in support of a "Blue Bag Movement"

[Little Rickie]

My point though is what harm would it do to encourage bagging in general ?

No harm at all but a simple answer wouldn't be as much fun.

I gotta go now....

 

[Craig]

Chip; don’t be disheartened by all the naysayers, I think folk’s reluctance to trying something new (like this) is a fear of the unknown.

Perhaps you could give a demonstration of the “3 pointer” at the next views gathering.
It’d be best to do it after everyone’s all liquored up tho.

Naturally, this is assuming Gary wouldn’t be present…..

 

[SAR-EMT40]

Chip; don’t be disheartened by all the naysayers, I think folk’s reluctance to trying something new (like this) is a fear of the unknown.

There is no fear of the unknown. I have seen s**t all my life. I know what it is, where it comes from, and what to do with it when I see it and how to get rid of it. And in particular to avoid trying to get it on me or to play with it unnecessarily. I have a plan for s**t, and it doesn't include packing it and walking it around like it’s a prized possession.


It is a good post though.

Keith

 

[rhihn]

It may not be needed in some areas. Other places where there is a large concentration of people it can be a problem. I haven't been back to Colden Dam camping area in a while, but when we camped there several years ago we saw TP everywhere.

I know Paria Canyon not the NE, but here's an example of what can happen when the problem gets out of hand:

http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/arolrsmain/paria/pack_in_out.html

 

[mtnpa]

Not sure why I'd use a blue bag when my hiking partner's backpack is usually sitting right there out in the open. Perhaps I'm misreading the question...

-Dr. Wu

Probably should've emptied my pack after the last hike

 

[Chip]

Chip; don’t be disheartened by all the naysayers, I think folk’s reluctance to trying something new (like this) is a fear of the unknown.…..

no worries, lots of good info. perhaps a few people will get a bit further from the trail and dig a bit deeper the next time they need to fertilize the woods.

Perhaps you could give a demonstration of the “3 pointer” at the next views gathering.
…..

You missed it, man: I had a 3 pointer at about 14,200' in an ice cave a year ago !

 

[Paradox]

no worries, lots of good info. perhaps a few people will get a bit further from the trail and dig a bit deeper the next time they need to fertilize the woods.



You missed it, man: I had a 3 pointer at about 14,200' in an ice cave a year ago !

Hey, tird times a charm!

 

[DrewKnight]

I can't believe no one else asked Doug Paul about the Snow Alternative. Really? Seriously?

Good God man, I use snow for this duty <heh heh... he said "doody">, I won't have to go again for a month, minimum.

 

[leaf]

poop is only a problem on glaciers. right? i mean, as far as decomposing and the fact you can't just dig a hole or hide it anywhere.

gotta say.. this is a weird thread.. 5 pages of poop talk.

 

[Little Rickie]

gotta say.. this is a weird thread.. 5 pages of poop talk.

It's a guy thing. and if you think this is something just hang around a bunch of Cub Scouts.

 

[Craig]

I can't believe no one else asked Doug Paul about the Snow Alternative. Really? Seriously?

Good God man, I use snow for this duty <heh heh... he said "doody">, I won't have to go again for a month, minimum.

You may not believe this, but I actually tried that once about 3 years ago near some summit in Maine.
As I recall it was freezing out and I didn’t want to fuss around too long. So I made up a hand size snow ball and went at it.

Unfortunately, my aim wasn’t that good and there was some collateral damage. The second that mixer of snow and ice hit my skin, it took my breath away. I gasped for air for a good minute.

The old snowball method is for folks hardier than me I can tell you that.

 

[leaf]

It's a guy thing. and if you think this is something just hang around a bunch of Cub Scouts.

ahhhh.. i see. thanks for the clarification.

 

[Stash]

poop is only a problem on glaciers. right? i mean, as far as decomposing and the fact you can't just dig a hole or hide it anywhere.

Major requiement to pack it out at GC. Sheer volume. And the low humidity will actually cause it to petrify before it decomposes.

 

[Chip]

And the low humidity will actually cause it to petrify before it decomposes.

Makes a lovely paperweight. A real conversation starter !

gotta say.. this is a weird thread.. 5 pages of poop talk.

You're kidding right ? This thread is a freakin Doctoral Dissertation compared to StashZdanuk's !

 

[DougPaul]

I can't believe no one else asked Doug Paul about the Snow Alternative. Really? Seriously?

Yes. It works--I've done it when I didn't have any TP. I don't recall any problems worthy of note. And you don't have to pack it out...

I prefer TP, but the snow wasn't that bad.

Doug

 

[leaf]

Major requiement to pack it out at GC. Sheer volume. And the low humidity will actually cause it to petrify before it decomposes.

GC? grand canyon? i've got enough acronyoms at my job. so yeah, duh. that too. and whitney i'm sure also.

anyway. how about them yankees?

 

[ColdRiverRun]

anyway. how about them yankees?

Wow, I've never given a red square but I'm damn close!

 

[Stash]

You're kidding right ? This thread is a freakin Doctoral Dissertation compared to StashZdanuk's !

So should we start a new social group dedicated to all things poo?

 

[leaf]

Wow, I've never given a red square but I'm damn close!

oh come on.. i was expecting a "yankees on the poop thread" comment instead of going straight to red square rage! where's the creativity? you red sox fans are disappointing.

 

[Craig]

poop is only a problem on glaciers. right? i mean, as far as decomposing and the fact you can't just dig a hole or hide it anywhere....

Regarding glacier camping and traveling.

The most widely accepted practice for disposal of human waste on glaciers is to bag it and throw it in a crevasse. No one knows what the long term impacts are, but I guess we'll find out in 20,000 years or so.

If on a 1 or 2 day outing, presumably everyone would carry their own bag. If the urge to purge hits you, you'd stop your rope team and do the “3 pointer”. (This is where practice comes in handy. It can be tough to go when your rope mates are jeering at you) When you're done, lash the bag to the outside of your pack and continue on. When or if you come across an open crevasse, throw it in.

If camping for any length of time on a glacier you'd dig a community privy and line it with a plastic bag. The community privy should be constructed away from sleeping, cooking and eating areas. When you break camp, the last guy/gal on the rope team would drag the waste bag behind them. If pulling sleds you could opt to put the bag in your sled if you dare.
You can accumulate a lot of waste, TP and feminine products in a couple of days, depending on group size.

If or when you end up on the alpine tundra, remove yourself from traveled areas and find some vegetation, usually grasses. Cut through the topsoil in a semi circle with your axe. Hinge the cap of topsoil over, exposing a hole. When your done, hinge the cap of topsoil back over the hole and pack out your TP.

Remember to carry hand sanitizer to clean up after you go.

I hope that wasn't too much information.