August 8, 2004

Today, about 10 miles into my hike, my water filter quit working.  I use the Miox purifier by M.S.R. which filters water by changing rock salt into chlorine via a three volt battery.  The system is basically the same, only on a smaller scale, of course, as the one which water purification plants use for water in our homes.  I am still two days from a town and Bear's Aqua Mira drops are getting low.

As I was hiking along, I ran into a woman on the trail and I asked her where the next road crossing was.  I described my need for purified water and was considering hitching into town to load up.  Alice happened to be an employee of the Appalachian Trail Conference and, as luck would have it, she had a brand new Aqua Mira which she carried only for emergencies.  So...on the A.T., I purchased Alice's Aqua Mira drops for $12.00!  I am amazed at how things just fall into place out here.  Hiking the A.T. without filtering my water is risky and not recommended.  Today, Alice provided my trail magic.