STATS:
wt: 750g (1.65
lb)
dims: 8.20"OD x 10.75" tall
top opening: 153mm (6.0")
avg. wall thickness: .125"
capacity: 431 cu in (1.86 gal)
user days: 18-20
vent: pressure relief type - 1.5 psi
haul cradle: 1" flat web
cap: screw on, w/seal (Polypropylene)
tank: rotational molded Polyethylene
price: $79
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Photo
from
Chris Falkenstein
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MOUNTAIN TOOLS
BIG WALL CAN
Our Leave No Trace® wilderness
ethic suggests we take every action possible
to reduce our impacts on the environment over
which we travel. What to do with human waste is
always a concern. Rock climbers and big wall climbers
have practiced pack it in, pack it up & pack it
out for years. All the versions of hasty home
built hardware store solutions end up being a
nightmare and fall short in several areas. They
truly are heavy "pipe bombs" ready to go off (leak),
get stuck in a wide crack and (God forbid) torpedo
back to mother earth. Their long skinny dimension
make hauling, packing back down and dumping &
cleaning a hassle too!
Finally a professional solution
is available that addresses all climbers concerns
and needs - THE BIG WALL CAN. The BWC is an adaptation
of the Mountain Can invented by Paul Becker for
use on the upper reaches of Denali. It is endorsed
by Denali Climbing Rangers and (where used?) It
is washable and reusable as defined by the Bureau
of Land Management, National Park Service and
National Forest Service. Most importantly, it
is light weight (just over 1 1/2 lbs!), easy to
haul (its squat proportion stacks under the haul
bag) and easy to use. You'll appreciate the Big
Wall Can when Nature does call - and she's got
your number! There are two options for use:
Manufacturers
Suggested Use - Unscrew the Lid, add
the Foam Ring, take a seat and do your business.
This requires a rock ledge (recommended), portaledge
(do-able) or the BWC to be hung from anchors (awkward).
In all cases be sure to keep yourself and the
BWC on belay! The result of several days "deposits"
is a slurry of waste that can be emptied directly
into flush toilets, pit toilets or RV Sanitary
Stations (located near Upper Pines C.G. in Yosemite).
Various organic and chemical additives are commercially
available to accelerate biodegradation and reduce
odor. Add a small amount if you wish before the
start of your climb.
Traditional Big
Wall Use - Because Nature doesn't always
schedule her calls... and you might not be hangin'
out at the bivy or near a ledge - most climbers
will want to do "number two" in a small brown
paper bag (degradeable) then roll it up and place
in the Big Wall Can for transport. Various acrobatic
postures have evolved over the years (and everyone
has their own "style"). Bags can be pre-rigged
and stashed with a small handful of kitty litter
to cut the smell and absorb liquids. Empty this
in to a pit toilet (not a flush toilet) or RV
Dump Station. Make every effort to pee "off route"
or into a bottle carried for this purpose. It
can be emptied later into the BWC or dispersed
onto the rock away from the climbing line - where
sunshine and showers will quickly wash it away.
Crag & Back Country
Use - If you travel with a group and
congregate in one area or site (guided climbers,
trail crews, fire fighters, construction & utility
workers) consider using a BWC for communal use.
This should be one of the responsibilities of
the guide, crew chief or supervisor. The BWC can
be carried in hand, strapped to a pack or carried
inside one.
Cleaning
- After use, the Big Wall Can can be cleaned with
a mild soap and water solution with a little bleach
added as a disinfectant.
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