rich lechleitner - the blue-bag carry-out system in mt. rainier national park

Mount Rainier National Park National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior


Number of Climbers 1990-2009Number of Climbers 1990-2009

10,005 Average Over 20 Year Period10,005 Average Over 20 Year Period

54% of Climbers Reach the Summit54% of Climbers Reach the Summit

2009 – 10,616 Climbers 2009 – 10,616 Climbers

with 6,438 Reaching the Summitwith 6,438 Reaching the Summit


Day Use in Sub-Alpine and Alpine Day Use in Sub-Alpine and Alpine AreasAreas

On busy Weekends On busy Weekends there are hundreds there are hundreds of visitors on the of visitors on the Muir Snowfield below Muir Snowfield below Camp MuirCamp Muir

Many day use Many day use visitors use the visitors use the toilets at Camp Muirtoilets at Camp Muir


Climbing Cost Recovery

Safety & Education• High camps• Training personnel• Route information

Human Waste Management• Maintenance/Removal• Research

Program Administration• Permits• Website

Annual Pass $30 per Climber


Upper Mountain Waste Management

•Established High Camp Solar Toilets

•Blue Bag System (individual solid waste disposal)


High Camps

•Camp Schurman on the Emmons Glacier Route

•Camp Muir on the Disappointment Cleaver Route


Solar Toilet at Camp Schurman


Other High Camps where “Blue Bags” are the Main Human Waste Management

SystemEmmons Flats Above Camp Schurman

Ingraham Flats Above Camp Muir

Camp Hazard on the Kautz Route

Thumb Rock on the Liberty Ridge Route


What is a “Blue Bag”? What is a “Blue Bag”?

The “Blue Bag” system is a thin blue The “Blue Bag” system is a thin blue polyethylene bag inside a clear thick polyethylene bag inside a clear thick polyethylene bag with 2 twist ties to polyethylene bag with 2 twist ties to seal closed.seal closed.

They are similar to bags used to They are similar to bags used to collect dog feces in City Parks and collect dog feces in City Parks and similar settings.similar settings.


How is a “Blue Bag” Used?How is a “Blue Bag” Used? A Climber defecates on the snow and then A Climber defecates on the snow and then

collects their feces in the inner blue bag, collects their feces in the inner blue bag, using it like a glove.using it like a glove.

The blue bag is then inverted and sealed The blue bag is then inverted and sealed with a twist tie.with a twist tie.

The full blue bag is then placed in the The full blue bag is then placed in the heavy clear bag and sealed with a twist tie.heavy clear bag and sealed with a twist tie.

The “Blue Bag” is now carried to the The “Blue Bag” is now carried to the nearest collection barrel and deposited. nearest collection barrel and deposited.


Materials &Cost of “Blue Bags”Materials &Cost of “Blue Bags” 9” by 12” 4 mil Clear Poly Bags 9” by 12” 4 mil Clear Poly Bags

$66.85/1,000$66.85/1,000 12” by 15” .65 mil Blue Poly Bags 12” by 15” .65 mil Blue Poly Bags

$26.40/1,000$26.40/1,000 Two 7” Twist ties Two 7” Twist ties $5.20/1,000$5.20/1,000 Price per Bag Price per Bag $0.10365$0.10365


Assembly of “Blue Bags”Assembly of “Blue Bags” It takes approximately 30 seconds to It takes approximately 30 seconds to

assemble finished blue bagsassemble finished blue bags This adds $0.06 to $0.15 per bag This adds $0.06 to $0.15 per bag

depending on the cost of labordepending on the cost of labor Assembly of blue bags is a duty that Assembly of blue bags is a duty that

can be done by fee collectors during can be done by fee collectors during down time in the fee collection down time in the fee collection booth.booth.


Blue Bag Pick UpBlue Bag Pick Up Most Climbers get blue bags when Most Climbers get blue bags when

registering for the climbregistering for the climb Extra blue bags are available at Extra blue bags are available at

Camp Muir and Camp SchurmanCamp Muir and Camp Schurman Each climber is provided with 2 bagsEach climber is provided with 2 bags


Blue Bag Collection Barrels


Collection Sites for “Blue Bags”Collection Sites for “Blue Bags” Slate Restroom at ParadiseSlate Restroom at Paradise

White River CampgroundWhite River Campground

Westside RoadWestside Road

Camp MuirCamp Muir

Camp SchurmanCamp Schurman


Helicopter Used to Supply High Camps and Remove Human Waste


Human Waste Barrels Being Removed by Helicopter


Flying Barrel Down


Preparation for Stericycle Preparation for Stericycle Pick-up of Blue BagsPick-up of Blue Bags

Bags are removed from barrels in red Bags are removed from barrels in red biohazard bagsbiohazard bags

Up to 40 pounds of bags are placed Up to 40 pounds of bags are placed in double bagged 1.9 cubic foot in double bagged 1.9 cubic foot boxesboxes

Boxes are sealed and labeledBoxes are sealed and labeled Boxes are picked up by StericycleBoxes are picked up by Stericycle


Preparing “Blue Bags” for Stericycle Pick Up


Disposal by StericycleDisposal by Stericycle Boxes are transported to Morton, Boxes are transported to Morton,

Washington for processingWashington for processing The waste is then transported by The waste is then transported by

truck to a Waste to Energy Facility in truck to a Waste to Energy Facility in Marion County, OregonMarion County, Oregon

The waste is incinerated at a cost of The waste is incinerated at a cost of $30.00 per box (up to 40 pounds)$30.00 per box (up to 40 pounds)

Incinerator is used to generate Incinerator is used to generate electricity for Marion Countyelectricity for Marion County


Cost of Disposal of Blue BagsCost of Disposal of Blue Bags In 2009 2,813 pounds of blue bags In 2009 2,813 pounds of blue bags

were disposed ofwere disposed of Cost of Disposal was $2,440Cost of Disposal was $2,440 Average Cost of Disposal for last Average Cost of Disposal for last

eight years $2,314eight years $2,314


Pros and Cons of “Blue Bag” Pros and Cons of “Blue Bag” SystemSystem

Pros:Pros: Low Cost for Bags: $0.25 per bagLow Cost for Bags: $0.25 per bag Low Cost for Disposal:$0.23 per Low Cost for Disposal:$0.23 per

climberclimber Easy to UseEasy to Use Great Compliance by ClimbersGreat Compliance by Climbers Easy to Manage Collection SitesEasy to Manage Collection Sites


Pros and Cons of “Blue Bag” Pros and Cons of “Blue Bag” SystemSystem

ConsCons Bags left on the Mountain are not Bags left on the Mountain are not

BiodegradableBiodegradable Waste is flown off from High Camps Waste is flown off from High Camps

using helicoptersusing helicopters Waste must be picked up by Waste must be picked up by

StericycleStericycle Waste is incineratedWaste is incinerated


Other Carry Out Systems tried Other Carry Out Systems tried at Mount Rainierat Mount Rainier

Restop 2 bagsRestop 2 bags Cost $1.30 per bag in 2003 Cost $1.30 per bag in 2003

(Wholesale)(Wholesale) Can be disposed of in trashCan be disposed of in trash Great for use by Commercial Guide Great for use by Commercial Guide

ServicesServices No Waste is deposited on snowNo Waste is deposited on snow


Climbers on the Summit Crater

rich lechleitner - the blue-bag carry-out system in mt. rainier national park

Environment