Dinoprophet Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Gross Reuters story It says the NPS has a clean-up effort going. Maybe some cachers should participate, really show them how serious we are. I'd volunteer myself, of course, but I'm regretfully too far away Quote Link to comment
+eaglespirit0 Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Gross. When I go backpacking, I usually pack the crap right out back to my house. Disgusting? Yes, but also good for the environment. Each to their own, would be a neat idea, though. Quote Link to comment
+Deneye Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 (edited) Of 132 climbers interviewed on the 20,320-foot (6,200-meter) peak in the summer of 2002, more than a quarter... I'd hate to have been the person conducting the interview up there... Edited June 16, 2005 by Deneye Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Gross. When I go backpacking, I usually pack the crap right out back to my house. Disgusting? Yes, but also good for the environment. Each to their own, would be a neat idea, though. I try my best to limit my impact, but that's where I draw the line. I'll pack out my cans, other people's cans and any garbage I generate, but my poop stays in the woods. If its good enough for Smokey, its good enough for me. Quote Link to comment
+AtoZ Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 In Yosemite climbers on the big walls have to pack along what is called a 'Poop tube' which is typically a 4 or 6 inche PVC piece of pipe 3feet long capped on one end with screw cap on the other. They poop into a plactic baggie and then twist the top close and drop into the tube. On Denali the it is to cold for the poop to decay as there is little bacteria so it will eventually just freeze and stick around. It is an issue and one people should take seriously. cheers Quote Link to comment
+Road Rabbit Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 There's a neat little book that all cachers, hikers, backpackers and deep woods campers ought to read: "How to S&*t in the Woods". Despite the title, and a little bit of tongue in cheek writing, it's a serious book that examines the real problems with human waste in the wild and offers a few good suggestions on dealing with it. The author's name escapes me right now, but you should be able to find it in the outdoors section of most large bookstores or on Amazon. Quote Link to comment
+Mule Ears Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 (edited) Problem is more aesthetic than hygienic, given that the stuff is frozen and normal precautions will prevent the trots. But who wants to climb a mountain only to find himself in a septic tank? Yuck. Hope the cleanup goes well. (Edited to remove a thoughtless remark.) Edited June 16, 2005 by Mule Ears Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 (edited) I can see where thousands of humans congregate over time why you would want to deal with it. It seems like if that base camp is used repeatedly you could bring in a porta john or something else that would work. It's got to be cheaper than doing the human equivlent of my kids most hated chore. "Dog Patrol". To be fair IF there was a cache at that base camp. Odds are the cacher is a climber anyway and that that cache would be logged every other year. Edited June 16, 2005 by Renegade Knight Quote Link to comment
+Stunod Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 They should just pack a pitching wedge. Let the turds freeze and then chip them off the side of the mountain. Problem solved. Quote Link to comment
+GatoRx Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 There's a neat little book that all cachers, hikers, backpackers and deep woods campers ought to read: "How to S&*t in the Woods". Bought it, read it, loved it. It made me think about issues with this subject I'd never thought of before. It also made me look at ammo cans in a different light (there are actually toilet seats that fit on the rim...) Quote Link to comment
+M&DofKJE Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Ok, time to close this thread. C'mon, I just ate! Quote Link to comment
+eaglespirit0 Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Briansnat, To each their own. It's just what I believe (not even believe, just do.) And I DO think it's gross. - JD Quote Link to comment
