Kings Peak and filter failure

In August of 2013 I finally managed to make the trip into Kings Peak in Utah.  During the off season I had purchased a new filter and a GPS unit.  I have always used, and preferred a ceramic cartridge filter which I had purchased in the mid 1990's.  I have never had the filter fail, and while the flow rate is somewhat slower than the synthetic filters, the ability to clean in the field, rather than replace, was a big selling point for me.  However, the new hollow fiber filters had drawn my interest.  As a result, I purchased a MSR Hyperflow.  I used it on an overnight trip prior to the three day trip into Kings Peak, and I was fairly impressed.  For the Kings Peak trip, I was not nearly as impressed.

First let me say that it was partly my fault, but I also believe that MSR needs to take some blame for building such a fragile device intended for backpacking.  Let me explain.  After my overnight trip, I disassembled the filter, as per storage instructions.  However I went one step further, I remove the "replaceable" cartridge to aid in drying.  I did not reassemble the filter until the Kings Peak trip.  What I did not know was that the flange behind the O-ring broke from pressure on the O-ring at re-insertion.  When I tried to use the filter in the field and I noticed it leaking water everywhere.  Since the water was on the "clean" side this wasn't a major issue until I needed to back flush the filter.  Back flushing the filter was next to impossible, because it was now syphoning air, not just water.

On close examination of the filter cartridge, the flange behind the O-ring is extremely thin, with no support.  That it broke so easily should not be a surprise to anyone.  But since I removed the cartridge and reinserted it, I took the blame and purchased a new cartridge.  The new cartridge came with a dry O-ring, and no lubricant to ease installation, and no instructions to be careful of the flange and O-ring.  I was able to lubricate the O-ring and insert the cartridge without breaking the flange.

I like the filter's size, weight, and that fact that I can "pump" or gravity filter water with it.  I can fill my water bladder through the drink hose using this small filter, or fill small mouthed water bottles, and/or fill wide mouth bottles or dromedary bags.  In other words, a very versatile filter.  However, I am now extremely cautious with the cartridge, and not very satisfied as a result.  I will always worry that I need to carry a spare cartridge (and lubricant) which defeats the "fast & light" advertising of the filter.

Back to the ceramic filter for me.  More on the GPS unit later