B.Y.O.B. - A Restop Affair

(With special thanks to guest blogger - Lara Usinowicz)
Attend a National Park, Forest Service, or BLM meeting and the topic that seems to garner the most attention is…yep, you guessed it…poop in the woods. These agencies have plenty of other issues to worry about other than how to manage YOUR poop! Some areas have implemented “pack it out” programs where land managers provide a “poop bag” with your backcountry permit but this puts the cost of implementation and management of a backcountry waste management program on the land managers. You wouldn’t expect a Forest Service or National Park Ranger to pack out your trash and human waste should be treated as just that…part of the trash you are responsible for taking with you.

You can easily and effectively take on that responsibility and BYOB (bring your own bag)…a Restop 2 bag, that is!
The Restop 2 solid waste bag provides a safe, sanitary and inexpensive means to transport solid human waste from sensitive wilderness areas. The outer bag is gas-impervious, thereby containing the odor, a significant issue if one is expected to “pack it out.” Inside the bag is a powder, a polymer/enzyme blend, that processes the waste so it is approved for trash disposal. The Restop 2 bag is designed to be used with a Restop Commode in a base camp situation or, in the backcountry, can be used directly on the ground. For a more discreet experience, it can also be used with the Restop Privacy Shelter.
Be a part of a good “movement” and pack out your poop. The Restop 2 bag is being used from Grand Teton to Mount Everest as an effective backcountry waste management solution and should be a part of your packing list when you head into the backcountry.

We can all take responsibility for ourselves in the backcountry or we can let it go to…

For more information, contact Lara Usinowicz. (303) 746-2790 lusinowicz@restop.com

Montreat College Outreach

Yesterday, we wrapped up our time in North Carolina with a visit to Montreat College. This small school nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains just outside of Asheville, NC provided a beautiful setting to teach Leave No Trace. Past Traveling Trainers, JD and Emily, visited Montreat College last year and introduced the students to the program. We were asked to educate the students about more of the minimum impact techniques involved with Leave No Trace. In the above photo, Tracy demonstrates a mound fire.

In addition to minimum impact campfire techniques, we also taught the group about proper disposal of human waste in the backcountry. After learning about methods to pack out human waste, we went over the use of a cat hole. This led to an intense round of Cat hole Olympics! The above photo shows Dr. Andrew Bobilya, Co-Chair of the Outdoor Education Department, completing a 6-8" hole for his team. We had a great time working with Montreat students and are looking forward to visiting campus again in the future.

Happy Adventuring...Kate and Tracy

Dear Education Department: Disposing of Waste Properly.

Dear Education Department,

I’m trying to figure out the best way to dispose of human waste on the lands I manage. Do you know of any good resources, research, methods or strategies that could be implemented in my area? I’d like a comprehensive overview of the best practices being used nationwide (and around the world) but I’m not sure that exist.

Any ideas?

Signed,

District Ranger

*******

Dear District Ranger,

If you’re looking for a one-stop shop for answering your questions around the subject of human waste disposal in the outdoors, you shouldn’t miss the upcoming conference, “Exit Strategies – Managing Human Waste in the Wild.”

Presented by The American Alpine Club at the American Mountaineering Center Golden, Colorado July 30-31 and August 1, 2010 - this conference is being sponsored in part by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.

We invite top land managers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and wilderness participants from around the globe to discuss and formulate strategies for managing human waste in remote areas. The Exit Strategies conference will include general/plenary sessions, poster presentations, field-proven techniques and opportunities for focused problem solving. To create a productive setting in which participants can spark important conversations, explore innovative ideas, and develop effective solutions, the conference will be limited to 100 attendees.

Interested? Here’s some more information to help you get there:

Registration limited to first 90 to sign up. Fee $150 for both days and evening include:

• Two lunches and one dinner
• Flash Drive of visual documentation of all presentations, papers and addresses of all participants.
• Special student fee of $25 for the first ten to sign up, support provided by "Leave No Trace"
• Vendor fee $300, limited to 12 vendors
• August 1st (8:00-4:00 PM Optional field trip hike to Gem Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. The Park Service will discuss their human waste pack out system for Lumpy Ridge and the Solar Drying toilet at Gem Lake. Moderate hike at 2.2 miles each way. Bus capacity of 50 will depart from the American Mountaineering Center. Register separately for this hike, cost: $35 including lunch.

Conference Benefits:

• Knowledge: Share global expertise and assemble a working online database of the best practices for managing human waste in remote and alpine environments.
• Case Studies: Publicize various case-studies that illustrate the complexities of, and potential solutions for, managing human waste in wilderness settings.
• Connection: To provide links across the globe between the various entities critical to human waste management in wilderness settings.
• Action: Generate actionable ideas and practical toolkits for managing human waste that can be disseminated to the broader public.

