#porta potty in oregon

[consumerguide]

The Popularity of Porta Potties in Oregon: A Comprehensive Guide

Porta potties are an essential part of any event or construction site, ensuring the availability of convenient and hygienic restroom facilities. In Oregon, several companies stand out for their exceptional service and variety of portable sanitation solutions. Here's a look at some of the top porta potty providers and why they are highly regarded in the state.

1. Oregon Portable Toilets

Oregon Portable Toilets is known for its extensive inventory and over 15 years of experience. They offer:

A wide selection of toilet styles for different needs.

Clean and hygienic units.

Reliable service with convenient delivery and pick-up options.

Transparent pricing with no hidden fees.

Their expertise makes them a top choice for events and construction sites, ensuring that sanitation needs are met efficiently.

2. VIP Restrooms

VIP Restrooms provides a range of portable restrooms, from standard porta potties to luxury restroom trailers. Their services include:

Fully stocked and sanitized units ready for use.

Weekly service and maintenance.

Availability for large-scale events, construction projects, and more.

They work with local vendors to ensure timely delivery and excellent service across Oregon, making them a reliable option for any occasion.

3. Gresham Porta Potty

Gresham Porta Potty is praised for its customer service and versatility. They offer:

ADA-compliant porta potties for accessibility.

Hand washing stations to promote hygiene.

Trailer-mounted porta potties for mobile worksites.

Their ability to cater to diverse events, from weddings to large festivals, ensures that all guests have access to necessary facilities.

4. PortaPottyPro

PortaPottyPro is one of the best porta potty companies in Oregon, known for its dependable service and high-quality units. Highlights of their service include:

Reliable delivery, maintenance, and removal of units.

A variety of options to suit different event sizes and needs.

Emphasis on cleanliness and customer satisfaction.

Their commitment to providing top-notch portable sanitation solutions makes them a preferred choice for both small gatherings and major events.

Why Porta Potties Are Essential in Oregon

Porta potties play a crucial role in maintaining hygiene and comfort at events and worksites. Here are some reasons why they are indispensable:

Regulatory Compliance: In cities like Portland, local regulations require event organizers to provide a sufficient number of portable restrooms, including ADA-compliant units, to ensure accessibility for all attendees.

Convenience: Porta potties offer a convenient solution for restroom needs in locations without permanent facilities, such as parks, construction sites, and outdoor venues.

Hygiene: Proper sanitation facilities help prevent the spread of germs and diseases, making porta potties a vital part of public health efforts during events and on job sites.

Conclusion

The popularity of porta potties in Oregon is a testament to the importance of accessible and hygienic restroom facilities. Companies like Oregon Portable Toilets, VIP Restrooms, Gresham Porta Potty, and PortaPottyPro provide excellent service and a variety of options to meet the needs of any event or project. Whether you are planning a large festival, a wedding, or managing a construction site, these providers ensure that everyone has access to clean and convenient restrooms.

[southernsepticservice]

Why Rent a Porta Potty?

In this video, we explore the importance of renting porta potties for various events and projects. From outdoor weddings and festivals to construction sites, having clean and convenient restroom facilities is essential. Learn about the flexibility, hygiene, and wide range of options available, from basic units to deluxe models with added comfort features. Watch to see how renting a porta potty can ensure comfort and convenience for your guests or workers, no matter the location or occasion. Contact us today to find the perfect porta potty rental Oregon solution for your needs!

[why-animals-do-the-thing]

California zoo accessibility data dump

I just recently got back from a short (and fully covid-cautious) zoo road trip in Oregon and California, and wanted to share my notes re: accessibility at the facilities I visited. I'll get this all integrated into the spreadsheet, too.

Wildlife Safari - Winston, Oregon

This is a large drive-thru safari park with a free walk-about area attached that contains some small exhibits. Guests stay inside their cars the entire drive-thru, although there's at least one place to stop and sit in a gazebo to rest and use the bathroom (porta-potty only). You can pull over to watch animals for longer, and go through multiple times if you missed anything. It's a long drive-thru and there isn't really a good way to truncate the experience if you've got some kind of emergency. The roads are not flat, but they're well maintained and not bumpy.

The walkabout area is very small and contains bathrooms, food options, and other guest services. The paths are mostly concrete and well tended, although you do have to cross the steam train tracks to get to lion/some of the lemur viewing. I believe the Australia walkabout area was also unpaved. There's lots of parking in a big, flat, paved lot.

Sacramento Zoo - Sacramento, CA

This is a very cute, small inner-city facility - a good option if you don't want to try to walk a huge zoo in one day. There's lots of shade from all the plants and a good amount of benches throughout, including picnic tables with shade canopies. The paths are almost entirely flat and paved, with the exception of a boardwalk ramp up to the giraffe feeding and okapi viewing platforms. The cafe has gluten-free and vegetarian listings (maybe vegan?) on their menu. No straws are provided for animal safety, but if you need one, they can give you a reusable curly-straw from the slushies (kinda long and awkward for a normal cup) as an accommodation. They've got both water fountains and water bottle filling stations. Being build in a larger city park and recreation complex, there isn't a dedicated parking lot just for the zoo: the closest is across the street, shared with another attraction, and is kinda small. I've never had issues finding parking when I've gone, but sometimes it does involve a bunch of walking to get to the zoo entrance - if you have mobility or stamina limitations, probably best to get dropped off at the entrance and wait (there are benches).

San Francisco Zoo - San Francisco, CA

The SF Zoo is huge. There's lots of green / garden / swamp space that doesn't have habitats in it, but it means exhibits can be pretty far away, so plan your route accordingly. (Going out to the grizzly bears is the longest loop). Depending on the time of day, there's not always a ton of shade for guests either. There's a decent amount of benches, and quite a few are in decent proximity to animal viewing. After a somewhat long but not steep hill right at the entrance, the paths are all paved and fairly flat. There's a hill going down into/up from the Australia area / kids playground, but it's the only one I really noticed. There's a long elevated boardwalk through the lemur habitats that connects to the top of the new Madagascar construction - if you can't do stairs, as of Spring 2024, that's the only way to get up there to look down on the mandrills or see the top of the fossa habitat. (It's still under construction, so there might be an elevator in the building in the future). Back by the grizzlies, there's an old indoor rainforest building - while there's buttons to automatically open the door going in, I didn't find any on the first inside door going out. It makes sense they don't want both doors to open at once since it's a bird airlock, but not having independent ones on each door meant the day I used an ECV I got stuck in there until a nice staff member noticed.

All three times I've ever been to SF most of the little food kiosks haven't been open, and the vending machines for drinks have been hit and miss - so bring your own, or stock up at the cafe if you need to have supplies with you - but there are water fountains and water bottle filling stations around the zoo. There are interpretive audio boxes through the zoo in English and Spanish, used with a key you get at the entrance(?), but I heard a lot of complaints in passing about some of them not working. There's lots of parking at the zoo in a flat paved lot, and there's a specific dropoff area on one side for rideshares/mobility needs.

