to Indian Staircase.

My steri-pen still isn't working. I need to call about getting it replaced. When I was treating it was with Aqua Mira.

I'll be using my new gravity filter but I'll take my AM for extra protection.

Where exactly did you get water? Was it that REALLY big rock house with the small waterfall?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by headchange4u

I'll be using my new gravity filter but I'll take my AM for extra protection.

Where exactly did you get water? Was it that REALLY big rock house with the small waterfall?

---

That's where I got it. I got water at one other source, so I can't say for sure which one got me.

I ended up checking out the top the next day. It is kind of a muddy mess on top.

There used to be some ATV and off road trails back in that area. If those are still there, it no telling what's made it's way into the water source.

I can't tell you what is all in the water, but I can tell you what it is doing to me.

Sorry to hear about that HE. I hope you get feeling better.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hammock engineer

Now this isn't exactly hammocking, but I thought I should pass it along. I know there is a group here that goes there a lot. I went to RRG, KY a little over a week ago and I think I got the Big G from it. ...........

---

You got Gonorrhea while camping there? It might be a beautiful place, but it sounds a little rough for me. :eek: ;)

No, seriously, sorry to hear about the Giardia. How long did it take for your symptoms to show up? I'm asking because doesn't it take a while ( couple of weeks? ) for giardia symptoms to show up? Whatever, you got something nasty.

Sorry to hear your bad luck, but thanks for the warning! My fiance and I are heading to RRG this weekend, dunno if we'll get to stay the night or not, though. So far we just carry our camelbaks and maybe some nalgene bottles for our water needs...

Bummer, HE, sorry to hear that man. Hope you're recovering ok for now. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! I'm planning a trip to RRG in March, so thanks for the heads up, it's greatly appreciated. Our plans aren't set in stone yet, but I don't think we were planning on going to that area, but you never know. It is a good reminder that water needs to be treated somehow or another, though. HC is definitely right, there are some areas that ATV riders have invaded that there's no telling what's made its way into the water sources there. I drank untreated water at RRG once and I never had a problem with it, not to say that it couldn't happen. Obviously it can. Hope you're feeling better soon, HE. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BillyBob58

You got Gonorrhea while camping there? It might be a beautiful place, but it sounds a little rough for me. :eek: ;)

No, seriously, sorry to hear about the Giardia. How long did it take for your symptoms to show up? I'm asking because doesn't it take a while ( couple of weeks? ) for giardia symptoms to show up? Whatever, you got something nasty.

---

It wasn't that kind of party.

It has been a little over a week. I talked with my buddy that got it pretty bad on the AT. Everything lines up with what he had.

does that need to be treated w/ the stuff the doctor gives you or will it just clear up on it's own?
i had it once. i went to the doc & got the medicine.

I will be taking the meds. It isn't as bad yet as I saw other people's, but I am not taking any chances. Usually I hate making a big deal over these things. I just know other people go there and wanted to give them the heads up.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hammock engineer

I will be taking the meds. It isn't as bad yet as I saw other people's, but I am not taking any chances. Usually I hate making a big deal over these things. I just know other people go there and wanted to give them the heads up.

---

that's probably a good idea.
i know it's rare but i'm told there have been cases were people ran into long term complications from giardia.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by slowhike

that's probably a good idea.
i know it's rare but i'm told there have been cases were people ran into long term complications from giardia.

---

Well that's sure to be comforting to poor HE here... :p .

Hate it happened HE, but glad you're on the mending side of it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NCPatrick

Well that's sure to be comforting to poor HE here... :p .

Hate it happened HE, but glad you're on the mending side of it.

---

didn't mean to give HE extra concerns:o ... just saying that i think it's a good idea to take the meds & knock it out rather than trying to tough it out:D

The trailhead was the one for the swinging bridge. We hiked the Sheltowee trace up to where we camped. The first water source was at a small but tall rockhouse about 1 mile in. All the rest of the water was from the falls comming over the top of the REALLY BIG rock house by indian stair case. There were alot of well used campsites on the top of the ridge over the rockhouse. I also don't remember getting water anywhere else that weekend.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hammock engineer

I went to RRG, KY a little over a week ago and I think I got the Big G from it. I didn't do any overnighters or drink any water from a source since the Mt Roger's Campout. So I'm pretty sure it is from there.

