BoSoxYacht

It's not the most photogenic form of life , but it's very important to the life of the desert.

Rocket Dawg

Turds don't blend in with that?

Chuck

Rocket Dawg

Let me know when you've really done some real wilderness travel and then we can talk about experience. I'm going to spend 2 weeks on a solo bike trip in the Maze... ending up at Hite Marina well south of the park. When I get back I'll let you know how it went.

Some talk... and some do.

See ya.

Chuck

Hank Rearden

Don't bust the crust.



Side note:

Recently crypto has been found to not be as sensitive as once believed. When it's necessary to remove it to lay in a trail folks have been storing it in buckets until the wet season starts. When it's redistributed it thrives once again.

Still no reason to create new line through it though...

Rocket Dawg

Hank I completely respect the crypto-biotic crust of The Canyonlands. Somehow someone on this thread has put together that human waste and destruction of the crust are one in the same.

This is simply not true.

The disposal of human waste in The Maze has more to do with the fact that it builds up over time due to the conditions. It becomes unsightly and must be managed. Hence the requirement for porta-potties and the reason why I asked about them to begin with.

Again this has nothing to do with the crust of the desert.

There's no sense in going off trail and harming the crust that is undisturbed. I never said otherwise.

(Cool photo by the way Hank. This is going to be fun.)

Take care!

Chuck

mtnbiker66

I think you guys are slinging a lot of poo around here. I crack me up!!!!

Hank Rearden

No sh|t.

Rocket Dawg

If you got this far into the thread you must feel wiped.



Chuck

watchman

Here is an answer to your original question. Get a piece (2-3 ft) of PVC tubing about 4 inches in diameter, cap one end and put on screw on top on the other end. Take a dump in plastic bags, add some lime if you have it, tie bag up and deposit in tube, screw lid on tight. Easy to carry, sealed well, unbreakable for the most part. When done with trip, easy to dispose of.

Rocket Dawg

Now THAT is the kind of answer I was looking for! That may very well be the way I go about it.

Many thanks.

Chuck

BoSoxYacht

I told you what I have seen used by cyclists in The Maze . I have rafted , camped ,and hiked in the area .I truly hope you have a great(and safe) time in Canyonlands . Be very cautious with your drinking water , it doesn't take much bad water to get Giardia(I found out the hard way). Water got splashed into my mouth while rafting Cataract Canyon . About a week later , I was one very sick camper . Maybe after you do your trip there , we'll have something to talk about . What I was trying to point out was a reason for the porta-potty . Most users of the backcountry would not want to drop a duece onto an existing trail , and would venture off the path/campsite to a more private area(trampling the cryptobiotic soil in the process). BTW, I listed a few of my backcountry experiences , those are but a sample of my trips . Many of my excursions are 3-5 day , snowshoe/tele-skiing trips starting at 10,000 ft and getting near the peaks of several of the 14er's in Colorado .

BoSoxYacht

That is a very good idea , but not what I saw being used there

Rocket Dawg

I do respect your experience there. This is one trip I am not taking lightly as any significant error can cost me my life. I'm well aware of the risks however I do listen carefully to the advice given by those who have been there before me.

I like a spirited debate from time-to-time. I do agree with what you were saying about the crust. You can be sure I will be careful around it and I do plan to follow the park rules the best I can. I will pack out what I pack in.

Thanks for the input you have given.

Chuck

BoSoxYacht

Thanks Dawg , I also enjoy a good debate. What bike are you using for this trip ? When do you plan on doing the trip ? If you are there during October , you should check out the Moab bike festival (www.moabbikefest.com) .