Why four privies?

[Prickly Bear]

As of November 2008 Smart's mountain in NH now has four privies on the summit counting the temporary one built a summer ago. Now I ask you why? Well here is the reason as I see it.

The people in charge of constructing the privies and many of the shelters on the AT between Woodstock, VT and North Woodstock, NH are college kids that are "intentionally unsupervised" so that they "may learn from their mistakes". And mistakes they do make. The latest privy on Smart's is located on a very steep mountainside just 200 feet NW of the Fire Warden's cabin. It is approximately 6 by 10 feet, post and beam. It was designed and built on the college campus, dismantled and then over the next three years, carried to the top of Smart's. It was assembled this summer and features a fake shower head, inflatable bath toys, a rustic vanity table, a large hand mirror and a plastic shower curtain for a door. The plastic shower curtain door lasted maybe a month due to UV exposure. It now has been removed and hauled out of there as it was falling apart when last encountered. So now there is no door at all, and it faces the approach trail so bring a trusted privacy guard. The privy is also about to lose its aluminum roofing because it was attached without any frame at the outer edges which overhang about eighteen inches. The aluminum roofing is rapidly being peeled back by the wind.

This reminds me of the "medieval theme" privy built by the same organization's inmates about three years ago to serve the Ore Hill shelter. This privy had a "drawbridge" door held up by two plastic milk bottles full of sand, clothesline and pulleys. That contraption lasted about three months before the UV ate the plastic bottles and the sand fell out, then of course the draw bridge door fell down never to rise again.

The institution of higher education whose students build these "jokes" has become a laughingstock among AT hikers.

Humor is one thing, but I think that longevity should be emphasized in these undertakings.

Why are there four privies on Smart's? Because there is no fun involved in getting rid of the three old ones.

Durn kids!

[aaroniguana]

Privvies are like Bob Euker. They make some people laugh, they make some people wonder why, but they keep trying.

[Phreak]

Why are there four privies on Smart's? Because there is no fun involved in getting rid of the three old ones.

Have you thought about organizing/leading a group to remove the old privies?

[weary]

Have you thought about organizing/leading a group to remove the old privies?

Start by finding out why there are four privies. Casual hikers should feel free to remove blow downs, litter and brush from trails. But before doing serious work, contact the maintaining club for the area you are interested in helping.

Clubs welcome help. But they are responsible for the conditions on their trails. They need to know who is doing what on the trails their club is responsible for.

Weary

[Old Hillwalker]

My guess that they are still there because it is unwise and possibly illegal to burn them, and the nearest road is almost five miles away down below.

[Jack Tarlin]

If there's any proof to these criticisms, then they should be directed to the Dartmouth Outing Club.

Drop by, send a letter, whatever. But if your concerns are for real, then make a real effort to address them. Anonymous Internet sniping at the DOC or Dartmouth may make people feel better, but in the end, it accomplishes nothing.

If your beef is legitimate, then take your real self and your real name to the DOC and let them know how you feel, they'll be happy to hear from you.

I live here and know these people.....making fun of them anonymously accomplishes nothing. Letting them know what's on your mind might actually do some good.

J.T.
Hanover NH

[WalkinHome]

Hey Jack, look at the bright side - no line no waiting!

[Lion King]

This reminds me of the "medieval theme" privy built by the same organization's inmates about three years ago to serve the Ore Hill shelter. This privy had a "drawbridge" door held up by two plastic milk bottles full of sand, clothesline and pulleys. That contraption lasted about three months before the UV ate the plastic bottles and the sand fell out, then of course the draw bridge door fell down never to rise again.

!

3 years ago?

That thing was there in 98, and it was cool then to!

[aaroniguana]

So someone replace the milkjugs! They're free and so is sand. A drawbridge would be cool. And when someone gets up in the morning to handle their bio we can all shout, "Good luck storming the privvy!"

[twoshoes06]

There is a privy for each season.. maybe a recommendation should be made to tear the walls off of one (summer), put up three walls to block the wind on another (Fall), and insulate one with an innovative heating system from compost, and make one with three walls facing out with a view. No lines and no matter what season you can be comfortable.

[Old Hillwalker]

There is a privy for each season.. maybe a recommendation should be made to tear the walls off of one (summer), put up three walls to block the wind on another (Fall), and insulate one with an innovative heating system from compost, and make one with three walls facing out with a view. No lines and no matter what season you can be comfortable.

Now that's creativity at is best!