Oakland Zoo - Oakland, CA

To be clear up front - Oakland was the hardest facility to visit on this whole trip, with regards to mobility. We went twice, and I used an ECV (electric scooter) one and walked the other. Neither option was easy and both were exhausting. Oakland is a super hilly facility - you basically have to drive up a major hill to get to the zoo. The bottom half of the lower zoo can only be reached by going down pretty steep paths. The hills are also not graded to be "flat", so if you're in a wheelchair or ECV, you're going to have to lean to compensate for the tilt and balance the chair... while controlling it going down a steep hill. It's exhausting and kinda scary. (I don't even let other people carry my camera because $$, but I had to ask for help so I could focus on driving the ECV on those hills). There's also a lot of areas of the pathways that are not in the best repair, or patterned with pressed-in images, and multiple places actually have brass bugs embedded in the pavement so that they stick out above the surface. Lots of tripping hazards and/or things to rattle your teeth out rolling over. A couple places in the upper zoo (the California wilds area) the paths switch from paved to sand and back again, for drainage, maybe? On the upside, there's a lot of benches everywhere, including directly across from prime viewing areas.

Getting up to the upper zoo requires using a gondola - there's no walking option. You can actually take wheelchairs and ECVs on these, but you have to be ready to advocate for yourself. Normally, they don't stop the carriages completely, and expect people to walk on while they're still moving slowly. You can ask them to slow them down for you (I did, because knee issues plus torque is bad), or stop it completely if you need the time/help. When I took an ECV on, they had me disembark and get in one carriage, and they loaded it into the subsequent ones. This is fine because I can walk and stand on concrete for a while without it, but I'm not sure how that practice would work for people who need their mobility aids the whole time. They were very nice about managing the stopping and the loading and didn't make it feel like an imposition, too. If they stop the carriages completely at any point, there will be a loud buzzer/alarm when the ride starts back up. If you're close, it's pretty loud and startling. As they leave the track at the bottom the gondolas tip and dip a little, which can be scary if you're not expecting it - I think it's just the transition of the car from the loading bay onto the track itself. The rest of the ride is very smooth. The track is pretty high up and gives a great view of the bay and the surrounding cities, but face uphill if you don't do well with heights. Once at the upper zoo, the path from bald eagles through jaguar is mostly a boardwalk, but it's not too bumpy.

Oakland's parking is hard if you're not there early in the day, IMO. The overflow parking gets pretty far from the entrance, and starts to go up the hill towards the upper zoo. If the lot looks busy, drop anyone with mobility/stamina issues off at the entrance before parking. Unlike many other zoos I've visited, Oakland's ECVS have added sunshades, which is really nice (and which I should have used).

Monterey Zoo - Salinas, CA

This is a fairly small facility with most habitats on one level, but some big cats and bears are up a pretty big hill. The walkways are paved and flat, and there's an ADA-graded boardwalk ramp that takes you to the top of the hill. The pipes used for the handrails on both the stairs and the ramp get very hot in the sun, however. There's a boardwalk up to the rhino overlook. They indicate that their bathrooms are accessible, but the ones in the main building didn't have bars for transferring - I didn't check the ones up on the hill. At one point in the day speakers along the path started playing really loud pop music (drowned out the birds) and it was very overwhelming. There's lots of handicapped parking spots across from the front entrance, but if you don't have a tag, the rest of the spots are up a bit of a hill and a small walk from the entrance. They do have a note, though, that they can help if you need accessible parking and don't see any, so you could probably call/have someone to go in and ask for an accommodation.

Sequoia Park Zoo - Eureka, CA

This is another nice small facility, very doable for a half-day trip. The paths are paved and flat, and there's benches available. There's a lot of shade, although it can depend on the time of day, and places to fill a water-bottle. The sky-walk through the redwoods is accessible, but might be a little difficult depending on mobility limitations - its' a very sturdy boardwalk through the canopy of the tall trees. (I had more thoughts on this from my last visit, I'll dig out those notes). If you can do even part of it, it's worth it, and there's places to turn around. Because it's in a residential area of the town there's not a huge dedicated parking lot, but lots of street parking and a decent lot directly across the street. I've never had difficulty finding parking, and you can drop people off at the entrance easily.

[secretdreamlandtaco]

Best Local Roll-Off Dumpster Rental Service in My Area

Introduction

When tackling a house maintenance, production venture, or amazing cleanout, one among the most important challenges is finding out the best way to cast off all that particles. That's the place the Best Local Roll-Off Dumpster Rental Service in My Area comes into play. Renting a dumpster simplifies waste disposal, making it effortless and competent. With myriad features achieveable, know-how what form of dumpster apartment matches your demands can end in principal financial savings and obstacle-unfastened studies.

In this comprehensive assist, we’ll delve into every part you need to realize approximately local roll-off dumpster leases. From comparing economical dumpster rentals close to me to exploring tips on how to uncover the most reliable dumpster apartment services close me, we’ve bought you coated. Whether you're in quest of residential dumpster rentals near me or in quest of commercial ideas, permit’s take a closer appear!

Best Local Roll-Off Dumpster Rental Service in My Area

Choosing the Best Local Roll-Off Dumpster Rental Service in My Area requires interested by a number of reasons which include pricing, carrier great, and buyer opinions. A roll-off dumpster is an significant resolution for numerous tasks like abode renovations, backyard cleanups, or even best commercial production jobs. When studying your features:

Check Reviews: Look for customer testimonials on-line to gauge provider fine. Compare Prices: Different businesses may well fee varying costs; do not accept the primary possibility. Ask About Sizes: Ensure they've a number sizes relevant to your precise task demands.

By concentrating on those supplies, you are able to pick out a respectable provider that meets your requisites devoid of breaking the bank.

Understanding Roll-Off Dumpsters What is a Roll-Off Dumpster?

Roll-off dumpsters are vast bins designed for trouble-free transport and loading of several varieties of waste. They’re frequently added by means of truck and placed on your house till stuffed.

How Do Roll-Off Dumpsters Work?

Once you order a roll-off dumpster from one of the vital native dumpster rental products and services, Porta Potty Rentals in Oregon will probably be dropped off at your place. You fill it with waste over a pre-agreed duration earlier than the corporation returns to assemble it.

Varieties of Waste Handled

Different condo prone might offer dumpsters acceptable for:

Construction Debris Yard Waste Household Junk

Make bound to determine what styles of waste each and every provider handles whilst on the search for dumpster rental for domicile projects near me.

Benefits of Renting a Roll-Off Dumpster Convenience

Renting a roll-off dumpster saves effort and time as you won’t want distinct journeys to the landfill.

Cost-Efficiency

While a few could imagine that renting is pricey, many regional facilities supply competitive rates—you may often in finding low-priced dumpster condo close to me chances in case you shop around.

Safety

Using

[greshamportapottyrentals]

GRESHAM PORTA POTTY RENTALS

In the scenic city of Gresham, Oregon, just east of Portland, outdoor events, construction sites, and public gatherings are common sights. Whether you're planning a wedding, organizing a festival, or setting up a construction project, the need for adequate sanitation facilities is universal. This is where porta potty rentals come into play, offering a variety of solutions tailored to meet specific needs. In Gresham, rental options range from regular units to luxury trailers, each designed to enhance comfort and convenience.

