[pct-l] Most popular backpacker toilet in the world

[Stephen Adams]

Now that you mention it again, and thinking about recent travels, it  
seems I used to see a lot more wind breaks built up all over the  
Sierra.  Perhaps rangers or regular folks are dismantling them?
On Nov 13, 2009, at 8:16 AM, hiker97 at aol.com wrote:

> Back in the old days, there were lots of rock walls made from rocks  
> on top.  This was back around 1970.  I enjoyed looking at the more  
> creative walls.  Some were about 4 feet tall and about 6 feet long.   
> Just enough to cover a tent from the winds.  Not bad sites really.
>
> The Switch Back
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Reinhold Metzger <reinholdmetzger at cox.net>
> To: Stephen Adams <reddirt2 at earthlink.net>; Hiker97  
> <hiker97 at aol.com>; PCT <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Thu, Nov 12, 2009 3:44 am
> Subject: Most popular backpacker toilet in the world
>
> Say,
> When was the last time you guys have been on top of Mt. Whitney?
> No need to bring rocks....there are plenty rocks....the whole  
> Mountain is a pile of rocks.
> I first climbed Whitney in 1969 or 1970 with my wife....been up  
> there at least 16 times.
> Not much has changed on the Mountain, it's still a pile of rocks,  
> the sun still rises in the east and sets in the west.
> Occasionally some hikers still camp on top and there are some low  
> rock walls to shield hikers from the wind.
> I prefer to sleep in the hut....much warmer.
> The Whitney Hut still has a metal roof, but now has lightning  
> rods...they installed those some years ago after one hiker got  
> killed and several others got injured when the hut got struck by  
> lightning.
> Oooohhh....."The Throne" ( toilet ) is gone,....I mean "The Throne"  
> is still there but they removed the bucket and toilet seat and  
> covered "The Throne" with rocks ....they make you haul the stuff out  
> now in litter bags.
>
> Bummer.....that must have been the most popular backpacker toilet in  
> the world.
> Just felt "so" good and rewarding to be sitting on "The Throne" on  
> the highest summit in the lower 48.
>
> I remember back in the early days there was no toilet seat and no  
> wall to shield your rear end from public display and from scrutiny  
> by all the hikers congregating around the hut, about 100 feet  
> away....made some of the hiker babes very uncomfortable
> and some hiker dudes very curious.
> I don't know if you guys know this or not, but that is what made me  
> realize that the rear end of hiker babes is somewhat different from  
> the rear end of hiker dudes.....it's aaahhh, how do I say this,  
> aaahhh.....a little more rotund and appealing
> looking.
> I just thought of something....folks used to ask me why do you climb  
> Mt. Whitney so often?
> I never really had an answer.....hhhmmm,....I wonder,....hhhmmm...
>
> Later, to the great relief of the hiker babes and the dismay of the  
> hiker dudes, they installed a toilet seat and build a 2-3 foot wall  
> behind the seat to shield the rear end from public display.
> Bummer.....I liked it better the other way........VIVA LA  
> DIFFERENCE!!!
>
> JMT Reinhold
> Still dreaming about "The Throne"
> ---------------------------------------
>
> Stephen Adams wrote:
> > OK, sounds good. Should we make it B.Y.O.R. (Bring your own  
> rocks), > or do you think there might still be some up there? And to  
> hell with > permits ! It's the end after all...
> > As a side note, I suggested a few years back it might be nice to  
> watch > Mammoth Mountain blow from the White Mountains. But because  
> of the > prevailing wind, we'll have to make that one B.Y.O.G.M  
> (Bring your own > gas mask)...
> > Gee, I miss all the fun posts at PCT.
> > On Nov 8, 2009, at 8:13 PM, hiker97 at aol.com  
> <mailto:hiker97 at aol.com> > wrote:
> >
> >> Good for you. That's what I like some grit for 2012. No weakies  
> on >> top of Mt. Whitney or whiners. We will build a fort of rocks  
> up >> there. I remember years ago, there were many rock wall  
> campsites on >> top. Campers made them because of the wind. Today, I  
> do not think >> you will find any. The rangers probably tore them  
> down. I think you >> are not supposed to camp on top today.
