Poopin’ on a Volcano

Ingraham Glacier Direct (II, 4500 ft) — Mt. Rainier, Washington

Austin Martin ‘18

Barae taking advantage of the facilities (before it's too late). [Photo] Austin Martin

Many people prefer to defecate into pristine porcelain thrones within the comfort of a home. Others enjoy the process of digging a 6-8 inch deep cat hole to promote “proper alignment of the GI tract.” While on Mount Rainier with a dear friend and classmate Rob Balloch (‘18) during a two week post-graduation climbing trip, I found many different excretion environments and used a variety of techniques to participate in delightful defecation. 

Between the Muir Snowfield and the Cowlitz Glacier on Mount Rainier lies a climber refuge called Camp Muir where many camp in preparation for a summit bid. Camp Muir, once known as “Cloud Camp,” was once a camp for naturalist John Muir’s team during his ascent of Rainier in 1888. During his party’s climb he suggested it as a good spot to camp, in the mistaken belief that the location provided shelter from the wind. It consists of two stone structures – one a guide hut, one a public shelter for climbers – as well as a couple of latrines. These latrines are not very reminiscent of your great-grandmother's reeking shack; they are complete with a luxurious view down the mountain and have a large swinging door facing the structures that allows one to socialize while succumbing to the gastrocolic reflex after dinner. Despite their questionable cleanliness, the plastic toilet seats make you feel like the pilot of your own biological processes. However, the fact that it is a pit toilet and not a flushing one allows for a pleasant, “rustic” experience. Furthermore, all of the excretions from the season are displayed in oil drums which are placed adjacent to each latrine and appear to be helping support the structures. I found that to be a remarkably “green” use of the “brown.” The whole setup really makes you feel like a star, particularly if you forget where you are as you are doing business in the latrine. When you open the door again it’s “Wow, oh yeah I’m up here!” Thus, the integration: throne, hole, and “star.”  

Almost to Camp Muir, bowels feeling heavy. [Photo] Rob Balloch

The route, Ingraham Glacier Direct, I found to be spectacular. It was still pretty early season for most routes on Rainier, but the tail end of the season for the Ingraham Direct route. This meant walking across beautiful but stable snow bridges, witnessing impressive yawning crevasses, and climbing a more direct route to the summit. We began the long walk around 1 AM and were standing on the top around 7 AM. Not record-breaking by any means, but after all, we were really there for the spectacular shits. Speaking of which, all three of us utilized our wag bags while on the summit. It was rather unnerving yet surprisingly comforting to feel warmth radiating from the ground as I squatted just a few inches from Rainier’s surface; Mount Rainier is an active volcano after all. There are many summit spots warm enough to melt any overlying snow, and some even generate steam. During my date with the wag bag, I distinctly recall making eye contact with a few others who were apparently there for the summit views? We made it back to Camp Muir uneventfully, busted out the shovel blades, and proceeded to sled most of the way back to Paradise.  

Rob wondering if he can poop in the crevasse as we descend back to Camp Muir. [Photo] Austin Martin