1. Regular Porta Potties

The backbone of any large outdoor event or construction site is the regular porta potty. These are the standard, no-frills units that provide basic amenities. Typically equipped with a toilet and hand sanitizer dispenser, they are practical and cost-effective. For events or sites in Gresham that don't require luxurious setups but demand functionality, regular porta potties are often sufficient. Their ease of placement and robust design make them ideal for most temporary needs.

2. Deluxe Porta Potties

Deluxe porta potties step up the comfort level by including additional features such as a flushing toilet and a small sink with running water. This type of unit is particularly popular for events where guests might spend more time, such as outdoor concerts or family reunions, providing a more pleasant user experience. In Gresham, where outdoor activities are frequent during the mild summer months, deluxe porta potties offer a balance between luxury and practicality.

3. Wheelchair Accessible Units

Accessibility is a critical consideration at any gathering, and porta potty rentals in Gresham address this with wheelchair accessible units. These porta potties are larger than standard units and feature amenities designed for ease of use, including handrails, wider door frames, and more substantial interior space. Ensuring that everyone has access to proper facilities, wheelchair accessible porta potties are a must-have for public events, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity.

4. Portable Handwashing Stations

With health and sanitation being more prominent than ever, portable handwashing stations have become an indispensable part of outdoor events and job sites. These stations provide a hygienic solution for washing hands, equipped with soap dispensers, paper towels, and foot-operated water pumps. In Gresham, where events might involve food service or activities that get hands dirty, having these stations available helps maintain cleanliness and reduces the spread of germs.

5. Luxury Trailers

For high-end events such as weddings or corporate retreats in Gresham, luxury restroom trailers offer the ultimate in comfort and elegance. These trailers are a far cry from your standard porta potty, featuring amenities such as air conditioning, lighting, mirrors, and even sound systems. They come in various sizes and styles, capable of accommodating events ranging from small gatherings to large-scale celebrations. Luxury trailers provide a restroom experience that rivals indoor facilities, ensuring that the comfort of guests is a top priority.

Choosing the Right Porta Potty Rental in Gresham

Selecting the appropriate type of porta potty rental depends on several factors including the nature of the event, expected foot traffic, and budget. Event organizers should consider:

Duration and size of the event: Longer events with more guests may benefit from having deluxe or luxury options.

Guest expectations: Higher expectations require higher-end facilities like luxury trailers.

Accessibility needs: Ensure compliance with ADA regulations by including wheelchair accessible units.

Health and sanitation: Especially for events involving food, portable handwashing stations are essential.

Conclusion

Porta potty rentals in Gresham, OR, cater to a diverse range of needs, from basic requirements at local construction sites to luxurious accommodations for upscale events. By understanding the different types available—regular, deluxe, wheelchair accessible, portable handwashing stations, and luxury trailers—event organizers and project managers can ensure that they select the right facilities that will enhance the comfort and success of their outdoor gatherings or projects.

[medfordportapottyrentals]

MEDFORD PORTA POTTY RENTALS

When organizing an outdoor event or managing a construction site in Medford, Oregon, one crucial aspect that must not be overlooked is sanitation. Porta potty rentals are essential for ensuring comfort and convenience for attendees and workers alike. In Medford, there's a variety of portable restroom options to meet different needs, ranging from basic units to luxury trailers. This article explores the different types of porta potty rentals available in Medford, OR, including regular, deluxe, wheelchair accessible units, portable handwashing stations, and luxury trailers.

Regular Porta Potties

Regular porta potties are the most common choice for basic sanitation needs and are typically seen at construction sites, festivals, and large public events. These units are cost-effective and functional. Each regular porta potty includes a toilet seat, a holding tank, and a hand sanitizer dispenser. Although they are the simplest option available, they effectively serve the purpose of providing essential bathroom facilities where no permanent bathrooms are available.

Deluxe Porta Potties

Deluxe porta potties step up in terms of amenities compared to regular porta potties. These units often include additional features such as a flushing toilet, a foot-operated sink, a mirror, and sometimes even a small shelf or coat hook. The inclusion of a flushing mechanism and a sink allows for a more hygienic environment and a better user experience. Deluxe porta potties are ideal for events where a touch of comfort is appreciated, such as weddings, private parties, or corporate events.

Wheelchair Accessible Porta Potties

Accessibility is a critical consideration at any gathering, and wheelchair accessible porta potties ensure that all attendees, regardless of mobility, can have safe and comfortable access to restroom facilities. These units are more spacious than standard porta potties and are designed with a wide door, a flat floor plan for easy wheelchair maneuverability, and handrails to aid in mobility. The space also allows for caregivers to assist if necessary, making these porta potties a vital addition to any event catering to a diverse crowd.

Portable Handwashing Stations

Hygiene continues to be a top priority at gatherings, particularly in the wake of health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Portable handwashing stations are an excellent addition to any porta potty rental, providing attendees with a way to wash their hands with soap and running water. These stations are equipped with fresh water, waste water tanks, soap dispensers, and paper towels. They can be stationed independently or next to porta potties to enhance cleanliness and convenience for users.

Luxury Trailer Porta Potties

For high-end events such as outdoor weddings, executive parties, or important social gatherings, luxury trailer porta potties offer the ultimate in comfort and elegance. These trailers are designed to resemble a high-quality indoor restroom, featuring flushing toilets, running water, vanity mirrors, lighting, and even climate control. Some luxury trailers also include multiple stalls, urinals, and even lounge areas with couches and music systems, providing a superior restroom experience that can elevate the sophistication of any event.

Choosing the Right Option

When deciding on the type of porta potty rental for your event or project in Medford, consider several factors. The nature of the event, expected attendance, duration, and budget all play a part in determining the most suitable type of portable restroom. For longer events or those with a larger crowd, having a variety of units, including wheelchair accessible and handwashing stations, can improve guest comfort and satisfaction.

Local providers in Medford offer tailored solutions and can help event planners and project managers choose the right mix of porta potty rentals to meet their specific needs. It's advisable to book the rentals well in advance, especially during peak seasons, to ensure availability.

Conclusion

Effective sanitation solutions are vital for the success of any outdoor event or ongoing construction project. In Medford, OR, the variety of porta potty rentals available makes it possible to provide adequate and comfortable sanitation facilities for any situation. From basic units for public gatherings to luxurious trailers for exclusive events, there is a porta potty option to meet every need. By choosing the right type of porta potty, event organizers and site managers in Medford can enhance the overall experience and satisfaction of all attendees and participants.

[queerpyracy]

it’s been a long time since i’ve been mean about portland on here but the city of portland oregon has decided to install fun and decorative public porta potties instead of idk doing literally anything meaningful to help their homeless population not be homeless anymore

[ohmysmosh]

7, 8, 19, and 20 for the smoshblr asks! (hope your day gets better)

7. Favorite thing about having a smosh blog

The community! Getting to post and interact with this group of people is awesome, every on tumblr is so creative and talented and funny and it’s a great place to go to when I need a pick me up

8. Least favorite thing about having a smosh blog

Not being able to have time to keep up with it. Recently I’ve been swamped with school and work so free time is limited, I feel like I’m withdrawing from the community against my own will.

