Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Hike to Trail Camp, 15 October

I wanted to check out the snow conditions after the recent storm and get some pictures.

I didn't start up from the Portal until 10:30, so missed getting back for a cheeseburger and fries by an hour. FYI, the kitchen closes at 5:30 now.

I was surprised to see the solar toilet at Outpost Camp still there. An idea occured to me as I was passing by: Rangers take a few Sawzalls up there, and cut the toilet into one pound pieces. Sell them to hikers at $1 each, but you have to go to Outpost Camp to pick them up. Result: eventually the toilet is gone with minimum effort, the INF makes some money, and hikers get some neat souvenirs. Wish they had done this with the summit toilet!

<a href=http://members12.clubphoto.com/robert634908/4883007>Pictures are here.</a>

Nice photos!

It still looks like there isn't anymore than 3-4 inches of snow covering the lower trail, and if the weather is as warm as your photos seem to indicate, it may melt out?

Cool photos...amazing the difference in just a few days... Hiking down was so much fun because Richard kept pointing out the variations that you are so fond of. He was joking around that you must have forgot your pruning clippers one one part he tried a couple weeks ago..

Nice photos..

Regards..
Chris

Great pictures! I guess I thought the snow would be heavier too. I drove through Lone Pine at about 6:30 am on Saturday and the mountains looked like they got a lot of snow, but it was still fairly dark out.

Nice pocs Bob. I was thinking on heading up this weekend, looks like a bit of white stuff. I can't believe that you still eat at McDonald's though.

Are you kidding??! Two Egg McMuffins wrapped up taste great for a mid-day snack!

-Chris

Nice pictures, Robert. There is already more snow up there than early November of last year.

BTW, I take it, based on this post, that the Inyo has decided on taking out the solar latrines and made the MMWT a mandatory pack it out trail.

I was up at the Portal on Saturday, and I recall seeing a large sign that I believe was right at the trailhead. It said something to the effect of "Real hikers pack it out." It also mentioned that the solar latrines really aren't sufficient to keep up with the sheer volume of crap that needs to be displaced at the two major camps. The gist was that the INF would much rather have you pack it out instead of using the latrine. Not sure if this implied that they are planning on removing the latrines, though. But then, I didn't read the entire sign.

Thanks for the very nice photos. I learned last week that the latrines are going to be dismantled for good, and will not be replaced. The USFS has tried 3 or more techniques for dehydrating the solid waste and the climate conditions simply do not allow the processes to succeed. It's a biohazard for those dealing with the waste and the pack-it-out program seems to be catching on with enough success that the latrines can be done away with permanently. They are still compiling statistics, as any government agency must, including weighing the poop in the disposal containers at the Whitney trailhead to provide data on compliance. I'm an old dog, but learned a new trick for the greater good...

Hi We see very few people that are against the pack it out system in use for the last several years, what has been the most often comment why wasn't it done long before now, once people understand the conditions and method of removal,

On my trips I watch for bags and TP, less now than when the toilets were in use, we seem to know the secret Poop spots and watch for signs each year, the trail and the area is very clean thanks to the number of return hikers and the seasoned hikers on the trail , the ranger staff and the first time hikers that see the area is clean and I think they understand the outcome if trash is left by people.
Walk around your block and see if it is as clean as the Whitney Area or as you drive to work look at the road R/W and see how that is respected . Thanks Doug

Just did the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim in one day last Friday for the second time. Going south to north. It's 24+ miles through pretty desolate but beautiful country and I would recommend it highly for Mt. Whitney buffs looking for a change of pace. There are at least four good toilet stations along the way. Not that I'm opposed to the pack it out policy, but why is it so hard to have two operable toilet stations on the Main Whitney trail?

Rick, latrines cannot be dug on the Whitney trail like they can in the Grand Canyon. Everything has to be put into a tank instead. And with the higher elevation, colder temperatures and heavier use, there is no way to get it to compost properly.

Would it be a bit outlandish to enquire about building little shelters at the camps for some privacy? The users are required to use the wag bags, but one thing I had trouble with up at Trail Camp was the "exposure". I know, I have to get over it at some point. But I'm talking about three and a half little fence walls (maybe six feet high?). I know, some people won't get it and will just leave their poop there and pee in them. Or are there some "understood privacy zones" up at TC at least?
-Laura

Indeed that was happening last year. There were privacy screens for people using wag bags, but some people were just leaving their poop there, and sometimes the poop would not even be in wag bags. I found this out from the rangers at the visitor's center this past August, so the Forest Service removed the privacy screens this year.

Oh well. I'll work on getting used to it over the winter, I guess!