![](media/image1.png){width="0.6375in"
height="0.6625in"}![](media/image2.wmf){width="0.6395833333333333in"
height="0.6756944444444445in"}

+------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+
| > ***NEWS***           | > **Forest         | > *351 Pacu Lane      |
|                        | > Service**        | > Suite 200*          |
|                        | >                  | >                     |
|                        | > *United States*  | > *Bishop, CA 93514*  |
|                        | >                  | >                     |
|                        | > *Department of*  | > *Media Contact:*    |
|                        | >                  | >                     |
|                        | > *Agriculture*    | > *Nancy Upham*       |
|                        | >                  |                       |
|                        | > **Inyo**         | *(760) 873-2427*      |
|                        | >                  |                       |
|                        | > **National       | *Date: July 17, 2007* |
|                        | > Forest**         |                       |
+------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+

**[Human Waste Management on the Whitney Trail -- An
Update]{.underline}**

This summer climbers on Mt. Whitney got an early start due to the fact
that the snow pack was so much less than normal. As they have the past
few summers, climbers are showing themselves more than willing to do
their part in helping manage the human waste situation on Mt. Whitney by
utilizing WAG bags to pack out their own human waste. What began as a
voluntary experiment is now a fully implemented program of human waste
management, and the non-functioning toilets have been removed.

From an historical perspective, it was in 1873 that John Muir first
climbed Mount Whitney. Over 100 years later, on the east side of the
Sierra Nevada the Whitney Trail cuts through a place we now call the
John Muir Wilderness. On the west side, access to the 14,497 foot summit
is gained through the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park Wilderness.
Each year 16,000 people attempt to climb Mt. Whitney from the east-side
and an additional 4,000 from the west.

For decades the Forest Service has been challenged with managing the
disposal of human waste produced by this large number of climbers.
Toilets have been in place along the Whitney Trail since the 1960s.
Despite several renovations and retro-fits, the dehydrating toilets
never functioned very well. Each year a helicopter was needed to fly out
4,000 pounds of human waste. Both helicopters and toilet buildings
compromised the integrity of the area's wilderness character.

In 2004, a voluntary pack-out program was instituted. Whitney climbers
were asked to pack their human waste to Whitney Portal Trailhead using
pack-out kits, also known as WAG Bags. In 2006, climbers voluntarily
packed out 3,600 pounds of their human waste. With the success of this
pack out program, there is now a safe and sanitary way for each
individual to deal with their own human waste.

In 2006, Forest Service rangers removed the non-functioning toilet at
Outpost Camp and Park Service rangers removed the toilet near the
summit. This year the Forest Service removed the Trail Camp toilet and
now all climbers are required to pack their waste to the trailhead. A
demonstrated caring for the integrity of this unique public resource and
cooperation between climbers and rangers has resulted in making an
incredible place even better.

"I want to thank the Whitney climbers and rangers for helping find a
solution to the human waste challenge. I think we now have a system that
is workable for today as well as into the future," said District Ranger
Garry Oye. "John Muir himself would be proud of this great cooperative
effort between climbers, Forest Service rangers and Park Service
rangers," said Wilderness Coordinator Gregg Fauth.

For additional information, please contact Garry Oye, District Ranger,
Inyo National Forest at (760) 873-2464 or Gregg Fauth, Wilderness
Coordinator, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks at (559) 565-3137.

\# \# \#