19. Embarrassing fact/story

When I was in highschool I was trying to use a porta-potty but it was night so it was totally dark. I didn’t realize the lid was down, and I hover over the seat because it’s gross, so I peed on the lid (just a bit) before realizing. It was so dark that I didn’t know how to clean up so I just left it. Thankfully I didn’t get any on myself but yeah that was a mess.

20. Fact that make me sound cool

Humble brag time, I was the lead character in a mini series being produced by a film team from another high school. It was really fun and we went all over Oregon to film it. It took my whole summer after senior year. The bummer is it never got fully completed (yet, but probs not ever) so it was never released. But there is a teaser for it which I’ll link here if anyone want to see it (I’m the one with the long blonde hair)

[usfwspacific]

Nestucca Bay NWR Volunteer: ‘If you want something good to happen, you have to do something about it’

Our 9,382 dedicated U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service volunteers in the Pacific Region gave an incredible 198,914 hours of their time to conservation in 2018. That is the equivalent of 24,864 eight-hour work days and 95 full-time staff members! These incredible folks deserve a huge thank you, and during National Volunteer Week (April 7-13) we are aiming to do just that. This is the first in a series of blogs about U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service volunteers and projects. Share your story of service or honor an outstanding volunteer by telling us about it with #iServeBecause, #volunteer and #NationalVolunteerWeek on Facebook or Twitter.

By Brent Lawrence, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service public affairs officer based in the Pacific Regional Office in Portland, Oregon.

Lee Sliman has a simple philosophy about life.

“If you want something good to happen, you have to do something about it. I’ve volunteered all my life,” she says. “My family are volunteers and so am I.”

Lee has volunteered at the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex for the past seven years.

“She is our on-site care-taker at Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and she donates a fantastic amount of time and effort to the refuge,” says Lila Bowen, volunteer coordinator at Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex. “Lee leads wreath-making and birding workshops, and she assists in a local birding festival partnership and interpretive kayak trips. Plus, she is a consistent welcoming face at the refuge, greeting visitors and answering questions.”

Lee also helps maintain and restore habitat by planting thousands of plants at the refuge each year.

“My personal bailiwick is that I’m a plant geek. I do a lot of maintenance of public areas, gardens and plantings – the more public-friendly places,” Lee says. “I’ve been an artist and gardening professional for most of my life. I used to make holly wreaths, and decided to teach people to make wreaths with our native plants. That way they could learn about plants. I found if you touch something and work with it, you’re more likely to remember it.”

Born in Ohio, Lee moved to the Oregon coast in 2000, and she’s been volunteering at the refuge since 2011.

“They’re doing good stuff here, and I want to help these people do good things,” Lee says. “My favorite thing is when I’m teaching something and people have an ah-ha moment. It’s special when something clicks. But my second favorite time is when I’m alone and the wildlife get used to me and come out.”

Lee’s attention to little details has a huge impact on visitors.

One visitor sent the refuge this message after a visit to Nestucca: "The refuge had a bouquet of flowers in the porta potty. What a lovely and caring surprise. Someone should be commended for going the extra mile."

“I have found that keeping a bouquet there makes a difference in how people take care of the place,” Lee says. “If they see personal interaction and caring for it, then maybe they’ll care for it as well.”

[jovickworld]

Is it me, or is the Porta potty mocking me and my beautiful sunset picture? Can anyone else hear it laughing how blue it is. “People crap I me!” It yells....Shut up. #mock #mockme #photobomb #sunsets #jovickbuiltfernvalley #jovick #jovickbuilt #contractor #generalcontractor #construction #newconstruction #remodels #residential #commercial #home #homebuilding #homebuilder #customhomes #custom #leed #usgbc #earthadvantage #netzero #oregon #roguevalley #ashland #carpentry #finehomebuilding #homestead #homesteading (at Southern Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIXBUc-JMG-/?igshid=10vt6bof7y9gu

[seenonmytrail]

Mt Hood 50k PR - Race recap

I decided to give the 50 K another stab over this last weekend.

It had been a year, and although I signed up for Mount Hood 50K in January, I wasn’t quick enough and ended up on the waitlist somewhere way down the line.

When I was emailed to see if I wanted to participate, I had seven days to prepare.. That isn’t very much time!

Luckily I had been doing some runs that were three and four hours long a few weeks before the race, (including one at Waldo Lake that ended up being 19 miles about 10 days before the race, where I biffed it on the trail, and I still have bruises from). Still, I definitely would not consider myself trained for a 50k! In fact, I was probably trained just enough to get myself into trouble.

I like potential disasters a lot, so this was a perfect opportunity handed to me.

My pre-race prep included looking for campsites and talking a friend into coming along –and then also talking her into volunteering.

I was so glad that Lynn joined me! And, I didn’t realize this, but when she decided to volunteer, it secured us a campsite right next to the start and finish, which I would’ve had some difficulty finding that close to the race.

I cut back on running considerably the last 6 days before the race, because my legs had been feeling rather tired, and I ran 14 miles on the PCT (including climbing) the day before I was offered the spot.. and the 19 mile run was three days before that.

It was a conscious choice to put my energy into resting and trying to get better sleep, eating a little bit less for that week and to withhold running to create a desire to run far: Fresh legs and a fresh mind.

I still managed to do a couple of short runs just to burn some calories during race week, but none of them were more than 40 minutes.

PRERACE The day before, I hardly ate until about 12 pm, when I found an incredible Mexican restaurant in Salem Oregon, and ate one and a half fish tacos.

The tacos were bigger than I expected and I left the tortillas off the second one. The vegetable bar was great- I ate a bunch of pickled carrots!!.. I also had a craving for Pepsi (and picked some up at the store), which I drank, along with coffee, on the way to the campsite at Clackamas lake. I made sure to drink plenty of water once I got to the lake that evening.

NOTE: This may not be the best nutrition plan for everyone else, but it sounded good to me.

Unfortunately I kept stopping on the way to Clackamas lake, and didn’t end up getting there until maybe 5 PM. At that point I set up the tent and started walking out of the campground to watch the 50 miler finishers.

On the way out, I ran into my friend, Lynn. We parked her car and went to the race start, where we watched some very inspiring ultra runners finishing a long, long day.

I got to say “hi” to the race directors and feel the vibe coming off of the finish line. There’s nothing like hearing the music and seeing exhausted, but happy, faces who have just completed something monumental.

After a little bit I decided to buy my dinner there, and purchased a pulled pork sandwich and some coleslaw. This wasn’t my planned race night meal, but I didn’t realize the drive from Government Camp to Clackamas lake took so long– and driving over that pass freaks me out!

We hit the sack about 10 PM and I set my alarm for 5 AM even though check-in time was 6:30 to 7:30 AM.

I did not sleep particularly well, and even had some bad dreams about my kids, and in the night Lynn stepped on my glasses! Luckily, I had plenty of contact lenses and never intended to wear the glasses to race in.

RACE DAY Despite the lack of sleep, I felt pretty good in the morning when I got up, and went right to making some coffee on the camp stove.