> >> >> Cheers, Switchback
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: carol bruno <carolwbruno at yahoo.com <mailto:carolwbruno at yahoo.com 
> >>
> >> To: reinholdmetzger at cox.net <mailto:reinholdmetzger at cox.net>; >> pct-l at backcountry.net 
>  <mailto:pct-l at backcountry.net>; >> losthiker at sisqtel.net <mailto:losthiker at sisqtel.net 
> >; >> montedodge at msn.com <mailto:montedodge at msn.com>; >> reddirt2 at earthlink.net 
>  <mailto:reddirt2 at earthlink.net>; >> duckface99 at gmail.com <mailto:duckface99 at gmail.com 
> >; >> tooloouk79852 at yahoo.com <mailto:tooloouk79852 at yahoo.com>; >> lostonthecrest at hotmail.com 
>  <mailto:lostonthecrest at hotmail.com>; >> hiker97 at aol.com <mailto:hiker97 at aol.com 
> >
> >> Sent: Sun, Nov 8, 2009 7:01 pm
> >> Subject: Re: Arguing with Idiots
> >>
> >> My thoughts exactly!! Should be quite a show...I'm in. can'tquit
> >>
> >> --- On *Sun, 11/8/09, hiker97 at aol.com <mailto:hiker97 at aol.com>  
> >> /<hiker97 at aol.com <mailto:hiker97 at aol.com>>/* wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> From: hiker97 at aol.com <mailto:hiker97 at aol.com> <hiker97 at aol.com
> >> <mailto:hiker97 at aol.com>>
> >> Subject: Re: Arguing with Idiots
> >> To: reinholdmetzger at cox.net <mailto:reinholdmetzger at cox.net>,
> >> pct-l at backcountry.net <mailto:pct-l at backcountry.net>,
> >> losthiker at sisqtel.net <mailto:losthiker at sisqtel.net>,
> >> montedodge at msn.com <mailto:montedodge at msn.com>,
> >> reddirt2 at earthlink.net <mailto:reddirt2 at earthlink.net>,
> >> duckface99 at gmail.com <mailto:duckface99 at gmail.com>,
> >> tooloouk79852 at yahoo.com <mailto:tooloouk79852 at yahoo.com>,
> >> lostonthecrest at hotmail.com <mailto:lostonthecrest at hotmail.com>
> >> Date: Sunday, November 8, 2009, 3:56 PM
> >>
> >> I say we should plan for 2012 to be it. The end. One of these
> >> predictions has to right. They have been going on for the last
> >> 10,000 years. So, I figure that the odds are getting good that
> >> one should soon be right. This is too cool. I plan to be on top
> >> of Mt. Whitney when the end comes. Some big monster comet will
> >> probably hit Las Vegas and my house. I will see it on the
> >> horizon. I will see the shock wave headed my way. But I will
> >> have the satisfaction that all the low landers and pilgrims will
> >> get it first before us mountain men.
> >> >> If it hits out in the Pacific Ocean, then the tsunami might not
> >> get me. But I will be able to jump off the east face into
> >> a refreshing in-land sea for a swim. Nice.
> >> >> Respectfully submitted and your obedient servant,
> >> >> Switchback the Trail Pirate
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Reinhold Metzger <reinholdmetzger at cox.net
> >> <mailto:reinholdmetzger at cox.net>>
> >> To: pct-l at backcountry.net <mailto:pct-l at backcountry.net>; Deems
> >> <losthiker at sisqtel.net <mailto:losthiker at sisqtel.net>>; MONTE
> >> DODGE <montedodge at msn.com <mailto:montedodge at msn.com>>; Hiker97
> >> <hiker97 at aol.com <mailto:hiker97 at aol.com>>; Stephen
> >> <reddirt2 at earthlink.net <mailto:reddirt2 at earthlink.net>>; scott
> >> williamson <duckface99 at gmail.com <mailto:duckface99 at gmail.com>>;
> >> ''Adam Bradley'' <tooloouk79852 at yahoo.com
> >> <mailto:tooloouk79852 at yahoo.com>>; joseph kisner
> >> <lostonthecrest at hotmail.com <mailto:lostonthecrest at hotmail.com>>
> >> Sent: Sun, Nov 8, 2009 11:31 am
> >> Subject: Arguing with Idiots
> >>
> >> Switchback, >> I can't believe what I am hearing in this recent  
> "ARGUMENT" about >> dangers on the trail in the "End of the World"  
> thread. >> >> Bricks response is right on the button. >> >> To  
> ignore or to refuse to acknowledge that dangers do exist on
> >> the trail is like sticking your head into the ground and pretend
> >> they do not exist. >> I have been hiking the Sierra for going on  
> 35 years now and
> >> always accept the fact that I will be exposed to danger. >> That  