+sept1c_tank Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 ...who wants to climb a mountain only to find himself in a septic tank? Yuck. Hmmm...this topic seems to be right up my alley! A couple of years ago, I spent 30 days rafting in the Franklin-Gordon world heritage area in Tasmania. Our groups carried out all waste. Once you get the knack of squatting and holding the baggie open (in the right place), it really becomes second nature, no big deal. After a few days, you even start feeling pretty good about it. Burying feces dramatically slows the process of biodegradation, but it certainly looks better than just leaving it where it may drop. I think the real issue is courtesy and respect of others. I become angered when I find piles of $417 in the woods. In a frozen climate like Denali, it’s only right to remove human waste. Until now, I had a lot more respect for mountain climbers; I always thought they were smarter stewards of our pristine areas. Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 ...and holding the baggie open (in the right place),... In the future they are going to mine our landfills for raw material. When they do they are going to hate baggie bombs. Quote Link to comment
+cachew nut Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Problem is more aesthetic than hygienic, given that the stuff is frozen and normal precautions will prevent the trots. That's what I thought when I heard this discussed on the radio today. Apparently the problem occurs when the hikers melt snow for drinking water. Seems a few well placed ammo cans might fix that problem...and cause a few new ones. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Briansnat, To each their own. It's just what I believe (not even believe, just do.) And I DO think it's gross. - JD If we ever backpack together, remind me not to go fishing around in your pack for a flashlight. Quote Link to comment
+cudlecub Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 I guess it would take a special kind of person to help in the clean up. For me, I don't take anyone's crap. (I just had to say that) Quote Link to comment
+teepeeayy Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 OK, so I admit I had to take a second look at this on the Sportman's Guide web site, . But the coincidental timing was interesting. They come in 3 paks as well. BTW: Great web site for discounted stuff. Quote Link to comment
+reveritt Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Hey, if I was crazy enough to climb a mountain, then maybe I'd be crazy enough to pack out...um...everything, but I'm not. Quote Link to comment
+welch Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 There's a neat little book that all cachers, hikers, backpackers and deep woods campers ought to read: "How to S&*t in the Woods". Bought it, read it, loved it. It made me think about issues with this subject I'd never thought of before. It also made me look at ammo cans in a different light (there are actually toilet seats that fit on the rim...) Doesn't it also say something about being carefull of tupperware as it may 'explode'? Quote Link to comment
+eremite Posted June 18, 2005 Share Posted June 18, 2005 They should just pack a pitching wedge. Let the turds freeze and then chip them off the side of the mountain. Problem solved. That is utterly brilliant! Quote Link to comment
+Road Rabbit Posted June 19, 2005 Share Posted June 19, 2005 They should just pack a pitching wedge. Let the turds freeze and then chip them off the side of the mountain. Problem solved. Nah, a driver would be better. You'd be lucky to make it to Talkeetna with a wedge! Quote Link to comment
Dinoprophet Posted June 19, 2005 Author Share Posted June 19, 2005 Until now, I had a lot more respect for mountain climbers; I always thought they were smarter stewards of our pristine areas. That speaks to the main reason I wanted to share this (other than the inherent fun of a poo-relataed story). I realize this behavior may not be typical of mountain climbers. Still, it burns me up to think this kind of thing goes on in other outdoor activities, yet caching is still prohibited on most NPS land for whatever minimal impact it may have on the environment. Quote Link to comment
+Mule Ears Posted June 20, 2005 Share Posted June 20, 2005 Here's something interesting, a climber who ascended McKinley about a week ago comments on that Reuters story and provides an account of the sanitation conditions: That story is quite out of date (interview in 2002? get with the times) and is, er, Crap! The NPS has really cleaned up the mountain. I just returned from a fun-filled 2.5 weeks on the West Buttress and never, ever, once saw any poop laying around. No one in our party had any GI disorders whatsoever, nor did anyone we talked to, and we chatted with a lot of folks on the route at the time. Below 14K it's simple: you poop into a plastic bag (biodegradable) and pitch it into a Crevasse (always nearby). At 14K camp you simply use one of two toilets! Who wouldn't? Above 17K camp you use (as Dug points out) a mandatory-issue Clean Mountain Can, and it works quite well, and the poop in the can freezes solid (always) so it doesn't even smell next time it's used. The source is a mountain-climbing oriented site. Here's the page link (scroll down for the stuff I quoted): The real poop on McKinley sanitation. Quote Link to comment
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