Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board What happened to the head at the Baldy trail head?

I hiked Baldy this weekend via the Manker Flats route. There used to be a port a potty right before the trail head, but it is gone. Is this a result of budget cutbacks?

Brent N

I hope not, that is part of what the Adventure Pass is suppose to pay for.

I have no idea, but I'll ask next time if your interested.
Just FYI ther is bathrooms on the right, right past the Trout Ponds that are not porta potty's they are fixed bathrooms that flush.

yeti

Perhaps we should be thankful that the San Antonio Falls Rd. does not have that same peculiar aroma as the Ice House parking lot.

Hi Lee,
I don't know the reason why the toilet is gone from the Manker Flat.
But, I have heard from one ranger before saying it is very big job to keep the facility clean after every weekend. The public abuse the facility. I sympathize the rangers very much.

There is a fixed toilet facility on the right hand side of Mt. Baldy road between the fish pond and Ice house parking lot.

The Ski hut toilet is overused,too. The Sierra club members have been digging up a 10 feet deep hole at new location.
They do excellent job to keep the hut open for us. Sierra club Ski hut has a work party activities twice a year. Please contact them for any help you can offer.

Yes, the Sierra club is great and they are very friendly whenever they have the hut open. A few years ago when they were putting on the new roof I got to carry a few boards up the trail along with the people who were putting it together. And of course, there is the visitor center across from the Lodge in the middle of the village, which is a great place to visit and park for Bear Canyon as long as you leave before 4.

Thanks for the tips on alternate facilities. If one of you does happen to run into a ranger, I would be interested to know the reasons for the removal or if the removal was just temporary. That facility has been there for years and so people sort of expect it. My worry is that once a hiker's car is parked and their pack is on, and then they happen to see it is gone, they might do their business behind the trees anyway. (Personally, I refrained.) But like a Pavlovian dog, I expected to do my business there. If there are many others who similarly need to go there on this HIGHLY traveled trail, that could lead to a high volume of human waste, which, unfortunately, would also be too close to the runoff from the falls. Or, they may decide to hold it until they get up to the skihut, but we then place a much higher demand on the skihut outhouse at a location which is far more difficult to maintain.

Brent N

Those don't flush, but the ones at Manker campground do, if they're open.
I too noticed on Saturday that the trailhead heads were gone. As Shin noted they get a lot of use and abuse. Sometimes there are two, sometimes one, sometimes none. It's probably at the authorized porta-potty refurbishing station and will return soon.

Hi Brent,
I spoke with the ranger today about the removal of outhouse at the Manker Flat trail head. She told me that the budget cut was the main reason. According to her,there may be a permanent toilet facility there.

Anyone who hike Mt. Baldy area,please purchase the wilderness permit. The permit sale will fund the maintenance of facilities of the national park. You can hike any 4 national forests for only $30.00 a year. It is a very good deal.

Without the toilet facility, the USFS may not be able to enforce the requirement for a parking pass. As I understand the FLREA, the following are required in order to collect a fee:

(i) Designated developed parking.
(ii) A permanent toilet facility.
(iii) A permanent trash receptacle.
(iv) Interpretive sign, exhibit, or kiosk.
(v) Picnic tables.
(vi) Security services.

http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/fee-legislation-text.shtml

I hiked Baldy on 12/11 and a porta-potty was back in place at the Manker Plat trailhead, just befoe the gate.

Shin, I agree. I used to skirt that fee, but not any longer. BTW, congrats on 250!

Markin, thanks. I should have posted a follow up too. When I hiked on December 9th, I didn't see it there in the morning, but it was there when I returned that afternoon. I was "relieved" to see it back.

Shin, I believe that when you hit 62 you are eligible for a free pass. Check it out. You can spend the money you save on more coffee for me.

Hi Richard,
I should have waited to get the adventure pass till June to get a life time pass sold for people over 62 years old. But unfortunately my old pass expired in May so I got a new pass with $30.00 and 2nd car pass with $5.00. I shared the cost with my son.
Next year when I get the life time pass,all money I will save for many years,I can buy a better thermos to keep coffee nice and hot for you at the summit. Of course with better coffee.

Hi Brent,
Thank you. The continuation is the power,especially when you are getting old.