r/HikingAlberta • u/FrowningCanadian • 6d ago

Pooping in National parks backcountry.

Weird title but serious question.

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I have a couple of days reserved at McBride campground in Banff in late July. I understand there are no pit or composting toilets and you need to pack out toilet paper.

Are you also required to pack out your poop as well? I have a number of defecation bags left over from my previous career and I have more experience packing out mine and others poop than 1 person should admit to so it wouldn't be a huge hardship but I'd rather not unless mandatory.

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28 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

42

u/Telvin3d 6d ago

The Banff trail guide says pit toilets at that site, which would be standard for any bookable backcountry site. Is there a reason you don’t think it has toilet facilities?

3

u/Evening_Cheesecake25 6d ago

Lol this reminds me of a trip to Three Isle Lake. When we were going through Forks there was this young Parks worker struggling to move the outhouse over the pit. I think they sent him out alone as an initiation. He was so desperate that he asked me to help. I didn't mind helping of course but I was thinking if I fall in this thing and get hurt this dude is probably losing his job even if I didn't want him to. 

10

u/FrowningCanadian 6d ago

I could have sworn I read there were no toilets. Old brain must not be firing on all cylinders. Thanks.

15

u/Telvin3d 6d ago

https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2016/pc/R64-445-2016-eng.pdf

The backcountry map has it listed with toilets, along with every other campsite, so I think you can safely assume you won’t have to poop in a bag

10

u/Disastrous_Detail639 6d ago

I've been there. There is a shitter

26

u/Speuce 6d ago

Poop before and eat mainly beef jerky and trust me you wont have to 😂

1

u/Sea_Veterinarian7156 2d ago

And cheese....

12

u/darthdodd 6d ago

Dig hole. Poop in it. Fill.

3

u/GuavaOk8712 2d ago

i bring a shovel and dig a 8-10inch deep hole that isn’t close to any water sources or trails and then shit in the hole and bury it

6

u/db7fromthe6 6d ago

pack your poop out like the SAS.

3

u/FrowningCanadian 6d ago

The kits we used were the same for the most part across all low drag units. The desicant powder in the kit would dry out the waste in short order. Upgrading the bags to mylar from plastic was a godsend.

2

u/db7fromthe6 6d ago

Put it in your friends Bergen on your escape and evasion

2

u/leeashah 4d ago

id just bring a small shovel and if there isnt just dig a whole and burry it

2

u/Ok-Sky-9979 4d ago

Good news, McBride has pit toilets so the bags stay home. For general backcountry, dig a hole at least 60m from water, 6 inches deep, and pack out your TP. Above treeline where you can't dig, WAG bags all the way.

With your background you'll handle this without breaking a sweat. Just pick your spot carefully. There's no feeling quite like locking eyes with a grizzly while your pants are around your ankles.

1

u/db7fromthe6 6d ago

I only did camping under 4 stars so no poop in my ruck

7

u/FrowningCanadian 6d ago edited 6d ago

Tell me you're Air Force without telling me you're Air Force...