Most of the water I used was from the Rock House just past the backside of the Indian Staircase. I also got water once in the walk up from the trailhead. I am not sure of the trailhead, but it was about 4 miles into the backside of the stairs. I treated most of my water, but dipped and sipped at least once from both sources.

Just thought I would throw that out there. But if you want to find out whether your water treatments works, this would be a good real world test.:D

---

Did you o gwith HE? Are you sick also?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Doctari

The trailhead was the one for the swinging bridge. We hiked the Sheltowee trace up to where we camped. The first water source was at a small but tall rockhouse about 1 mile in. All the rest of the water was from the falls comming over the top of the REALLY BIG rock house by indian stair case. There were alot of well used campsites on the top of the ridge over the rockhouse. I also don't remember getting water anywhere else that weekend.

---

No I think Doctari won an Immunity challenge to the stuff.

As for the other, I'm not listening to anything that I can't fix.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hammock engineer

No I think Doctari won an Immunity challenge to the stuff.

---

Sorry :rolleyes:


:D

I bet the kilt on Doctari scared off all the bad bugs. :eek: :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by headchange4u

Did you o gwith HE? Are you sick also?

---

2 years ago in the Wind Rivers of Wyoming ( my first hammock trip) 4 of us went. We all got our water from exactly the same sources every time. 1 of us got sick, 3 didn't. The one that got sick( Giardia) used one of those filters that goes on the end of your nalgene bottle. The other three used Steripen sometimes, iodine sometimes.

The next year the guy who got sick went loaded for bear with his own pump/purifier. The rest of us (3) used Steripen exclusively. No problems for any one that year.

Yeah I need to get my steri-pen replaced out.

I think I am going with a gravity filter at some point.

I've been reading a lot of articles lately that attribute the big G more to our own habits and the contact we have with each other when in the back country as opposed to the water sources. I am no scientist, but the articles make for interesting reading.

You're right, Big E. A lot of giardia can be attributed to our own lack of personal hygeine in the backcountry, especially in regard to how we clean ourselves after defacating and disposing of said waste properly. Everyone can do their part by cleaning their hands thoroughly with some kind of alcohol-based sanitizer after going poo-poo on the trail and disposing of the wate properly, according to LNT guideleines.

By the way, we hittin' RRG again after tax season? :D

I believe that too, I just didn't have contact with anyone. I am usually pretty good with the whole hand cleaning thing.

Give me plenty of notice and I would be up for another trip down to your neck of the woods.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hammock engineer

I believe that too, I just didn't have contact with anyone. I am usually pretty good with the whole hand cleaning thing.

Give me plenty of notice and I would be up for another trip down to your neck of the woods.

---

I'd love to hit the Gorge a couple more times before my move to NC in the spring. I'm planning a trip to RRG for the end of March with a friend and would love to get a group together for one more trip as well. If anyone's game, give me a yell, especially anyone who knows the Indian Staircase route. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cannibal

I bet the kilt on Doctari scared off all the bad bugs. :eek: :D

---

OK


We will go with that

Yea.

:rolleyes:





I'm not going to mention that I didn't treat any of my water tho, thats MY secret!


:D

Hooch, I am game whenever you can get away, I'll have to check my calendar when you get a date, but I am in. When is the big Move happening? We definitely have to get the gang together once more before you move away.

On the G topic, I am thinking that when we camp at spots where lots of others camp, we may be exposed without knowing. For example, when Hooch and I did a hang down Buck Trail at RRG, we found that someone had used various areas in the perimeter of the campsite for a latrine, which was completely disgusting. No telling what we never actually see and get exposed to . . .

E

When In March? I'm off Thr - Mon March 6 - 10 & Sat Sun Mar 15 & 16 & a few 2 days off during the week.