For breakfast, I had some bacon and potatoes that I had cooked up previously and brought with me, warmed up on the stove with some eggs. (I can run a 5K on oatmeal, but I don’t think I can do it for 50k.) I also threw down some blueberries which were on the edge of going bad!

At about 7 o'clock I went to check in with Lynn. It was still pretty cold and I kept my jacket on with my shorts and Orange Mud race tank. I tried to wait at the start, but I got so cold I ended up going over by Gone creek in the sunshine and sitting there for about 20 minutes and stretching.

Finally, we lined up to start and I set my jacket off to the side. I had given pacing some thought, and decided to break the course up into uphill and flat/downhill sections. The first part of the race was downhill, so instead of going out slowly, my plan was to go a little bit faster and then intentionally slow down on the first uphill section, then go faster again on the downhill.. (repeat until not possible).

There were quite a few ladies in front of me and of course lots of guys!

I kept with a woman in Nike Pro compression shorts until about mile three when I decided she was going a little faster than I wanted to go.. she ended up finishing about 20 minutes ahead of me, so that was probably a good choice!

My goal was to average nine to 10 minute miles on the downhills, and 12 to 13 minute miles on the uphills.. hopefully ending up about 11 minute miles which is close to my PR.–I also figured that I might totally die anywhere around mile 15. –Somehow, crashing and burning didn’t sound like a bad plan. I wanted to take a little risk, rather than regret not doing so.

When I hit the first aid station, I saw Lynn there with the other volunteers. I was happy to have made it that far and mile six came faster than my watch said. The Garmin 735XT said that I had only reached a little past 5 miles, but I think that it was in the early stages of trying to figure out where the race was with GPS. Regardless, I lost about a mile in the first section of the race on my watch, and was actually running faster than I thought I was!

At this aid station, I made a full stop, just like at all the others. They had cans of Coke there, and Pringles! I had Skout bars and gels on me, but I was saving them. I ate a slice of watermelon, about four chips, and half a can of coke.

Since it was a cupless race, I didn’t realize that I might not see Coke in cans again later! It was much more convenient that way than at later aid stations, when I tried to pour it into my flask, when my flask already had water in it.

After the quick refuel, there was lots of climbing to the next stop. Much of the segment I was running alone, as we had spread out after the first section.

There were plenty of rocks and roots to pay attention to, but most of the trail in between was a fine powdered dirt. The only other runners I saw were at a bit of a distance ahead of me or behind me every once in a while appearing through the trees. I was grateful for the Orange confidence markers that were left, as well as good signage at connecting trails.

When I reached the second aid station, I was still feeling good, and looked for a way to get some Coke. I think I dumped out my flask, and poured it halfway full with Coke, drank that, then filled it with water again. This took a little time, but I don’t think it hurt me in the end. I also ate one of the new mystery gels that I had been given to test. It hit the spot!

A couple of people passed me at the aid station and I decided not to worry about it. I was running my own race, and that’s all that mattered.

I headed out onto another uphill section and was surprised in 2 miles by one of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen in a race! Mount Hood appeared through the trees in a breathtaking way.

All of that climbing, and the reward was there to see in full glory! A few minutes later and I could no longer look at the view because there were runners barreling downhill towards me!!

The top males were close on each other’s heels at that point, and I did my best to move off the trail for each one of them. It’s something else to see someone running trails at that speed. I didn’t want to get ran over, but I was certainly impressed.. and it wasn’t much longer until the elite ladies were also tearing down the trail.

I hit the crest of that hill knowing that I hadn’t even hit halfway in the race, and still had a couple miles to get to the next aid station. I was starting to feel the need to use the restroom and, unfortunately, this kind of thing can’t seem to be avoided in a 50K.

Arriving at the turnaround aid station, I asked if they had a porta-potty and they did not. They said they had plenty of bushes and wet wipes, but with that many people there I was feeling a little shy! I let a couple of people go ahead of me mainly because I did not want them to catch me using the restroom. I don’t know if I ever caught them again– and I don’t really care. What had to be done, had to be done!

After scrambling back out of the trees, I hit the trail again and headed out for the remaining 17-something miles. I was feeling a little lighter, and also realizing I probably needed to fuel more.

I came down the hill and saw who had been running behind me. It seemed to take forever to get to the forest service road aid station.

At this point, exhaustion was starting to creep in. I wasn’t too concerned about how long I would take at the aid station.. I took my flask and poured water over my head.

Immediately, and aid station volunteer noticed and offered to sponge me off with some water from an orange bucket. That sounded like a much better plan than the one going through my head which was to sit down in the nearest Creek before moving on.

She started to put the wet sponges is on me and I couldn’t help grabbing them and making sure I was quite soaked before I left. My phone got wet, so, after being reassured that it would make it to the start, I left it with a volunteer.

The whole getting wet business may sound a bit ridiculous, but I swear this was a game changer! I don’t like being wet when I am running, but being 10 to 20° cooler feeling has an amazing affect! I had energy again!!! I ate another gel and drank a little Coke, and ate a couple chips. It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to keep me going.

After leaving the station, I came across a man who seemed to be running about the same pace. He was right behind me and we ran together for almost the entire segment. I was in the front, and he Supermanned it at one point. Luckily he was OK. This was kind of technical, and it could’ve easily been me. I probably tripped a couple of times but, managed not to fall somehow.

Approaching the Little Crater aid station for the second time, I saw Lynn again. She was smiling and taking pictures and I gave her a big old hug. And then I did quite a bit of complaining. Someone asked me if I needed anything, and I said “a helicopter” …jokingly of course! But, that’s how I felt with 10 miles to go.

For some reason I thought I had only 5 miles to go to the next aid station, but Timothy lake looked enormous! I ran into a group on horseback in here, and moved over and got still for them to pass.

How long would it take me to run to the next station around that lake ?? I didn’t want to even think about it. I kept telling myself to just run. My words of confidence to myself were, “it is an ultra. It’s supposed to hurt.” “You can do this. You can do anything for a few hours”..

I was in the pain cave. This is the point when I wondered if running 30 miles in training would actually help.

Coming around Timothy lake before heading to the last aid station, I started to look at the total time on my watch and wondered if I could make it to the finish in time to beat my goal of just finishing in 11 minute miles… Under 5:46. That would mean a PR. It would also mean I would have to keep my legs moving in a fashion that somewhat resembles running, and not start walking!

Miles kept clicking by slowly, then there was another view of Mount Hood across the lake. It was breathtaking, and if I was done running, it would’ve been an excellent place to sit down and drink something cold, with my feet in the water… But I had about an hour left to run!

Eventually I made it across a dam and saw the final aid station. There was someone misting people, and I made sure to get fully sprayed, as I had dried out completely from the last sponging! It was refreshing to say the least.

I wasn’t sure how much I needed to feel at this point but didn’t want to crash. I ate half of my skout bar and took my flask and put half ginger ale and half Glukose drink in it. I wasn’t caring the flask full because it had to be scrunched down to keep it from pounding me on the breastbone.

