Fed land managers hold int'l conference on "ick factor"

Public-land managers worldwide increasingly seek "exit strategies" for dealing with human waste as more people venture into the wild. The managers will brainstorm at an international conference on the subject — held at the end of July in Golden by the American Alpine Club — with participants from a dozen countries, including Argentina, China, Kenya and New Zealand. "This is a growing concern," said Denali National Park ranger Roger Robinson, coordinator for the conference, who has introduced a packable "clean mountain can" and led high-altitude cleanups. "It all boils down to contamination of watersheds," he said. "When you have a lot of use, you just can't go under a rock anymore." Rocky Mountain National Park rangers issue about 2,000 sacks each year to hikers headed up Longs Peak and to rock climbers going to Lumpy Ridge, asking them to pack out their biological waste. It's not required but is recommended. But even the most conscientious campers can be grossed out by carrying a bag of their own waste. "There's still still the ick factor," said Brenda Land, a U.S. Forest Service expert on remote toilet systems...more

Well, this is a big problem that deserves a solution. So, I started to head over to the Hat Creek Cattle Company and Livery Emporium to consult with Gus and Woodrow...then I thought maybe not.

If I started explaining "exit strategies" and the "ick factor" and experts on "remote toilet systems", well I just might wind up in the outhouse myself.

Head first.