What people are saying:

"Human waste and how we deal with it in the outdoors is a significant issue and perhaps one of the most significant issues we grapple with at Leave No Trace. Improper disposal of human waste can drastically impact water sources, it can spread disease and it can be a substantial aesthetic and social impact. With more and more people enjoying the outdoors, whether they're on a day hike, an overnight camping trip or a month long expedition, we have to collectively work together to find realistic, effective and palatable solutions to this growing problem. This conference is a major step in the right direction towards solving the human waste dilemma." Ben Lawhon, Education Director, Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Boulder, CO.

"As the world seems to be getting smaller,with more and more people setting out to explore remote natural areas, it is timely that we are bringing managers together to share common experiences & solutions for dealing with increasing challenge of ......'what do you do with the human waste?' As the leader for Wilderness Stewardship in the US National Parks, I look forward to creating a new standard for our visitors. No longer will it be the sole responsibility of the land managers to solve the human waste problem. Today's solution will be a combination of new technology, visitor responsibility, and manager's assistance." Garry Oye, Chief of Wilderness Stewardship, National Park Service, Washington, D.C.

"Bringing together experts from around the world to this conference will not only benefit the National Parks but will be a benefit to many agencies. Again, our program applauds and supports your efforts in putting this conference together." CAPT John Leffel, REHS, MPH, Public Health Consultant, US Public Health Service

Upcoming Exit Strategies Conference - July 2010

Exit Strategies
Registration Open

Managing Human Waste in the Wild

Presented by The American Alpine Club at the American Mountaineering Center Golden, Colorado July 30-31 and August 1, 2010 - this conference is being sponsored in part by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics

We invite top land managers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and wilderness participants from around the globe to discuss and formulate strategies for managing human waste in remote areas. The Exit Strategies conference will include general/plenary sessions, poster presentations, field-proven techniques and opportunities for focused problem solving. To create a productive setting in which participants can spark important conversations, explore innovative ideas, and develop effective solutions, the conference will be limited to 100 attendee.

• Registration limited to first 90 to sign up. Fee $150 for both days and evening include: Two lunches and one dinner
• Flash Drive of visual documentation of all presentations, papers and addresses of all participants.
• Special student fee of $25 for the first ten to sign up, support provided by "Leave No Trace"
• Vendor fee $300, limited to 12 vendors
• August 1st (8:00-4:00 PM Optional field trip hike to Gem Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. The Park Service will discuss their human waste pack out system for Lumpy Ridge and the Solar Drying toilet at Gem Lake. Moderate hike at 2.2 miles each way. Bus capacity of 50 will depart from the American Mountaineering Center. Register separately for this hike, cost: $35 including lunch.

Conference Benefits

Knowledge: Share global expertise and assemble a working online database of the best practices for managing human waste in remote and alpine environments.

Case Studies: Publicize various case-studies that illustrate the complexities of, and potential solutions for, managing human waste in wilderness settings.

Connection: To provide links across the globe between the various entities critical to human waste management in wilderness settings.

Action: Generate actionable ideas and practical toolkits for managing human waste that can be disseminated to the broader public.

"Human waste and how we deal with it in the outdoors is a significant issue and perhaps one of the most significant issues we grapple with at Leave No Trace. Improper disposal of human waste can drastically impact water sources, it can spread disease and it can be a substantial aesthetic and social impact. With more and more people enjoying the outdoors, whether they're on a day hike, an overnight camping trip or a month long expedition, we have to collectively work together to find realistic, effective and palatable solutions to this growing problem. This conference is a major step in the right direction towards solving the human waste dilemma." Ben Lawhon, Education Director, Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Boulder, CO.

"As the world seems to be getting smaller,with more and more people setting out to explore remote natural areas, it is timely that we are bringing managers together to share common experiences & solutions for dealing with increasing challenge of ......'what do you do with the human waste?' As the leader for Wilderness Stewardship in the US National Parks, I look forward to creating a new standard for our visitors. No longer will it be the sole responsibility of the land managers to solve the human waste problem. Today's solution will be a combination of new technology, visitor responsibility, and manager's assistance." Garry Oye, Chief of Wilderness Stewardship, National Park Service, Washington, D.C.

"Bringing together experts from around the world to this conference will not only benefit the National Parks but will be a benefit to many agencies. Again, our program applauds and supports your efforts in putting this conference together." CAPT John Leffel, REHS, MPH, Public Health Consultant, US Public Health Service