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Thread: why no privy's

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    Registered User jigsaw's Avatar
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    Default why no privy's

    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

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    Registered User Papa D's Avatar
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    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 .....

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    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.

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    Registered User Wise Old Owl's Avatar
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    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.
    Dogs are excellent judges of character, this fact goes a long way toward explaining why some people don't like being around them.

    Woo

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    Quote Originally Posted by Pony View Post
    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

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    Setting up your tent in a cat field is dumber.
    Last edited by Spokes; 04-24-2012 at 22:08.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Spokes View Post
    Setting up your tent in a cat field is dumber.
    At times like these, hanging in a hammock is a good idea.

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    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.
    Grampie-N->2001

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    Quote Originally Posted by Grampie View Post
    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

  11. #11
    Can you dig it?
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lone Wolf View Post
    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.

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    Quote Originally Posted by jigsaw View Post
    all around the shelter perimiter there is a pile of crap. you have to real careful where you set up your tent.
    Quote Originally Posted by Papa D View Post
    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.

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    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.

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    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?

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    Registered User canoe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Retro View Post
    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?
    Now that is funny

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    Why no privy's? Because folks like to hike the trail, but they don't like to volunteer to work on the trail.

    Rain Man

    .
    [I]ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: ... Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit....[/I]. Numbers 35

    [url]www.MeetUp.com/NashvilleBackpacker[/url]

    .

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    Quote Originally Posted by jigsaw View Post
    all around the shelter perimiter there is a pile of crap. you have to real careful where you set up your tent.
    I suppose these people having difficulty making a deep cathole are the same ones that talk about how easy it is to dig one with just their shoe heel?

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    AT NOBO2010 / SOBO2011 Maddog's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by daddytwosticks View Post
    At times like these, hanging in a hammock is a good idea.
    +1 Maddog
    "You do more hiking with your head than your feet!" Emma "Grandma" Gatewood...HYOY!!!
    http://www.hammockforums.net/?

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    ADA compliant? Seriously?
    -------------------------------------------
    ~Brian

    “I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does.”
    -- L.M. Montgomery

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    Unfortunately, seriously. Yet another example of bureaucracy overpowering common sense.

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