Hello... my name is Chris and I am a vacation backpacker (I live AWAY from the Sierra and have to actually request time off of work, aka vacation, in order to do any backpacking... I actually know people who -gasp- come from OUT OF STATE to be vacation backpackers in the Sierra....). My segway is currently being retrofitted with larger tires in order to be able to climb the stupid granite stairs below Trail Camp (I had to carry it last time, Sorry Mom... I forgot to tell you it was in my backpack... maybe thats what kept us from reaching the summit). In addition to my confessions... I'd like to say that I am that person who reaches Trail Camp and is so exhausted I can't see straight (yet... I still manage to find my Wag Bag and use it).
And just because I wouldn't be me if I didn't respond … Burchey…. Sodomite is Sodomite no matter where you find the definition. Read the Bible story about Sodom and Gomorrah… Also, You may be able to breeze up paved highways like Mt. Whitney without so much as batting an eyelash or loosing your breath, but most of the rest of us Mere Mortals DO suffer a little to get where we're going (or more then a little). We use front-country, yet challenging (to us at least) trails like Mt. Whitney's Main Trail to celebrate remission from illness, recovery from injury, betterment of ourselves… or just to celebrate life…..So maybe you should step down off your testosterone poisoned, I am GodLike, hear me roar my betterness then all of the little underlings pedestal…. And be a productive member of the conversations…..
Chris.
Darlin.
Deep breath.
I'm not sure why you're taking such an offense to some of the things you've mentioned here. You say you use your wagbag properly. We can assume, with all this passion you've got, that you don't leave other forms of trash behind. You aren't part of the problem. Why so angry?
It's probably apparent from my picture that I'm a man - I'd assume that's where you're getting the testosterone poisoned thing from. I apologize for my unhealthy balance of male hormone - it's something I've been dealing with since childhood. I'm not sure how it plays into this discussion but I'm open to new theories.
As far as the sodomites thing goes, I don't retract my comparison to those masses of people that do go up the mountain, and decide to leave trash/feces filled bags where ever they please. They lack compassion for their surroundings and fellow hikers/climbers, and are distasteful human beings. I know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah - the people wanted to have their way with the Angels staying in Lot's house, and he said take my daughters instead, and they said no, so he gave them a couple wag bags which they promptly used and stuffed under a rock near Mirror lake.
Whether you enjoy facts or not, the main trail for Mt Whitney is relatively easy. It's well marked, not that steep, and is very popular so it would probably be tough to find yourself in trouble and without human contact for very long. Because of that ( and combined with the highest-mountain-thing ) there is a very large volume of people that make their way up it every season. If the trail was harder, less people would go. I'm not sure how you could argue otherwise - just look at the other routes on the mountain that are more difficult and receive less traffic. Less traffic = theoretically less poop/trash. Again, no me importa - cover the whole main trail in power bar wrappers and crap. Who am I to say that the users of that path can't jack it all up? I promise to not call the litterbugs mean names any more as well.
