Exit Strategies
Exit Strategies took place July 30 - August 1, 2010. Thank you to all who attended this very successful event. The conversations and ideas exchanged were immensely important to the future of wilderness areas around the world. For full event coverage and photos, please visit Inclined, the blog of the AAC.
Managing Human Waste in the Wild
Presented by The American Alpine Club at the American Mountaineering Center Golden, Colorado July 30-31 and August 1, 2010
We invite top land managers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and wilderness participants from around the globe to discuss and formulate strategies for managing human waste in remote areas. The Exit Strategies conference will include general/plenary sessions, poster presentations, field-proven techniques and opportunities for focused problem solving. To create a productive setting in which participants can spark important conversations, explore innovative ideas, and develop effective solutions, the conference will be limited to 100 attendees
» General Registration limited to first 90 to sign up. Fee $150 for both days and evening include:
- Two lunches and one dinner
- Flash Drive of visual documentation of all presentations, papers and addresses of all participants.
» Special student fee of $25 for the first ten to sign up, support provided by "Leave No Trace"
» Vendor fee $300, limited to 12 vendors
» August 1st (8:00-4:00 PM Optional field trip hike to Gem Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.
The Park Service will discuss their human waste pack out system for Lumpy Ridge and the Solar Drying toilet at Gem Lake. Moderate hike at 2.2 miles each way. Bus capacity of 50 will depart from the American Mountaineering Center. Register separately for this hike, cost: $35 including lunch.
» Inexpensive Lodging Available (July 29 to August 1st) $150
» PROGRAM
Exit Conference Schedule
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July 30 - 8AM to 9PM Includes lunch and dinner
July 31 - 8AM to 6PM Includes lunch (afterwards no host dinner)
August 1 - Optional day hike into Rocky Mountain National Park with discussion on current human waste systems in use.
Presentations and Roundtable Discussions Planned for both days (see 'Exit Conference Schedule for list of presenters and discussions)
Note, the AAC and conference organizers reserve the right to modify the program without notice.
Experts will present topics including:
- Batch-bin and Moldering Composting
- Japanese alpine waste systems
- New Zealand and Canadian waste systems
- Multiple types of pack-out systems
- Solar drying
- Surface dispersal analysis
- Case Studies
- Public health issues
- Influencing human behavior
- Problem solving on some of the nation's and world's remote areas that need assistance in achieving practical solutions. This will include networking to begin developing interagency and international action plans.
Note, the AAC and conference organizers reserve the right to modify the program without notice.
Conference Benefits
Knowledge: Share global expertise and assemble a working online database of the best practices for managing human waste in remote and alpine environments.
Case Studies: Publicize various case-studies that illustrate the complexities of, and potential solutions for, managing human waste in wilderness settings.
Connection: To provide links across the globe between the various entities critical to human waste management in wilderness settings.
Action: Generate actionable ideas and practical toolkits for managing human waste that can be disseminated to the broader public.
"Human waste and how we deal with it in the outdoors is a significant issue and perhaps one of the most significant issues we grapple with at Leave No Trace. Improper disposal of human waste can drastically impact water sources, it can spread disease and it can be a substantial aesthetic and social impact. With more and more people enjoying the outdoors, whether they're on a day hike, an overnight camping trip or a month long expedition, we have to collectively work together to find realistic, effective and palatable solutions to this growing problem. This conference is a major step in the right direction towards solving the human waste dilemma."
Ben Lawhon, Education Director, Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Boulder, CO.
"As the world seems to be getting smaller,
with more and more people setting out to explore remote natural areas, it is timely that we are bringing managers together to share common experiences & solutions for dealing with increasing challenge of ......'what do you do with the human waste?' As the leader for Wilderness Stewardship in the US National Parks, I look forward to creating a new standard for our visitors. No longer will it be the sole responsibility of the land managers to solve the human waste problem. Today's solution will be a combination of new technology, visitor responsibility, and manager's assistance."
Garry Oye, Chief of Wilderness Stewardship, National Park Service, Washington, D.C.
"Bringing together experts from around the world to this conference will not only benefit the National Parks but will be a benefit to many agencies. Again, our program applauds and supports your efforts in putting this conference together."
CAPT John Leffel, REHS, MPH, Public Health Consultant, US Public Health Service
"Human waste is becoming a severe problem at many popular areas around the world where we climb and trek. This issue is especially difficult to manage in high mountain areas where climbers or trekkers are camped on glacial ice. The technology for managing these waste volumes in a sustainable and maintainable manner is still evolving. This conference will be a good opportunity for land managers, mountaineering and trekking tour operators and guides, international climbing and trekking permit agencies, and individuals to learn about the latest research and practical methods for managing human waste in the alpine environments."
Steve Swenson, President, American Alpine Club
Currently Soliciting Support, Sponsors and Effective Solutions
As a government agency, non profit, business or private individual wishing to be a sponsor of the Exit Strategies Conference, we hope you can provide financial support for a portion of the many logistic and administrative expenses related to the event. For questions, please contact the conference chairman: Roger Robinson.
Conference Sponsors as of September 2010
