Brief by Central Staff
Recreation – April 2007 – Colorado Central Magazine
When nature calls and you’re out in nature, how should you respond? The Colorado Fourteener Initiative, which works to minimize human impacts on our popular highest mountains, offered some advice in a recent newsletter.
We’ll be tasteful here and start with solid matter. Below timberline, dig a “cathole” about four to six inches deep in organic soil, rather than sandy or mineral soil. After you’re done, refill the hole with soil and debris, and your deposit will break down.
Above timberline, such catholes damage plants that have a hard enough time anyway, what with the strong winds and short growing season. Instead, you can “make your own waste disposal kit, a paper bag containing a small amount of cat litter.” After use, put it in a sealed plastic bag. When you’re off the mountain, take the paper bag out of the plastic bag, and deposit it in an outhouse or RV waste facility. Just throwing it in the trash is illegal and unsanitary.
Liquids are a lot easier. Avoid urinating on vegetation, because the salts will attract animals like marmots and mountain goats to dig up the plants. Rocks, mineral soil, and forest duff are fine. And try to avoid spots others use, since “If a campsite reeks of urine, people will be less likely to camp there and may therefore create a new and unnecessary campsite.”
As for used toilet paper and feminine hygiene products, wrap them in plastic and pack them out. Burying is discouraged, since animals may be attracted to the scent and dig the stuff out. Burning is also discouraged, since forest fires can start that way.
