Big Wall Trash a Big Problem in Yosemite

After speaking with my friends, Mike Lechlinski and Mari Gingery about their experiences in Yosemite and climbing on El Capitan this summer, I learned that many climbers are not doing their part in keeping the big walls clean. Apparently many people "accidentally" or even intentionally drop their garbage and poop off El Capitan and don't even go back to the base after their ascent to clean up their mess. I believe that, as a way of showing respect for the beauty of this magnificent place, we all need to make the effort to clean up any trash we come across. In fact, I believe that everyone who ascends a big wall route should hike back to the base with a large trash bag and clean everything in sight after his or her ascent. There's not a lot to be done about the smell of urine on the rock since the rain will take care of that problem. But the idea that some people just throw their trash and poop bags off the wall because they don't want to deal with it anymore is completely unacceptable!

My friend Micah Dash just told me that he and his partner collected an entire haul bag full of trash on the Free Rider route a few weeks ago. Apparently when they set up their portaledge on Round Ledge they couldn't even hang it properly since there was so much waste piled up on the ledge. I can understand that the poop tubes may cost more than some climbers care to spend but throwing their refuse off the wall or leaving it stuffed into cracks along the way is really bad style. Being responsible for one's waste is part of the style of ascent! Hopefully the Access Fund or some other sponsor will help subsidize the cost of some kind of wag bag to be given to climbers like they do in Indian Creek. But if climbers have the time, energy, and funds to climb in places like Yosemite, then we have the means to help keep it clean.

One way to contribute, besides voluntary clean-ups, is to participate in the annual clean-up event in Yosemite called the Yosemite Facelift. This event takes place in September, starting on the 25th. There will be free camping at the Yellow Pines campground for 100 people on the 25th and from the 26th-30th of September, there will be fifty free camping spaces available for anyone interested in participating in this clean-up effort. This could be a fun experience and definitely a way to give back to this magnificent place that has given us so much beauty and inspiration. Unfortunately I will be hosting a climbing camp in Sardinia, Italy that same week but hopefully many of you will be able to help out with this effort. If not, please make it your tradition to respect the environment and help keep it clean.

Do you know of other clean-up days in your area that you could share with us?

Comments

[Jay Jurkowitsch]

Right On! If "we' don't do it - the Gov't will eventually "do it", but then they'll make a LAW about "It" and it will COST all of us - no matter what!
Take care of our selves, our own and it belongs to US more than anyone!!

[Hans Florine]

If people pipe in here and suggest some of the easy ways to get your trash off the wall then probably more people will do it. I use the BIG plastic protien or supplement bottles from nutrition companies to store waste from a wall. I've heard others use an old paint can. Both keep the smell in OK, and both you can throw away with out worry about the nasty clean up. YES, I know that's not great for the landfills. But if Yvon reads this or some other ingenius climbers, they'll put their minds to inventing an easy way to dispose of waste that is good for the environment. NOTE: even if it is not easy to remove your #$%*@! waste, remove it. I have done it for many others and will continue to take more stuff off El Cap than I bring.- That too, is part of the obligation as a more experienced climber/team,- do a little extra to clean up after others.

[Caleb]

I've never done big wall stuff before but have pondered the idea and taking a crap on the wall never crossed my mind. How would one even do that and stay harnessed in? As far as trash goes, I don't see why anybody would even leave that, they packed it in they can surely pack it out. Of course there is no excuse for the crap either. If they can't handle it they shouldn't be on the wall.

[Tom]

I was talking to Jesse (the climbing ranger) the other day and he was saying that he has been forced to fine some folks this year who, after being threatened with a fine, went right back up on El Cap and threw their poop bags off.

Such a shame. Few user groups get away with this for long, and eventually this will result in restrictions on climbers, and who can blame the park managers in such a case? Shoot to kill Jesse (they made him get commissioned last winter so he can make arrests and carry a firearm).

[Darren]

While I'm not a big wall climber, I do go caving quite often and this is a huge issue. Everything that goes in must be packed out and failure to do so will get you banned by the park rangers and certainly the community as well.

Everyone usually has two bottles labeled very clearly "urine," and most people that I know go the triple Glad bag route though I have seen people use a Glad bag along with a waterproof Seal bag. Usually you aren't in a big cave for more than 24-32 hours, so usually one poop will get you above ground, though first to poop gets the "Guano" lablel and a spot at the end of the line.

[Nate]

My friends and I use a pvc tube w/ end caps to store the waste. It's cheap and very practical!! No excuses!!!!!!!

When I hiked Half Dome Last year w/ some first time Yosemites, you wouldn't believe the trash I collected!!

All these people come to enjoy the spectacular and unique beauty of this awesome place and then turn around and trash it.

What the *%#@!

Stay home and trash your own house!!!!