Mountain Tools BIG WALL CAN

The Leave No Trace® wilderness ethic suggests we take every action possible to reduce our impacts on the environment over which we travel. What to do with human waste is always a concern. Rock climbers and big wall climbers have practiced pack it in, pack it up & pack it out for years. All the versions of hasty home built hardware store solutions end up being a nightmare and fall short in several areas. They truly are heavy "pipe bombs*" ready to go off (leak), get stuck in a wide crack and (God forbid) torpedo back to mother earth. Their long skinny dimension make hauling, packing back down and dumping & cleaning a hassle too!

Finally a professional solution is available that addresses all climbers concerns and needs - THE BIG WALL CAN. The BWC is an adaptation of the Clean Mountain Can invented by Paul Becker and sponsored by the American Alpine Club and The Access Fund for use on Denali. It is endorsed by Denali Climbing Rangers and provided to climbers for use above 14,200 ft. It is washable and reusable as defined by the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and National Forest Service. Most importantly, it is light weight (just over 1 1/2 lbs!), easy to haul (its squat proportion stacks under the haul bag) and easy to use. You'll appreciate the Big Wall Can when Nature does call - and she's got your number! There are two options for use:

Manufacturers Suggested Use - Unscrew the Lid, add the Foam Ring, take a seat and do your business. This requires a rock ledge (recommended), portaledge (do-able) or the BWC to be hung from anchors (awkward). In all cases be sure to keep yourself and the BWC on belay! The result of several days "deposits" is a slurry of waste that can be emptied directly into flush toilets, pit toilets or RV Sanitary Stations (located near Upper Pines C.G. in Yosemite). Various organic and chemical additives are commercially available to accelerate biodegradation and reduce odor. Add a small amount if you wish before the start of your climb.

Traditional Big Wall Use - Because Nature doesn't always schedule her calls... and you might not be hangin' out at the bivy or near a ledge - most climbers will want to do "number two" in a small brown paper bag (degradeable) then roll it up and place in the Big Wall Can for transport. Various acrobatic postures have evolved over the years (and everyone has their own "style"). Bags can be pre-rigged and stashed with a small handful of kitty litter to cut the smell and absorb liquids. Empty this in to a pit toilet (not a flush toilet) or RV Dump Station once down from the wall. Make every effort to pee "off route" or into a bottle carried for this purpose. It can be emptied later into the BWC or dispersed onto the rock away from the climbing line - where sunshine and showers will quickly wash it away.

Crag & Back Country Use - If you travel with a group and congregate in one area or site (guided climbers, trail crews, fire fighters, construction & utility workers) consider using a BWC for communal use. This should be one of the responsibilities of the guide, crew chief or supervisor. The BWC can be carried in hand, strapped to a pack or carried inside one.

Cleaning - After use, the Big Wall Can can be cleaned with a mild soap and water solution with a little bleach added as a disinfectant.

*aka poop tubes, big wall johns, shit tubes