My last trip to Lime Creek

The smell has gotten so bad I can't stand going anymore.  People sh*t right in the camping area and it wafts up to the cliffs.  Rangers have said they're just going to close the area altogether if things don't improve, but it just gets worse every year.

Restop bags are a few dollars each, but somehow this problem is unsolvable.  People apparently have no choice other than to leave uncovered human feces all over the area until it's intolerable.

I used to think climbers were the best stewards of the wilderness among all users... these days I feel like we're among the worst.

Wag bags are an absolute must at Lime Creek. If you don’t use one, you are a filthy animal. Not to besmirch filthy animals...

Nate Allen wrote:

I used to think climbers were the best stewards of the wilderness among all users..

Unfortunately,  I think that ship sailed a long time ago.

if it gives you any solace, my girlfriend and I were there this weekend and didn't poop once because we know how bad it is there. On the other hand, we did absolutely demolish an unspecified grocery store's toilet in eagle.

Nolan Yahok wrote:

Yet another crag which should have never graced the pages of MP or a guidebook. A tale as old as time, Death by Front Rangers.

Never been to this particular crag, but might it be worth establishing a general rule that if there’s no easy access to a bathroom at the parking lot/campground, maybe the crag shouldn’t be published? If there is nowhere to “go,” is it really ready to handle the general public? (What “easy access” means is probably a tougher discussion, but there are some clear cases, no? I’m thinking of Enchanted Tower, NM.)

I’m not arguing in favor of more secret crags. I’m arguing in favor of more pit toilets. When locals establish an area, I think a pit toilet is just as important as bolts and trails. That takes a lot of coordination with the land manager, of course. But it seems to be in everyone’s best interest.

Bummer! I expect this place to close while a management plan can be created

I reached that point a couple years ago, ya it’s pretty or whatever and the climbing is OK. Namaste Solar was having an employee camping retreat and someone’s 30th birthday party had a group about 20 large. I think that one weekend alone had a metric shit ton of, well you know, deposited. Large groups, no matter how careful, are always a bad idea for the land. 

Oh well, on to the next CO limestone crag! Who wants to come to Deep Creek this weekend??

Wag bags are a little expensive and the packaging seems wasteful. Unless I'm packing multiple days, I typically use dog waste bags because you can get them at almost any grocery store and throw a whole roll in your pocket (accommodating a crag of climbers!). BYO a bit of toilet paper, double bag it, and you're good! I think we need to normalize this at crags--especially sport crags. I imagine most new/gym climbers are aghast at the idea of carrying around their own poop so I'm always very open about what I'm doing and why.

This bums me out as Lime Creek is a beautiful and special place. Similarly to some of the parking issues we saw at Devils Gate last weekend (eg how about build a parking TH for climbers instead of slotting in a campsite for grumpy brap brappers...), this could be mitigated with a pit toilet for the area. Could this be something the Access Fund could help with? 

Alissa Doherty wrote:

Wag bags are a little expensive and the packaging seems wasteful. Unless I'm packing multiple days, I typically use dog waste bags because you can get them at almost any grocery store and throw a whole roll in your pocket (accommodating a crag of climbers!). BYO a bit of toilet paper, double bag it, and you're good! I think we need to normalize this at crags--especially sport crags. I imagine most new/gym climbers are aghast at the idea of carrying around their own poop so I'm always very open about what I'm doing and why.

I agree about the plastic waste, that's always bothered me about wag bags. Still, something of the sort is obviously necessary at most areas near the front range now. What we do is re-use ziploc bags from various grocery items - e.g. tortillas, frozen fruit, etc. (this works especially well if you shop at Costco). An empty plastic cereal bag torn open into a square makes a great base for doing the business. Double or triple bag it depending on comfort level and circumstances. This has worked great for us for a while, never any issues or leakage, etc., is free, and doesn't create any additional plastic waste. I don't have a dog but seems like a lot of those bags are compostable/biodegradable now too, right? Seems like another great option. 

I give up who doesn’t know to dig a hole 300 feet from a waterway poop inside and burn their toilet paper?

Adam bloc wrote:

I reached that point a couple years ago, ya it’s pretty or whatever and the climbing is OK. Namaste Solar was having an employee camping retreat and someone’s 30th birthday party had a group about 20 large. I think that one weekend alone had a metric shit ton of, well you know, deposited. Large groups, no matter how careful, are always a bad idea for the land. 

Oh well, on to the next CO limestone crag! Who wants to come to Deep Creek this weekend??

Please don't talk about deep creek 

After I started running rivers and acquired a groover, I started bringing it along for car camping trips most of the time.  No waste like a wag bag and cleaning it is easy.  

Climbers could learn a lot about zero impact camping from river runners, and probably should before they end up facing the same kind of permit restrictions and fees river runners have to deal with.

Adam bloc wrote:

Oh well, on to the next CO limestone crag! Who wants to come to Deep Creek this weekend??

never heard of it until today. You have opened the flood gates!

Brendan A wrote:

never heard of it until today. You have opened the flood gates!

...this is why you don't talk about deep creek

Rob Cotter wrote:

I give up who doesn’t know to dig a hole 300 feet from a waterway poop inside and burn their toilet paper?

Can’t really do this at lime creek

To provide a contrasting perspective, I visited Lime Creek 3 weekends ago and was unsure what I would find there with regards to human waste.  It may have been a slow weekend with the number of campers, but everyone I saw wander off in the morning came back with a wag bag.  It was a pleasant surprise given the reputation of the canyon.  I think people are receptive to the idea.  The local climbing organization in my area has worked with the Access Fund to create and stock a wag bag station for local crags that have similar conditions and where a permanent toilet is unrealistic.  

It’s not that hard, people. Step up your game. 

Maybe we could smear the poo on the climbing routes.
1. Less poo in camping area.
2. Less people willing to climb at Lime Creek.

Eventually the poo will dry, crust off of the stone, and biodegrade. However, this will take time and surely decrease the popularity of the area. When poop free, it will once again become the “climbing haven” folks spoke of. People will start saying things like, “ You’ll never believe it! I didn’t see a single turd in the Lime Creek campground this weekend!” Eventually word will get out. And along with people, camping area defecation will return. What happens then? Reread post from the top. 

Scott Dewey wrote:

Maybe we could smear the poo on the climbing routes.
1. Less poo in camping area.
2. Less people willing to climb at Lime Creek.

Eventually the poo will dry, crust off of the stone, and biodegrade. However, this will take time and surely decrease the popularity of the area. When poop free, it will once again become the “climbing haven” folks spoke of. People will start saying things like, “ You’ll never believe it! I didn’t see a single turd in the Lime Creek campground this weekend!” Eventually word will get out. And along with people, camping area defecation will return. What happens then? Reread post from the top. 

Ah poop, the cause of and solution to all of life's problems