And I do know the way to the staricase. :D Pluse the area around.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hooch

I'd love to hit the Gorge a couple more times before my move to NC in the spring. I'm planning a trip to RRG for the end of March with a friend and would love to get a group together for one more trip as well. If anyone's game, give me a yell, especially anyone who knows the Indian Staircase route. :D

---

When and where are you moving? PM me if you need to.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NCPatrick

When and where are you moving? PM me if you need to.

---

yeah... same here hooch.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Big E

Hooch, I am game whenever you can get away, I'll have to check my calendar when you get a date, but I am in. When is the big Move happening? We definitely have to get the gang together once more before you move away.

---

Sounds like a plan to me. I'm game when you guys are!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NCPatrick

When and where are you moving? PM me if you need to.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by slowhike

yeah... same here hooch.

---

NCP and Slowhike, thanks, guys. I appreciate the offer of help. I'm moving to Charlotte in April or May. I'm already working on securing my NC nursing license and doing some loose job hunting. I think Doc and I are are going to make the move, I don't have a ton of stuff to bring with me, so it'll probably just be a 2 man show, but thanks for the offers of assistance. After I get settled in, we'll have to get together for a hang somewhere. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hooch

NCP and Slowhike, thanks, guys. I appreciate the offer of help. I'm moving to Charlotte in April or May. I'm already working on securing my NC nursing license and doing some loose job hunting. I think Doc and I are are going to make the move, I don't have a ton of stuff to bring with me, so it'll probably just be a 2 man show, but thanks for the offers of assistance. After I get settled in, we'll have to get together for a hang somewhere. :D

---

sounds like a plan. we've got plenty of good trails to hike in NC.

Man it sounds like NC is the place to be.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hammock engineer

Man it sounds like NC is the place to be.

---

It is, why do you think I'm moving there? Well, multiple reasons, but the good hiking is definitely a big fat plus. I definitely want to put down some miles this year and that't sho' 'nuff the place to do it. :D

It didn't even make my list of places to check into. Maybe I need to reconsider.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hammock engineer

It didn't even make my list of places to check into. Maybe I need to reconsider.

---

You may want to give it some thought. :D

It fits what I am looking for. I want to be close to either the mountains or the ocean. But I am looking for high snow covered mountains or warm year around oceans.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hammock engineer

It fits what I am looking for. I want to be close to either the mountains or the ocean. But I am looking for high snow covered mountains or warm year around oceans.

---

NC is a really great state in a lot of ways. it does have reasonably easy access to both the coast & the mountains, but the beaches aren't always warm or the mountains high enough to always be snow covered:)

I spent a lot of time looking at moving to Moorehead City on the coast. In the end, I decided I didn't want to start talkin all funny and stuff. :eek: :D

Just talk Texan, they're going to look at you funny anyway. :)

Yep, love me some hangin down at the crik. It's just up yonder, round the bend.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cannibal

Yep, love me some hangin down at the crik. It's just up yonder, round the bend.

---

You mean it's around the bend, y'all. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hooch

You mean it's around the bend, y'all. :D

---

True!

I've got a t-shirt that I can't wear in most public areas; it says (without the symbols :D) :
F&%k ya'll
I'm from Texas!

Love that thing!

But you see, that would be a dead giveaway that you aren't from <insert anyplace but Texas>.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cannibal

True!

I've got a t-shirt that I can't wear in most public areas; it says (without the symbols :D) :
F&%k ya'll
I'm from Texas!

Love that thing!

---

I've got an old t-shirt that I've had for years. It's not fit to wear out anymore, but I still wear it around the house. It reads:

I'm a Tarheel born and a Tarheel bred.
When I die, I'll be a Tarheel dead.

:D

I and my son-in-law along with 16 others hiker just got back from Indian Staircase and we had no trouble with any of the water. We were using the Sawyer water treatment system. My son-in-law and I were the only ones in hammocks and we survived the low teens on Saturday night thanks to the JC Penny puffer jackets made into under quills.