I couldn’t remember whether the terrain was uphill or downhill for the last section, and no longer had my phone to consult the map. I just decided to do my best to keep my feet jogging. It started downhill and then went uphill again.

Somewhere in here, I pulled off in the bushes to go to the restroom again. I was doing a good job of drinking and I will never feel bad about stopping because I’m hydrating well. I’m still new to ultras, but I have ran races dehydrated before and won’t take that risk again.

A man passed me somewhere near mile 28, and I had a man close behind me for miles. If I ’t knew how close I was to the finish line I might have given it more effort.

Soon, I started to see little cabins, and the thought occurred to me I might be getting near the finish line. My watch read that I still had a mile to go (One can never trust their watch in an ultra! I have been wrong the other way and had another mile to go and I thought I was done- Silver Falls).

A few strides later, and I could hear people at the finish line.. and then I saw it! Was the clock correct? Could that really be an 11 after the five hours? How in the world could that be?? I was surprised to be the first master female (Which scored my some new Oofos sandals, though I was still more than an hour behind the first female overall!) and happy beyond belief.

(My post race shock selfie #idontdoselfies)

POST RACE I beat my own expectations by 30 minutes, and I happily crossed the line with a massive PR that I can only attribute to a beautiful course, (without 5000 feet of climbing), keeping cool, and making plenty of maintenance stops. It sure wasn’t the long training runs!

I’ve joked about retiring from the 50k, but this course actually makes me want to give it another shot. Maybe it takes five or six before you begin to figure out how to do well at them. I still don’t think that ultra running is my best game, but perhaps there is hope for improvement and satisfaction in learning and growing in the long haul!

GRATITUDE I’m particularly thankful for my sister and brother-in-law who watched the boys while I went to the race. They kept them very entertained and the boys really enjoy spending time with their Aunt Andrea and Uncle Chuck.

I’m also grateful for my dad and mom who have watched the boys when I went out on some adventure runs that ended up being my only long training runs for this race.

And, of course, I owe much to my husband, who does not come to any of my races, but shows unfailing support in his own way by working diligently to support our family and fund my crazy escapades, and who has tolerated my intense need for running therapy over the years. Thanks Babe.

[secretdreamlandtaco]

“Porta Potties for Parties: Convenience at Your Fingertips”

Introduction

Throwing a party is no small feat. From the guest list to the catering, every detail matters. One often overlooked aspect of event planning is restroom facilities. Whether you're hosting an outdoor wedding, a family reunion, or a festival, providing adequate bathroom facilities is essential. Enter porta potties—the unsung heroes of outdoor events. In this article, we'll explore the myriad benefits of renting portable restrooms and why they are the ultimate solution for your next celebration.

Porta Potties for Parties: Convenience at Your Fingertips

When it comes to Porta Potty Rentals in Oregon convenience during events, porta potties stand out as an efficient solution. Imagine hosting a party in a park or your backyard; the last thing you want is a long line of guests waiting for access to a restroom inside your home or venue. With porta potty rentals, you can provide multiple units that cater to your guests' needs without disrupting the flow of your event.

Why Choose Portable Toilet Rental?

Portable toilet rental has become an essential service for various events and occasions. Not only do they offer convenience, but they also promote hygiene and comfort. Here’s why you should consider them:

Accessibility: Portable toilets can be set up in virtually any location. Hygiene: Modern porta potties come equipped with hand sanitizers and are regularly cleaned. Cost-Effective: Compared to traditional restroom facilities, portable options can be more affordable. Types of Porta Potty Rentals Available Standard Porta Potty Rental

The most basic option available is the standard porta potty rental. This unit typically includes:

A toilet A urinal (in some models) Hand sanitizer dispenser

These units are ideal for large gatherings where basic restroom needs must be met without breaking the bank.

Luxury Porta Potty Rental

If you're looking to impress your guests at an upscale event, luxury porta potty rentals are worth considering. These units often come equipped with:

Flushing toilets Sinks with running water Air conditioning

They provide a more sophisticated experience while still offering all the conveniences of traditional restrooms.

Event Porta Potty Rental

Event-specific porta potties are designed with features tailored to specific occasions like festivals or weddings. They may include features such as:

Larger capacity Climate control options Enhanced privacy measures Porta Potty Rental Cost Breakdown

Understanding the costs associated with renting portable restrooms can help you budget appropriately for your event.

| Type of Rental | Average Cost per Day | Features Included | |----------------------------|----------------------|------------------------------------------------| | Standard Porta Potty | $75 - $150 | Basic amenities | | Luxury Porta Potty | $200 - $500 | Flushing toilets, running water | | Event-Specific Units | $150 - $400 | Tailored amenities based on event requirements |

Factors Affecting Porta Potty Rental Cost Duration

[mysterykidscasefiles]

Can you do dialogue 11 Niel & Coraline please

“You don’t have to do this.”“I wish that were true.”

 Here you go!

Time Period: First Summer

“Coraline!” Neil called out after her.

Coraline froze just outside of the Mystery Shack.

“Coraline, where are you going?”” Neil asked as came to a halt behindher.  

The Oregon night air was crisp and cool, but Coraline wasn’t wearing herusual yellow jacket. That wasn’t like her.

Coraline turned and faced him with a smile. “Oh, nowhere. I was justgoing to the porta potty outside. The toilet inside is broken.”

Neil frowned. He wasn’t always the best at telling if people were lyingto him, but he knew for a fact the toilet was working fine. And even if itwasn’t, it wasn’t like Coraline to just ignore the problem without telling anyoneabout it.

“You’re going to look for that monster, aren’t you?”

Coraline stiffened, and for a moment, it looked like she was thinking upanother lie to tell him. Then, her face fell into a calm, straightforwardexpression.

“It’s only mad at me because I messed up those stupid rocks,” she explained. “I’m the onethat has to fix them, and I have to do it on my own because that thing hasproven that it’s not afraid to hurt you guys to get to me.”

“But it’s so dark! I thought we were going to wait until morning and wecan all go. It will be much safer that way,” Neil insisted.

“The longer we wait, the more the monster is going to try and attack us.Mabel already got hurt. I’m going now.”

She turned her back to him. The dark forest looming before her.

“Coraline! You don’t have to do this!” Neil pleaded.

Coraline hesitated for a second, and Neil hoped that meant she wouldturn back around.

Instead, however, she just shook her head. “I wish that were true,” shesaid before she started walking towards the forest again.

Neil wished he had the forethought to let the others know Coraline wasacting suspicious before he came out here to confront her. If he went backinside to tell them, he would lose sight of Coraline through the trees.

He did theonly thing he could think to do.

“Well, I’mcoming with you!” Neil announced as he broke into a jog to catch up, tryingdesperately to ignore how spooky the forest looked at night. He knew howdangerous it could be during the day, but at night… would they even make itback home alive?

“What?” Coraline asked angrily. “No! You can’t come! It’s too dangerous!”

“Aren’t you always talking about how we have to stick together?” Neilreminded her. “And you know the rule, no one is allowed to go into the forestalone.”

Frustrated, Coraline stopped walking and turned to face him once again. “Neil, I told you. It’s best foreveryone if I take care of this by my-.”

