[pct-l] Camping on Whitney

[Melanie Clarke]

Carrying your poo in a bag (next to your lunch) may sound disgusting but
those wag bags are GREAT!!  They have wipes, toilet paper, kitty litter to
absorb the smell and so it won't slosh around; and double bags!  I feel
cleaner than any other way I have made nature contributions along the
trail!  Wag Bags are available in a plastic bucket near the trailhead cross
roads!  The wag bags are a wonderful system!  Don't knock it until you try
it!  People who leave them along the trail for others to pick up are Douche
Bags!  THAT is so disgusting and those people have severe entitlement
issues!

Toga

On Tue, May 28, 2013 at 10:35 AM, Benjamin Grunbaum
<bengrunbaum at gmail.com>wrote:

> I have never minded using the bag systems  to remove human waste whether on
> Shasta or whitney. It is a very frustrating task convincing others to
> remove their Waste because if they don't it will either not get removed or
> it will be removed by some low paid wilderness Ranger. it is frightening
> how inconsiderate some of our fellow hikers are.  I was amazed at how many
> bags I saw a lining the trail down Mount Whitney last year . Some people
> who I had been hiking with for many days on the John Muir Trail were
> disgusted when I mention that I had carried my waist from guitar Lake all
> the way to Whitney portal. I was disgusted that they pawned of f their
> responsibility to someone else. They need to hire more Rangers and charge
> the people who do not bring a bag , do not use their wag bag or leave it on
> the side of the trail at least $500, in my honest opinion. Thank you for
> being one of the responsible people you think about the  experiences future
> users of the trail will have.
> On May 28, 2013 7:19 AM, "Stephen M Crane" <stephenmcrane at yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Good luck on your climb.  It was one of the highlights of my hike last
> > year!
> >
> > You should find plenty of flat, protected spots to bivy.  Unfortunately
> > you'll also find is that the best windbreak spots are also the best
> toilets.
> >
> > Also, unless you've spent a considerable amount if time acclimatizing,
> you
> > will likely get altitude sickness to some degree.  I had spent several
> > weeks hiking and camping at 6000-10000 ft prior to Whitney and I still
> got
> > sick after spending 3 hrs up there.  When I climbed Kilimanjaro a few
> years
> > ago it was equally tough even after spending a few days acclimatizing.
> >  That's a primary reason why climbers generally sleep at lower altitudes
> -
> > 'climb high, sleep low'.
> >
> > Assuming you do it anyway (which you likely will) here are a few things
> to
> > think about:
> >
> > • bring tons of water.  You will dehydrate rapidly at altitude and
> > dehydration is a primary accelerator of altitude sickness.  You'll need
> > more if you start to vomit from the nausea.
> >
> > • Bring a good ground cloth to protect you from the urinated ground in
> the
> > windbreaks.  A tent or tarp will be very hard to setup.
> >
> > • Be responsible and practice leave no trace and bring a bag for your
> poop
> > and toilet paper.  Poop doesn't degrade at altitude.  There is little
> > bacteria or animals to speed the process.  I'm always disappointed
> reaching
> > the summit at dawn and having a beautiful sunrise marred by the sight and
> > stench of another inconsiderate climber.  It's not as hard or gross as
> you
> > think.  Google for alternatives or if you want I'll tell you what I do
> in a
> > follow up mail.
> >
> > No matter what you do, congratulations on deciding to attack this
> > adventure and best of luck!  It's a beautiful mountain!!!
> >
> > That-Guy, PCT class of 2012
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