No porta potties allowed

[Chillywilly]

I was looking at some campground guides and more than a few campgrounds say the unit must be self-contained. Now, I am definitely considering a 13' with the bath. But, what is the reasoning behind "no porta potties allowed"? Bill

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Chillywilly

I was looking at some campground guides and more than a few campgrounds say the unit must be self-contained. Now, I am definitely considering a 13' with the bath. But, what is the reasoning behind "no porta potties allowed"? Bill

I believe what you're talking about is boondocking on BLM lands like near Lake Mead or Quartzsite, AZ and others. The reason would be that a port-a-pottie fill up pretty fast and people will empty them on the ground. There's lots and lots of campgrounds in and near Nevada that allow tents (I don't know of any self contained tents). Those places have toilets for campers to use. I've stayed without a toilet or port-a-pottie in several places in NV,NM,AZ,CA,OR,WA,TX,LA. Almost all National Forest and National Parks have campgrounds with toilets and don't require "self contained".

[Mike Magee]

Any CG that would prohibit porta potties is too hoity-toity for the likes of me; I'll go to one of the plenty other places that have no such high-falutin' notions.

[Bob Miller]

I have stayed on BLM lands a number of times and the few times I was asked about being self-contained I replied that I had a loo with a 5 gallon holding tank and two 5 gallon containers to catch gray water. Seemed OK with all I encountered.

[stevebaz]

Where concerned check the actual regulation at the camp sites. they sometime show minimium equipment. One here in California states you have to have a sink with attached grey water holding tank meaning off the ground and for the toilet a port a potty with its own holding tank not necessarly a toilet with a black tank. Their concern is a port a potty without a holding tank AKA seat and bags with the bags being dumped in the trash. Regulations are changing everywhere to get dumping off the ground. even campfires are needing to be off the ground in the middle of the desert.

[carlkeigley]

Originally Posted by Mike Magee

Any CG that would prohibit porta potties is too hoity-toity for the likes of me; I'll go to one of the plenty other places that have no such high-falutin' notions.

Who needs a pottie?................LOL
Where's the nearest tree or bush?

[pugslyyy]

Originally Posted by carlkeigley

Who needs a pottie?................LOL
Where's the nearest tree or bush?

In low use areas, sure. But I've seen some pretty nasty places where it's obvious the woods have been used as toilets and there is toilet paper every 5 feet for a couple hundred feet.

[Bob Miller]

I'm with Jon's observation. It's somewhat disgusting to discover that multiple visitors have declared areas within a few feet of trails and camp sites to be open latrines looking like a t.p. collectors convention.

IMHO it is that kind of mis-use that has prompted the requirement for proof of self containment.

And to those that may think otherwise, NO, a bear in the woods did not leave the long strings of Charmin behind those trees.....

[carlkeigley]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

I'm with Jon's observation. It's somewhat disgusting to discover that multiple visitors have declared areas within a few feet of trails and camp sites to be open latrines looking like a t.p. collectors convention.

IMHO it is that kind of mis-use that has prompted the requirement for proof of self containment.

And to those that may think otherwise, NO, a bear in the woods did not leave the long strings of Charmin behind those trees.....

LOL............I agree.

It takes fewer to ruin it for the many.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

I'm with Jon's observation. It's somewhat disgusting to discover that multiple visitors have declared areas within a few feet of trails and camp sites to be open latrines looking like a t.p. collectors convention.

IMHO it is that kind of mis-use that has prompted the requirement for proof of self containment.

And to those that may think otherwise, NO, a bear in the woods did not leave the long strings of Charmin behind those trees.....

Ya think not?...

[floyd]

Originally Posted by pugslyyy

In low use areas, sure. But I've seen some pretty nasty places where it's obvious the woods have been used as toilets and there is toilet paper every 5 feet for a couple hundred feet.

There's book on the subject...
"A Hundred Yards to the Outhouse" by Willie Makit...
and you just gave away the ending!

[floyd]

But,but, what if they think my little fiberglass trailer IS a porta-potti!
Forget theft protection...That's why we always lock-up when we leave!

[kootenaigirl]

Too funny Floyd!

[carlkeigley]

Originally Posted by floyd

But,but, what if they think my little fiberglass trailer IS a porta-potti!
Forget theft protection...That's why we always lock-up when we leave!

Sitting in the midst of gigantic homes on wheels, I could see our
little wagons thought as a porta-potti. lol.

And I do want to say I was being sarcastic about the trees,
I have never (mis)used the woods that way. Especially public land.
So far, I have not seen such sights, thank the Lord.

I did use a tree area "once" in the deer field when I got sick.
But I also buried it afterwards..............

[Byron Kinnaman]

I think most of the problem with waste disposal in the woods is the manner in which disposal is done. Mother nature has a wonderful system of taking care of things if not overloaded. Septic tanks use mother nature and does many treatment plants through out the country.

Liquid waste needs to be 100' to 200' away from open water sources. Mother nature will take care of the rest.

Proper disposal is at solid waste at least 6" below the surface and covered well with soil. NO TP included. TP should be disposed in other ways. Read your local Forest Service web site to see what they say about the rules.

If any of you have ever backpacked you'll know what has to be done.

It's like throwing cans, bottles and baby diapers out the window of your car, it's not be done. The louts that abuse the basic rules create a situation where more rules have to be put in place.

[Mike Magee]

I have always wondered something..... um, the bears, deer, and other critters don't bury their #2, so why is human #2 regarded so differently? Not that I want to go around leaving droppings all over the woods or anything, but I've always been curious about this.

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Mike Magee

I have always wondered something..... um, the bears, deer, and other critters don't bury their #2, so why is human #2 regarded so differently? Not that I want to go around leaving droppings all over the woods or anything, but I've always been curious about this.

I guess it is the numbers and concentration of campers.

Mother Jones: Humans have been pooping au naturel for eons. Why has this suddenly become a problem in the last 30 or 40 years?
Kathleen Meyer: It's the amount of people and the amount of people going in concentrated groups up the same trails and down the same rivers.

Is It Okay To Poop in the Wilderness? | Mother Jones

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Mike Magee

I have always wondered something..... um, the bears, deer, and other critters don't bury their #2, so why is human #2 regarded so differently? Not that I want to go around leaving droppings all over the woods or anything, but I've always been curious about this.

For the same reason "Cave Art" is "Cave Art", unless you do it...
then it's graffiti!

[carlkeigley]

Originally Posted by Mike Magee

I have always wondered something..... um, the bears, deer, and other critters don't bury their #2, so why is human #2 regarded so differently? Not that I want to go around leaving droppings all over the woods or anything, but I've always been curious about this.

Just another Bible quip............lol (sorry)
God told the Israelites to always go outside the camp and
to be sure to take their paddles (shovels) with them.

I always interpret this that God says He walks among us and
doesn't want to step in our piles............usually perks up the attention.

And as some have stated, we don't want to step in the piles either.......lol.

I like the scene in Back To The Future III where he steps in a horse pile.
Not used to that way of the public streets in the present.

[Donna D.]

Google is your friend. There are only TWO mammals that will PURPOSELY defacate in their nests (home). Rats and humans. ALL other mammals will try to take care of bodily functions away from "home."

Which are YOU? If you're a boondocker, educate yourself when it comes to "dispersed" camping. That does NOT mean you dump gray/black water at your campsite.

Be a steward of the earth, someone will follow in your footsteps...