[pct-l] Cat holes & disposal of human waste

[Edward Anderson]

This summer I rode one horse (no pack horse) NOBO starting at Horseshoe Meadows and finishing in Yosemite Valley. Doing that section finally finished the PCT for me
 
Twice during my ride this summer I saw small signs on the side of the trail with arrows pointing up a trail to where there was apparently some kind of outhouse.You were asked to use it to reduce pollution in those high use areas. I could not see the outhouses from the trail. Unfortunately, I do not remember the two locations. I am not even sure that they were on the JMT since I had descended to resupply at both Cedar Grove and Vermilion V.Resort. Since I didn't need to go, I rode on. I think that is a great idea - so long as they are completely hidden - not visible from the trail. The signs looked pretty new, perhaps I was looking at experiments to see if hikers would use them and the pathogens, those that end up in the water, could be reduced. Maybe there will be more in the future. I'm for it in high-use areas as they can be well hidden from view. 
  
Regarding TP and cat holes. It is very important that cat holes be located properly and dug deep enough. I consider it to be especially important that they be dug into organic material. Decomposition is already taking place there due to the presence of carbonic acid and bacteria. I have also used bio-degradable TP and peed on it or poured a little water on it (to wet it and start the decomposition) and stirred it with a small stick before filling the hole. Of course, the contaminated stick must also be buried in the hole.  Instead of TP, I have also sometimes used leaves and especially the lichen moss (one species is pale green in color and the other is very dark green-black) that you notice on the dead, and often fallen branches of fir trees. One excellent leaf is called "mules ear".  If course, I also bury those in the cat hole. One other thing that I do is, after filling the hole, and camouflaging it, I pound the surface directly above a
 couple of times with my heel to create a shallow depression that rain water will collect in - so it will trickle down, helping with the decomposition, and reducing the chance of erosion washing out what is in the cat hole.
 
One problem that women hikers must have is that when they urinate (several timed a day) they don't necessarily dig a deep enough cat hole - unfortunately, sometimes no cat hole at all. The urine itself is sterile. No pathogens at all. (It can be used to wash a wound). It is the eyesore of seeing TP that sometimes ends upon the surface that bothers me. The best solution, if you use TP, is to bring the TP out. More and more thrus are doing just that. I think that it is the week-enders who are less conscious of "leave no trace".
 
I am most concerned about human fecal material (which is very high in pathogens) finding its way into drinking water sources. I am very careful where I get my water (and what I touch - since I don't take 0 days in towns, touching handles, salt shakers, etc. is not an issue) and have not had a problem during my four years' riding the PCT. I have never used chemicals to treat my water but have occasionally had to filter if I considered the source risky. 
 
MendoRider-Hiker
 
 
 

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