Poop in the Backcountry: Wag Bags, Cat Holes, and Statistics with Shari Edelson

·1 hr 27 min·5 clips

A PhD student reveals that 11% of day hikers on Colorado's highest peak are pooping on the trail, leaving over half a ton of waste each season.

The episode begins with host banter and sponsor ads before introducing guest Sherry Edelson, a PhD student researching human impacts, specifically fecal waste, in wilderness areas. The interview starts with light discussion about Sherry's background in horticulture and her favorite houseplants. The conversation then shifts to her northbound thru-hike of New Zealand's Te Araroa trail, where she discusses her theory on why people hike trails 'backwards.' The core of the episode focuses on Sherry's research. She explains a study conducted on Mount Elbert in Colorado, where she surveyed hikers about their bathroom habits. Key findings include that 11% of day hikers poop on the mountain, with 70% of those doing so on the trail itself, not in the trailhead privy. This results in an estimated half-ton of human waste left on the peak each season. Sherry discusses the conditions where cat holes are effective versus where wag bags are necessary, touching on soil moisture, biological activity, and usage levels. She notes that in her study, when provided with free wag bags, a significant number of hikers used them even where not required. The hosts and guest explore the particular challenges for long-distance thru-hikers, who care about the environment but are highly weight-conscious. Sherry mentions interest in future studies on trails like the AT or PCT. The interview concludes with Sherry's practical advice for hikers and the hosts' recurring segments: a Trek article on competitive permits, a 'question of the day' about farts and poop, and a 'Triple Crown' segment on 'things that happen all the time but no one sees.'

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