LEADVILLE, COLORADO – Poop in the backcountry is no joke. With thousands of hikers visiting Colorado’s Mount Elbert each summer, human waste management has become a pressing environmental challenge. But new research suggests that hikers are willing to pack out their waste — if they’re equipped with the right tools.
This summer, Shari Edelson, a researcher from Penn State’s Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, partnered with PACT Outdoors to study hiker waste habits on Mount Elbert, Colorado’s highest peak. Supported by the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative and Leave No Trace, the “Clean 14” study investigated whether free pack-out kits could reduce human waste left behind on the trail.
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A Mountain of Waste
Mount Elbert attracts about 15,000 hikers each year. According to the study, 11% of surveyed hikers admitted to pooping during their trek. That amounts to an estimated 1,650 annual deposits — often not far from the trail. While traditional guidance has been to bury waste, erosion, wildlife activity, and fragile alpine conditions make that approach inadequate.
Improperly buried waste can linger for years, spreading harmful bacteria and viruses while spoiling the pristine mountain environment.
Testing the Solution
PACT Outdoors distributed free “Pack Out Kits” at the North Mount Elbert trailhead. These kits included a durable waste bag, a smaller transport bag, deodorizing powder, wipes, and hand sanitizer. A designated trash bin at the trailhead made disposal easy.
During the 19-day study, 4,210 hikers participated in surveys. Results showed that while 62% had never tried packing out waste before, only 8% said they wouldn’t consider it. Nearly a third of participants accepted a free kit, and 30% of those used it — potentially preventing about 500 waste deposits in just one season.
“Given that waste management is one of the largest expenses for the U.S. Forest Service, there’s cost-saving potential here,” said Jake Thomas of PACT Outdoors.
Free: Complete Colorado 14ers Planner
Every peak. Every trailhead. Every detail: in one spreadsheet.
- All 58 peaks ranked beginner to expert
- Safety notes and seasonal windows for each
- Route difficulty, mileage, and prep tips
Changing Habits for Cleaner Trails
The study revealed that hikers’ resistance to packing out waste stems largely from unfamiliarity. But when provided with the right gear at the right time, they were willing to adopt the practice.
Edelson sees promise in expanding the initiative: “If agencies can allocate funding to provide wag bags on Elbert and other 14ers, we’ll have cleaner mountains.”
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