“No, it’s not best for everyone!” Neil snapped. “I’m tired of my friendsgoing off and doing dangerous things on their own. Norman did the same thingwith Aggie, and I’m sick of it! I thought the Mystery Kids were supposed tostick together?”

Coraline stared at him, her mouth parting in surprise. “I’m not goingback in, Neil,” she said, her tone final. “I’m taking care of this tonight.”

“I know…” Neil said with a nodded. “And you should know I’m coming withyou.”

[therogueadventure]

BFE Oregon...but they have decent beer and a porta potty that smells like cotton candy! . . #rogueelement #adventure #explore #outdoors #travel #travelshow #overland #offroad #overlanding #rhinorack #sloopimports #rhinoadventuregear #leitnerdesigns #ramtrucks #broncbox #silipint #drinktanks #whiskeyhilljerky #10barrelbrewing (at Beatty, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwvJsLoHK7m/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=10ahcy16ikelq

[ntrending]

These toilets use worms to compost your poop, and they are our future

New Post has been published on https://nexcraft.co/these-toilets-use-worms-to-compost-your-poop-and-they-are-our-future/

These toilets use worms to compost your poop, and they are our future

A vermicomposting toilet in Valhalla Provincial Park, British Columbia (BC Parks/)

When I visited Squamish, British Columbia for a rock climbing trip, I did not know I was also visiting the origin of a backcountry toilet revolution. One day during the trip, my gut rumbled just as we reached the granite cliff we’d spend the rest of the day scaling. I thought back to the little building we’d passed hiking in, which looked like a typical wood-sided pit toilet, except for the smaller structure attached behind it.

I hiked back to it and opened the door to reveal what a sign inside informed me was a “Urine Diverting, Vermicomposting Toilet.” Inside the toilet, a conveyor belt tilted up toward the back of the building. Pee runs down the conveyor belt and into the soil, where it’s a nutrient source for plants and microbes, I read. Meanwhile, poo is transported to a chamber behind the toilet, where earthworms and other soil organisms eat and decompose it. After doing my business, I pumped a pedal next to the toilet five times, which spun the conveyor belt toward the poo chamber. I returned to the cliff and excitedly told my friends about the coolest toilet I had ever seen.

Increasingly, land managers are looking to new ways to solve the problem of human waste in the backcountry, where the convenience of modern plumbing is unavailable. There are more people enjoying public lands than ever before, and that means there’s more poop than ever before. Across the past decade, there’s been a 15 percent increase in visits to Bureau of Land Management lands and an 18 percent increase in national parks. National park visits have topped 300 million for four years in a row. While the simple cathole method—digging a hole and burying your waste in it—may have once sufficed in many areas, the sheer volume of feces today presents a hazard to health, waterway pollution, and aesthetics; no one wants to see partially buried turds and TP when they’re in the backcountry (or anywhere, really). “What tends to happen is that over time, as visitation generally tends to increase, that dispersal strategy [of digging catholes] no longer works,” says Ben Lawhorn, education director for Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, an organization focused on educating the public about responsible outdoor practices.

Historically, the next step up from the cathole was a pit toilet; literally, a deep pit in the ground with a privy over it. When one pit fills up, it’s covered with soil, and the privy is moved to a new pit. But it’s unknown how long it takes the contents of these pits to break down, making the live bacteria, viruses, and protozoa in the poo a continued public health threat. In fact, the U.S. EPA, under the Safe Drinking Water Act, considers pit toilets to be “large capacity cesspools.” The agency banned the construction of new pit toilets in 2000 and is giving the Forest Service until 2024 to shut down its existing facilities.

But if you can’t flush the waste away or simply dig a pit, what other options are there for remote areas? Many national parks and other public lands use vault toilets, which are kind of like pit toilets except they keep waste sealed in an impermeable chamber, so it doesn’t leach into surrounding soil and groundwater. A porta pottie is technically a vault toilet. Most restrooms you’d visit at a park parking area are vault toilets. Although a well-maintained one isn’t supposed to smell, my experience tells me they almost always do.

A composting toilet along the Appalachian Trail (John Hedrick/)

But in remote areas without direct road access, maintaining vault toilets is a burden to park agencies. Facilities staff need to pump out the waste, then haul it all out to be treated and disposed of. As a recent REI Co-Op Journal article points out, officials spend about $20,000 yearly using helicopters to fly out human waste in 55-gallon oil drums off Mt. Rainier. At Rocky Mountain National Park, llamas carry bins of waste down the Longs Peak trail. And along the Appalachian Trail, volunteer crews drive out to remote vault toilets in a truck equipped with septic pumper nicknamed the “Big Gulp” and bring the sewage back to an RV septic treatment center.

The difficulty and hazard of hauling raw sewage has led managers to consider other options. As early as 1980, remote national parks have used composting toilets. A 1995 Forest Service publication describes a basic design: a privy atop a “digester tank.” Toilet users add a scoop of carbon-rich material, usually wood shavings or sawdust, after going. The woody material is supposed to control moisture and balance the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of the waste, making it an ideal food for microbes.

In some areas, these simple composting toilets have been successful. There are many along the Appalachian Trail, according to John Hedrick, vice president of operations of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, which maintains 240 miles of the AT between Pennsylvania and Virginia. Trail workers construct two bins, building a toilet over one. When one fills up with waste and wood shavings, which takes about two years, that bin is sealed up and the toilet structure is moved to the adjacent bin. After at least two more years, that sealed bin is considered composted and the contents resemble soil. Volunteers sort errant trash out of the compost and then bury the decomposed waste in the woods. The process eliminates the need to pump out vault toilets and the public seems to like them better, too. “[Visitors] prefer the composting toilets,” says Hedrick. “They don’t smell as bad.”

While Hedrick says that the composting toilets have worked out fine across the seven years they’ve had them, other locations haven’t had as much success. Back in British Columbia, officials struggled with a number of “composting” toilets not actually composting—the waste and sawdust mixture failed to heat up with microbial activity, which is necessary to create compost. So they started to test a new design by Geoff Hill, director at Toilet Tech Solutions.

Some of Toilet Tech Solutions’ vermicomposting potties at Zion National Park (Geoff Hill/Toilet Tech Solutions/)

The problem, according to Hill, was mixing urine and solid waste. When the two are combined in the chamber, a lot of ammonia forms—that’s the compound responsible for the sharp scent of a vault toilet. This ammonia is kills off would-be decomposer microbes. In his dissertation research, Hill found that all of the so-called composting toilets he studied in western Canada and the Pacific Northwest failed to produce compost. “None of the composting toilets I visited made compost,” says Hill. “Ammonia is toxic and you can use it as a commercial cleaner. So now you’ve started sterilizing this waste, making it toxic to all forms of life. The whole concept of a composting toilet is a total joke.”

Inspired by urine-separating, vermicomposting (worm composting) toilets he saw in European backcountry areas like the Alps, Hill created a new design—the conveyor belt toilet I used in Squamish. Because urine is diverted to a septic field below the toilet, there’s no ammonia problem. Bugs can get to work decomposing the poo.