> does not mean I will let that scare me or control my hike,
> >> it only means I am aware of potential danger and plan  
> accordingly. >> You can not eliminate the danger, but you can plan  
> to be prepared >> for it. >> >> It is exactly that kind of naive  
> thinking that encourages
> >> inexperienced hikers, who should not be on the PCT to begin with,
> >> to attempt a thru-hike >> and then call 911 when they get scared  
> or run into trouble,
> >> because they were let to believe that there is no danger in the
> >> wilderness and "while >> hiking the trail we are safer than we  
> are in our own homes". >> >> I have been reading the book "Arguing  
> with Idiots" and this has
> >> made me realize that conversing on the list is a lot like
> >> "Arguing with Idiots". >> >> Now don't get me wrong, there are a  
> lot of cool, intelligent
> >> folks on the >> list...but, unfortunately, there are also a few  
> "IDIOTS" on the
> >> list and at this stage of my life I do not want to argue with
> >> "IDIOTS" any more. >> >> So, to my "FRIENDS" I say, once more,  
> "ADIOS" and to the "IDIOTS"
> >> I say >> "wise up" Amigos, before it is to late. >> JMT Reinhold
> >> -------------------------------------------------------
> >> Diane wrote: >> Your post is awesome, Louie. You have it exactly  
> right. The trip
> >> is an escape from fear. It's a journey into Middle Earth. It's a
> >> wonderful, safe, magical experience. You captured it correctly.  
> >> >> The thing is, the people on the trail know this, but most people
> >> on this list do not. Every dire warning on this list is total
> >> hype. You'll hear this complaint many times when you're out on
> >> the trail. >> >> Since we're entering the lull time, expect this  
> list to hype into
> >> warp speed with dire warnings about everything. Don't worry.
> >> These aren't the lunatics you'll be hiking with. Those lunatics
> >> are smelly, hairy and happy. >> Diane
> >> ---------------------------------------------------
> >> >> On Nov 4, 2009, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net
> >> <http://backcountry.net>
> >> <http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l> Louie  
> wrote: >> >/ You'll have to forgive me for posting back to back once  
> again,
> >> but I'm >> />/ trying to figure out just what kind of band of  
> lunatics is
> >> going to be >> />/ on the trail come 2010. >> />/ >> />/ All of  
> this crazy talk about coyotes, and black bears, and
> >> rapists and >> />/ the end of the world make me wonder if even  
> one sane person
> >> wants to >> />/ walk to Canada? Do any of you fear mongers  
> realize how benign it >> />/ actually is in the Sierras? How often  
> the sun shines? How
> >> kind the >> />/ weather is for essentially, the ENTIRE walk?  
> We're safer on
> >> the trail >> />/ then any one of us is in our own homes. I hope  
> the joke is on
> >> me />/ and I >> />/ just didn't get it. >> />/ >> />/ Because I  
> plan on enjoying myself. I am going to have fun. I
> >> am />/ going >> />/ to partake in all the fish and bird the  
> mountains grant to
> >> me. And />/ what >> />/ I won't be doing is entertaining all of  
> the silly worries
> >> about Lions >> />/ and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! I'll be sleeping  
> like a baby
> >> every />/ night. >> />/ Because, apparently I know something all  
> the paranoid people
> >> don't />/ know. >> />/ >> />/ This trip is supposed to be an  
> escape from fear, it is
> >> supposed to />/ be a >> />/ peaceful walk, a contemplative time.  
> A Mission. When the
> >> wilderness >> />/ becomes nothing more then an extension of the  
> fears we carry
> >> around />/ with >> />/ us in the "world", then God help us all.  
> >> />/ >> />/ Plan on having fun. Your failures won't be because you  
> got
> >> />/ attacked by >> />/ a bear, or a rapist- you'll fail because  
> you quit on
> >> yourself. And />/ that >> />/ is the hard truth. >> / >> >>
> >>
> >
>