This past week’s hitch was different from my regular 4-day adventures on the Appalachian Trail, in that the first two days were dedicated to cleaning out a remote backcountry privy (an outhouse). This endeavor coincided with a trip by the Rocky Top trail crew leaders hiking up to meet a mule team hauling heavy tools and supplies for their upcoming season to the same remote location.
My devoted supervisor, Anne, wanted to accompany me so she could experience first hand what was involved with emptying a privy. I was so grateful for her assistance and I am always thoroughly impressed by her integrity and dedication to the trail, and ALL its’ maintenance needs… even the least glamorous tasks (to put it mildly)… that are required to keep this magnificent trail clean and safe.
We left early to tackle the 11-mile uphill hike up the notorious Snake Den Ridge Trail with the mission to arrive before the mule team. We weren’t there fifteen minutes before a parade of tool-laden mules and horse riders sauntered into the shelter… not a sight you see every day on the trail! We all went about our various duties and had an enjoyable evening together, nearly filling the shelter with AT staff and hikers alike.
Shortly after dawn, the two of us donned a variety of protective garments that had us looking like some kind of cosmic ghostbusters hazmat team, ready to dive into a giant bin of decaying poop. In theory, after a year or more, the solid material mixed with provided mulch, breaks down into what should be nothing but mulch-like dirt, that can be safely dispersed in the woods.
And we were well on our way working down through the bin when our pitchfork hit something solid… a giant flannel shirt along with a couple of pairs of men’s underwear, that had been carelessly tossed into the bin. Unfortunately, these items, along with 20 pounds of other trash and wipes, prevented the contents from decomposing~ “moldering”~ properly. We were only able to reduce the bin contents by about 50%, which will cause us (uhh…me…) to have to empty the privy again much sooner than we would have otherwise.
Hikers! Please Leave No Trace. Pack out your clothing and your underwear… and EVERYTHING you bring with you into the backcountry! This post is not to scold anyone or gain sympathy for the harder aspects of trail caretaking, but meant only to help educate hikers. The ramifications of throwing items other than poop, mulch, and toilet paper in the privy have serious consequences. Please think twice before tossing items in the privy. 🙂 
Your personal accountability and integrity fosters not only self respect, but also brings ease and grace to the trail… for everyone. Thank you!