Hill’s first toilet was built about 10 years ago at the Smoke Bluffs, another park in Squamish, an “extremely popular” climbing area with 1,500 visitors on busy summer weekends, according to Brian Moorhead, the Vice Chair of the Squamish Access Society, an organization protecting climber access in the Squamish area.

Before the vermicomposting toilet, the Smoke Bluffs visitors used porta potties, which had to be pumped out every week, costing $90 per toilet per month to maintain, says Moorhead. While the new vermicomposting toilet cost $15,000 in Canadian dollars, it’s needed little in maintenance since. The toilets have to be “raked” occasionally: the poo and TP in the front of the decomposing chamber moved to the back, where the waste can decompose more fully while new material accumulates in the front. Despite how many visitors the park sees, Moorhead says they didn’t do their first raking until three or four years in. “That [toilet] was done as a test case and proved very, very successful,” he says. “We see it as the way forward.”

That toilet’s success had led to the construction of more around British Columbia, says Moorhead. Justin Sabourin, facilities engineer with the B.C. Ministry of Environment, says there are now about 20 of these urine-diverting toilets in B.C. parks—and there are plans for more. Perhaps unintentionally, Moorhead helped start what became a trend in backcountry toilet technology. “It’s a standing joke: Brian is an expert in shithouses,” he says. “Not quite the legacy I had in mind.”

Another vermicomposting toilet in Valhalla Provincial Park, British Columbia (BC Parks/)

Officials at Smith Rock State Park in Oregon are also pleased with Hill’s design. Park ranger Josie Barnum says that the park’s two composting toilets weren’t cutting it—the waste simply was not decomposing: “Three to four times a year, staff would have to hand shovel partially decomposed waste and take to the landfill.” So in 2012, they retrofitted one of the compost toilets with Hill’s design—the first in the states. The new toilet requires some maintenance, including a twice-yearly raking and cleaning of the conveyor belt every couple weeks, but not as much as the remaining composting toilet. “It’s definitely a great product,” says Barnum. “I don’t have anything bad to say about it.”

The bugs behind the toilet can eat so much crap that even high-use vermicomposting toilets like the one at Smith Rock, which averages 100 uses a day during spring and fall, don’t need to be emptied of the decomposed waste for up to 20 years. But the finished product is not really “compost,” says Hill, because it can still harbor pathogens (though their numbers are reduced from the raw sewage). He even verified this with an experiment in his garage in which he fed hookworm-infested poop to worms and looked to see if their digestion killed the parasite. It didn’t. “Vermicomposted human waste is not fully safe or sanitized material,” he says, so it does still need to be disposed of off-site. Still, the huge reduction in the volume of waste saves time and effort for land managers.

So although some areas are content with their basic composting toilets, for other, heavily-used parks, Hill’s design is showing a lot of promise. Even in rocky, high-altitude zones where decomposition isn’t feasible, like Colorado’s Longs Peak, the urine-diverting mechanism cuts down on the overall amount of waste. A version of Hill’s technology installed there sends the poo to a bag, which is later packed out by those same llamas. “Now they’re packing out about one-fifth of the waste off the mountain,” says Hill.

In the future, we’ll probably see more interest in other new dry toilet technologies as the number of people visiting parks grows. “At least in my experience, the land management community is evolving at a rapid pace in their management [of human waste],” says Lawhorn. “We’re seeing a rapid adoption of different techniques to address the problem.”

Hill has now sold about 200 toilets and says that number is growing. “I can’t quite keep up with enquiry,” he says. “I think over the next couple years, it will go from a new technology to something that’s well-establishing and going on all over the country.”

Written By Ula Chrobak

[seenonmytrail]

50k Recovery is Complicated!

Don’t know if you’ve ever experienced this, but it is incredibly hard to recover properly when you are on vacation. It’s even worse when you are on vacation in a location where there are amazing trails you’ve never seen!

After the Mount Hood 50k, we headed to Klamath Falls with some extended family. When you go from the wet and green western side of Oregon, head over the pass, and drive into the dry central side it’s hard not to get excited!

The views stretch for miles and there seems to be an unlimited amount of singletrack trails in the area. On the drive to Klamath Falls you could see Mount McLoughlin in full glory, as well as Diamond Peak and Mt Theilsen, and the whole time we were only about 45 minutes from Crater Lake, which we visited on the way back home.

We stayed in a resort called the Running Y, which was about a half an hour from Lake of the Woods. So, while there, we spent a few days going to Lake of the Woods, which has a single track trail and connects to the PCT.

Uncle Adam and aunt Sarah played with the boys and took them fishing and hiking around. I hit the trail for a couple of hours each of the times I went. The first run was only two days after my 50k. I kept it to about 5 miles near the lake, but I was surprised at how good my legs felt!

The sign at the trail junction indicated that there was a Brown Mountain trail. Who wouldn’t want to go up to the top of something with a name like that? The distance looked reasonable.. so on my next trip to the lake, I made up my mind to give it a go.

During the run I started to realize that the trail might actually not go to the top of Brown Mountain. Crazy as it sounds, I had a cell signal up there, so sent a message to Taylor Cropper from Bioskin. I knew he had been in the area before and hoped he knew if the trail went to the top.

Taylor confirmed that it did not, and I had already turned around to come back because of the time anyway. Getting in about 12 miles might’ve been a bit ambitious for five days after 50k; but, it is hard to rest with new trails to explore!

Ironically, Taylor, his wife Anne, and family, were staying at the lake without my knowledge at that point! When I got back from my run they came over on their boat and got to meet my boys.

The youngest managed to convince the Croppers to let him go on a boat ride, and before I knew it, he was riding on a tube behind the boat..

All was spectacular until we got back to the dock, and I realized my middle son was not where he was supposed to be fishing and panic set in!

Eventually we found him, and all was well again- except for the part where he missed out on the innertube ride and threw a bit of a tantrum.

Another trail I got to explore while I was there was only 10 minutes from the resort. The Spence mountain trail is right next to upper Klamath lake with some lovely single and double track.

There was just enough time to get a short run-hike and some sunshine before the heat cranked up.

The trail looks to be designed for mountain bikers, and much of it was a powdery surface with some good size lava and pumice chunks. The only thing missing was a porta-potty, which would be nice to see at the trailhead.

All in all, it was a beautiful four days there. I definitely could move to Klamath Falls provided I had a lot of free time for running and a lot of money to pay for an endless supply of Skout bars.

I might be paying a bit for it now, doing that 12 mile run up the Brown mountain loop, as I have acquired some new back of the knee niggle– but I’m taking a solid three or four days off to see if I can resolve that. I’ve got some big things coming up in August and need both legs to do them!

The biggest adventure of the summer that I have planned is fast approaching! I have a goal of exploring the Rogue-Umpqua Divide trail (1470) as well as some of the connecting trails. It’s an incredibly remote area and I’m beyond excited to see what’s rarely seen by others!

Inov-8 has come through as a supporter for this adventure and fully kitted me! I’m going to run in style… and can’t wait to put the TRAILROC 285 shoes and new clothes to the test!!

I’ll post more on the new gear and the #GetAGrip adventure later- so stay tuned!