why no privy's

[jigsaw]

just got back from this years section hike between erwin-kincora just wondering why no privy's in this section?
all around the shelter perimiter there is a pile of crap. you have to real careful where you set up your tent. whats the reason for this?is it a maintenence thing
just wondering.oh by the way had a great hike this is a beautiful section

[Papa D]

good question - - people are supposed to be digging good deep cat-holes - - I'm sure that the ATC would love it if some privies were built - - someone needs to take the time to undertake the project though, buy materials, hike it in, they have to be ADA too (silly in my opinion). Someone else may know more .....

[leaftye]

all around the shelter perimiter there is a pile of crap. you have to real careful where you set up your tent.

good question - - people are supposed to be digging good deep cat-holes

That's disgusting. Now I'm starting to understand why so many of you guys like hammocks and tents that don't require stakes. I'd always wonder if that stake I put into the ground was going into a not so old cat hole.

[Pony]

I started a thread about this a few years ago. I can't remember exactly what was said, but I asked Bob Peoples when I stayed at Kincora and all he said was "we just don't". I'm sure someone involved with the TEHCC will chime in.

[Lone Wolf]

I started a thread about this a few years ago. I can't remember exactly what was said, but I asked Bob Peoples when I stayed at Kincora and all he said was "we just don't". I'm sure someone involved with the TEHCC will chime in.

how dumb to "just don't" have privies. although stayin' at shelters are kinda dumb too

[theinfamousj]

I started a thread about this a few years ago. I can't remember exactly what was said, but I asked Bob Peoples when I stayed at Kincora and all he said was "we just don't". I'm sure someone involved with the TEHCC will chime in.

I have the same recollection as you. I remember a quite lively discussion about why a wheelchair ramp needed to be built for a privy that is not wheelchair accessible, and then it evolved into a discussion about all the different types of disabilities that are not "wheelchair". That was back when Ma Dino was moderating as Rock was out hiking, IIRC.

[Digger'02]

A simple throne on a hole can be ADA compliant. It doesn't need a ramp or grab bars to be accessible.

And why no privies? Because hikers should be able to handle their own sh%t!

[Tennessee Viking]

And why no privies? Because hikers should be able to handle their own sh%t!

Quote of the day.

I also love some of my club's sayings on privies..."Who wants to carry in a heavy rock bar to knock down a poo pile in a privy..." and "Its a wilderness experience...deal with it."

I never found any troubles finding a tree 50' off trail to hide behind, digging a cathole, and filling it in with dirt and covering with rocks or leaves in the TN/NC area.

And privies usually mean more maintenance.

[Cosmo]

Quote of the day.

I also love some of my club's sayings on privies..."Who wants to carry in a heavy rock bar to knock down a poo pile in a privy..." and "Its a wilderness experience...deal with it."

I never found any troubles finding a tree 50' off trail to hide behind, digging a cathole, and filling it in with dirt and covering with rocks or leaves in the TN/NC area.

And privies usually mean more maintenance.

You don't need a rock bar, a 2" fallen limb will do.
For better or worse, it's not a wilderness experience. The load (as it were) of users is far too high. Let's face it, popular sections like Erwin to Damascus just gets too much use (and inexperienced use at that). Even if every hiker made a perfect cathole (and managed to hit the target) you'd sill have a mess.
I'm with Weary--if you are going to concentrate use by building shelters and campsites, then you need to deal with concentrated waste as well. People don't poop in the middle of their hiking day, they poop at the shelter. It's just not that hard to build and maintain a privy or thunder box. If MATC can do it so can TEHCC.

Cosmo

[Pony]

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...vies&highlight=

Here it is.

[Wise Old Owl]

I suggest you simply hold it in - let it build up - continue hiking ....radical break thru's are in your future...The Owl Has Spoken..So sayeth the Owl.

[Spokes]

Setting up your tent in a cat field is dumber.

[daddytwosticks]

Setting up your tent in a cat field is dumber.

At times like these, hanging in a hammock is a good idea.

[Maddog]

At times like these, hanging in a hammock is a good idea.

+1 Maddog

[silverscuba22]

Setting up your tent in a cat field is dumber.

LOL, When i left Erwin i had a broken ankle, i had broke it on a slack pack from uncle jonneys 6 days before and at this point was still hopein it was just a bad sprain, well i went about 2 miles and the ankle was killing me, i thought about turning around, but i thought nah i would just find a spot and set up camp. well i found a SWEET little spot right by a streem, that was just big enough for my tent. that day was pretty windy and looked like it could rain at any min.... well the next day rolls around and i wake up to clear skies, and almost no wind.... so im setting there reading my kindle and a get a wiff of something.... get out and look and there is 5 or 6 little ***** pilles around!! my sweet little spot turned out to be the sweet *****ting spot by the river. lol

[Grampie]

Hikers have to realize that for every privey built someone has to take care of it. Many areas with no privies just don't have enough volunteers to properly maintain them so they don't build them.

[Lone Wolf]

Hikers have to realize that for every privey built someone has to take care of it. Many areas with no privies just don't have enough volunteers to properly maintain them so they don't build them.

then shelyers shouldn't be built either

[Digger'02]

then shelyers shouldn't be built either

"I agree with some of what Nathaniel and the others have said..."

Privies are a straight up hassle and an eyesore IMO. Ideally we would have none of them, but cat holing seems out of the range of ability for some folks, so privies are built to keep them from turning the AT into their own disgusting bathroom. Ideally we would have no shelters too, but its more of a loss of life issue. Nice shelters minimize and concentrate impact so larger areas are not all torn up by irresponsible campers. There is also a cultural component at play, but I do think the AT could do with half of the current shelters fo sho.

The problem with a mine field is not that there is no privy.

[waasj]

Long ago there were no privies (hard to believe, I know) and the cathole issue became very unsanitary since the concept of digging a hole is too far beyond the ability of many hikers (not going to clarify thru vs. section, vs. DAY USERS here). Agree that the privies are an eyesore and sometimes offend the other senses as well, but they have improved the sanitary aspects of shelter life. If it bothers you to use a privy, hold it until you get down the trail and dig a hole. Same for shelters. There is more than enough room for people to tent or hammock between shelters where there is less chance of finding a mine field.

[Retro]

Old topic, but since someone just revived it--

It's been quite a while now, but I recall Bob Peoples (TEHC) citing the difficulty of compliance with Federal handicap accessibility laws as the reason for the TEHC's lack of privys. Anyone else have this recollection?