Information compiled by Roger Drake.
CAMP MUIR
For the last ten years a solar dehydrating toilet has been used in
conjunction with two pit toilets at Camp Muir, a high-altitude
climber's camp. The pit toilets are maintained by removing waste
with a post-hole digger, a poor solution but a reliable one. The
waste is flown off the mountain in 55 gallon drums. In 1992
retrofitting of the solar toilet sealed it well enough that it can
now operate year round without problems caused by rain and snow
infiltration. One of the pit toilets was taken out of service in
1994, but the size of the area and difficult weather conditions
makes a second toilet necessary. The second pit toilet will stay in
service until another improved toilet is built.
The solar toilet operates by catching waste in a lined basket and
allowing liquids to pass through into a lower compartment. The
solids remain in the basket for several weeks and continue to dry.
The lower compartment, which holds the liquid includes a drain line
that penetrates permafrost. This drain has been used in the past to
rid the chamber of excess liquid. Now that problem of snow and rain
infiltrating the chamber is under control, the need to use the drain
is much less. Under normal operation most liquid will evaporate from
the unit. About 10,000 uses per season are normal, and total waste
reduction ranges between 50-75 %. Camp Schurman, another high camp
with less usage, also has a pit toilet which is serviced by
helicopter.
PANORAMA POINT
A stone building was built in 1928 to serve as a vault toilet on a popular hiking trail above Paradise. The building, unused for many years, was about to be removed in 1987 when it was decided to utilize it instead. A chemical toilet has been flown in and out of the site every summer for six years, and the building is used to store drums containing waste. About 4000 uses per season is typical for this site. A permanent toilet has not been designed.
SMALL SCALE COMPOSTING
North Cascades NP has developed a small direct-deposit style
composting toilet that has worked very well for them. Mt. Rainier
has worked with one for two years and is in the process of procuring
several more. These units are intended for areas without heavy use
that have insufficient soils for pit toilets.
SUMMERLAND
In 1992 a commercially built composter, "Phoenix" brand, was constructed at this heavily used backcountry camp. This type of unit has been used by several different agencies. The unit has now operated satisfactorily for two seasons with about 4000 uses per year, most of them in August and September.
BLUE BAGS AND GLACIER TOILETS
Mount Rainier has received considerable public attention for its "blue bag" system. Climbers on the two most heavily used routes are asked to pack out their own human waste in a pair of plastic bags. The program was initiated in 1984 because of the poor a esthetic conditions and health concerns on these routes. The park provides receptacles for the bags at four locations on the upper mountain, and removes them by helicopter every September. For several years the park processed the contaminated plastic in i ts wastewater treatment plants, but operational difficulties halted this practice in 1992. The waste is now bagged and boxed by the park, and collected by a contractor as infectious waste The waste is transported to an incinerator. This is very economical for the park.
Two of the human waste receptacles are on glaciers where overnight camping takes place, making it unnecessary for the climbers to pack their waste from these sites. Climbers not camping at these sites can either bag and carry their wastes from wherever na ture calls, or use the privacy screen at the collection site and avoid packing the waste. Over time the collection receptacle has evolved to a drum with a small hole on top to reduce the amount of snow entering the drum.
Mount Rainier has collected no quantitative data about the improvement of conditions on the mountain due to the use of blue bags, but all agree that conditions have improved greatly. The quantity of waste removed in this way is not great, and other factor
s probably- contributed to the improvement. For instance, handouts are given to climbers in which they are reminded to use established toilets as much as possible. We feel that having an alternative in place convinces climbers that we care about condition
s and encourages them to care as well.