Gotta Go!... In Desert and Alpine Areas

Pack It Out!

In both desert and alpine areas, the soil is shallow and rocky, making it difficult to dig.
Packing out your waste helps protect water, wildlife, and other recreationists.

WHEN to Pack It Out

When you can't get 70 big steps from water such as in canyons and on rivers and washes.
When rocks or shallow soil make it difficult to dig a 6- to 8-inch hole.
In fragile environments including areas with living biological crust, also known as cryptobiotic crust, and alpine areas above the tree line.

Wash in a desert in Southern Utah. — A wash is a common feature of the desert. Though it may look dry, a river flows in this area for part of the year or during periods of heavy rain.

Biological crust example in a desert ecosystem. — Living biological crust, also known as cryptobiotic crust, takes many forms and colors. It can appear as white, green, brown, or black bumpy soil patches between cacti, grasses, and sagebrush. It can look different throughout its stages of growth and in different areas of the Intermountain West. Living biological crust holds the soil in place and helps sustain the desert ecosystem by trapping nutrients and water. One step onto the crust causes lasting damage that takes decades to regrow. Always stay on the trail and pack out your waste to avoid busting the crust.

HOW to Pack It Out

1. PREPARE BEFORE YOUR TRIP

Check local regulations on agency websites including U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service. Buy required equipment such as a WAG bag, which stands for Waste Alleviation and Gelling and is a puncture-proof plastic bag used to capture and carry waste, or another portable toilet system. WAG bags can be found under a few brand names including Cleanwaste GO anywhere toilet kit, the Biffy Bag, and Restop Disposable Waste Bags. These can be purchased from your local outdoor store or online with prices starting at $2.95 for one single-use bag. Don't forget to pack extra toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Plan how you will properly dispose of your WAG bag or clean your portable toilet system during or after your trip.

2. USE IT

Use your WAG bag or other portable toilet system to pack out poop and toilet paper when you are away from a bathroom. How to use a WAG bag: Pull out the inside of the puncture-resistant outer bag, remove the hand sanitizer and toilet paper, and hold the plastic bag around your hips to capture waste. When you are done, seal the bag and place it in the bottom or secure to the outside of your backpack away from food. Always pack out feminine products, diapers, wet wipes, and other personal hygiene products.

3. DISPOSE OF IT

Dispose of your WAG bag in a trash can after your trip. If you use another method to pack out your waste, dispose of or wash out your toilet system properly.

Resources

Read this article to learn How to Poop (Almost) Anywhere With a WAG bag.

WHY Pack It Out in Desert Areas

Research shows that in desert environments, decomposition of human waste occurs very slowly and bacteria can survive up to a year due to the dry climate. Over 100 bacteria, protozoans, and viruses are potentially present in human poop and are capable of causing illness (Cowgill, 1971). Soil helps to filter pathogens out of human waste. Therefore, if little or no soil is present, pathogens can remain in human waste for a long period of time potentially, causing water pollution and illness in humans and wildlife.

In addition, deserts are fragile environments that often contain living biological crust. One step or hole in this living crust can take decades to repair (Belnap, 1993).

For more information on how human waste impacts desert environments, see this research article: Wildland Recreation and Human Waste: A Review of Problems, Practices, and Concerns.

WHY Pack It Out in Alpine Areas

Alpine environments are primarily made up of rock or shallow soil supporting fragile plant communities. This prevents proper burial of waste and toilet paper. Scientists found that toilet paper does not break down in alpine environments, even when placed under rocks. An experiment showed that after two years, toilet paper still had not decomposed (Bridle and Kirkpatrick, 2005). It is important to pack out waste and toilet paper in alpine environments to avoid damaging the fragile environment, discovery of waste by humans or animals, spread of pathogens, and water pollution.

For more information on how human waste impacts alpine environments, see this research article: Wildland Recreation and Human Waste: A Review of Problems, Practices, and Concerns.

Resources

Useful Videos

How to Use a Wag Bag

Watch this video by Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics for step-by-step instructions on how to use a WAG bag.

Packing Out Toilet Paper

Have a fear of packing out? Watch this video by Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics for instructions on how to create a FOPO bag to pack out toilet paper and personal care products.

Peeing in the Outdoors

Urine has little direct effect on vegetation or soil. In some instances, urine may draw wildlife which are attracted to the salts. They can damage plants and dig up soil. Urinating on rocks, pine needles, and gravel is less likely to attract wildlife. Diluting urine with water from a water bottle can help minimize negative effects. Another minimal impact technique for peeing in the outdoors is to use a pee rag. Watch this video by Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics to learn how to use a pee rag.

Utah State University Extension Water Quality

Utah Division of Water Quality

Southeast Utah Health Department