HikeArizona.COM

the latest poll question: do you seriously practice LNT ethics?

i answered no because
a. i don't pack out my waste
b. i don't pick up after other people
c. i've thrown a few apple cores in the bushes in the past

curious what others have to say
where do you draw the line?

Outdoor Poop Etiquette Is Changing (You’re Probably Not Going to Like It)
A growing body of research suggests that it’s no longer sustainable to bury our waste in the wilderness.

This tsunami of turds isn’t just unsightly—it has repercussions for human and environmental health. For one thing, human feces contains dozens of different bacteria, protozoa, and viruses

https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-a ... etiquette/

Yet as the number of people using public lands has exploded in recent decades, scientists and land managers are pushing back against this time-honored wisdom. With so many more people playing—and pooping—outside, they say, it’s time to update our backcountry poop etiquette for the 21st century.

The problem is the number of people doing a thing in a place. Pooping is only one of the impacts. And instead of addressing the root cause, single impacts like this are addressed piecemeal. Which I guess is better than nothing at all.

This is nothing new. Many backcountry locations already require the use of wag bags as a condition on the permit, and other places are already strongly encouraged wag bag usage. I imagine as they monitor visitation, the numbers of these places will increase in the more popular spots.

Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and many other wilderness areas I've visited also have built composting outhouse facilities pretty deep into the backcountry as well, in the highest use areas. For reasons I do not understand, this alternative solution is not working well in areas of the Escalante though.

@Pivo
I take most things outside online posts as drivel.

A crusade to combat the proliferation of poop in Colorado’s backcountry entered a new frontier this week with the creation of a “Clean 14” initiative focusing on the state’s iconic 14,000-foot peaks.

https://www.denverpost.com/2024/07/29/c ... ckcountry/

Meanwhile in Colorado.
If given the proper tools, will hikers pack out their poop? A study of Colorado’s busiest 14er explored this and more.
https://www.vaildaily.com/news/14ers-human-waste-study/

What will the Nordic Bathroom Monitor think about this?

Wag bags are required on Mt Whitney, hiking down from the summit last September I saw 3 of the blue poop bags, visible from the trail, stuffed in cracks, tossed under bushes, etc. I saw several others strapped to or hanging off the outside of backpacks, presumably because no one wants to cram them inside their packs. Even if the bags do make it back to the trailhead you're supposed to dispose of them in the regular trash cans, which must be fun for the sanitation workers. Tough problem

Cavers have done this forever. Multi day expeditions in some caves poop and pee is required to be removed. Can you poop in a wide mouth nalgene style bottle?? I am here to tell you it's possible. Make sure good lid then put in bag if you are squeamish and a clear bottle. Then can go inside or outside pack without risk of exploding unless you drop your pack from a great height ( I know some who did and their bottle held up).

We always used a commercial coffee filter (for #2) - when spread out it allows margin for the aim-challenged + 3" dia. pvc pipe ---with caps of course.