Human Waste in the Backcountry — Wag Bags and Cat Holes

Proper human waste disposal is one of the least glamorous but most important Leave No Trace skills. In heavily used California wilderness areas, improper waste disposal is a documented threat to water quality, human health, and the ecological health of alpine environments. The subject deserves a straightforward treatment — the goal here is practical knowledge, not euphemism.

Why Proper Waste Disposal Matters

Human feces contain pathogens — bacteria, viruses, and parasites — that can contaminate water sources and cause illness in subsequent users. Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium, norovirus, and various bacteria can all be transmitted through fecal contamination of surface water. When waste is deposited too close to water or left on the surface in high-use areas, runoff during rain or snowmelt carries these pathogens directly into streams and lakes that other hikers use as drinking water sources.

Beyond pathogen transmission, the aesthetic impact of improperly disposed waste at heavily used wilderness destinations has become severe. The Mount Whitney Trail — the most popular summit route in the lower 48 states, with thousands of hikers per year — had such significant human waste accumulation in its upper reaches that land managers implemented a mandatory pack-out requirement years ago. The same issue affects the Enchantments in Washington, many Grand Canyon routes, and increasingly, popular High Sierra zones.

Decomposition rates are also slower than most people assume. In the cold, dry conditions of high-altitude Sierra Nevada terrain, human waste can persist essentially intact for years. The 6-inch depth of a cat hole, which is adequate at lower elevations with active soil microbial communities, provides minimal decomposition in freeze-dried alpine soil above 11,000 feet.

The Cat Hole Method

The cat hole is the standard method for human waste disposal in backcountry areas where it is both legal and ecologically appropriate. Done correctly, it accelerates decomposition and prevents contamination of water sources.

Site selection:

• At least 200 feet (about 70 adult paces) from any water source — lakes, streams, springs, and seasonal drainages.
• At least 200 feet from trails and established campsites.
• On a site with good sun exposure when possible (UV radiation and warmth accelerate decomposition).
• In soil with organic content — dark, crumbly soil with visible plant roots contains the microorganisms that break down waste. Avoid sandy, gravelly, or rocky soil where decomposition is slow.
• Away from obvious drainages or areas where runoff will carry waste toward water.

Digging the hole: A cat hole should be 6–8 inches deep and 4–6 inches in diameter. Use a trowel — a lightweight backpacking trowel (plastic or aluminum, 1–2 oz) is a standard piece of kit for any multi-day trip. The hole should be in the layer of organic topsoil, not below it in mineral soil where microbial activity is much lower.

Use and covering: After use, stir in a small amount of the excavated dirt, then fill and tamp the hole closed. Disguise the site with natural materials (leaves, a rock) to avoid attracting animals. Animals will dig up cat holes for the nutrients — shallow coverage is better than none but not a complete deterrent.

Toilet paper: In most backcountry areas, toilet paper should be packed out in a double zip-lock bag or purpose-made waste bag. Burning toilet paper in the field is prohibited in fire restriction zones (nearly all of California during summer and fall) and has caused wildfires. Burial of toilet paper is allowed in some areas but it decomposes slowly, is often dug up by animals, and accumulates in high-use areas. The cleanest and most responsible practice is to pack it out. Natural materials — smooth stones, snow, leaves (avoid any irritating or toxic species) — are the Leave No Trace alternative.

When Cat Holes Don't Work

Several conditions render the cat hole method inadequate or inappropriate:

• High-use areas: When hundreds of hikers per week use the same canyon, drainage, or summit route, the cumulative density of cat holes exceeds the soil's capacity to process waste. The Mount Whitney Zone, most of the Rae Lakes Loop, and many other heavily used Sierra destinations have experienced this problem.
• Above-timberline zones: Alpine and subalpine terrain above about 11,000–12,000 feet in the Sierra has very slow decomposition rates due to cold temperatures, low soil moisture in summer, and minimal soil microbial communities. A cat hole that would decompose in weeks at lower elevations may persist for years at altitude.
• Intertidal and coastal areas: Regulations along California's coast, particularly in state parks and marine reserves, often require pack-out.
• Areas with explicit regulations: Many California wilderness zones have specific waste management requirements that supersede general LNT guidance. Always check permit regulations for your destination.
• Frozen ground: In winter or early spring when soil is frozen, you cannot dig a cat hole. Pack-out is the required alternative.

What Is a Wag Bag

A wag bag (the name is a brand genericization — WAG stands for "Waste Alleviation and Gelling") is a portable waste pack-out system. It consists of two bags: an inner bag containing a gelling agent and chemical treatment powder, and a heavy-duty outer bag for transport. Solid waste is deposited directly into the inner bag; the gelling agent immobilizes the liquid component and the chemical powder begins to suppress odor and pathogens. The inner bag is sealed, placed in the outer bag, and packed out to a trash receptacle.

Several brands are now widely available: the original WAG Bag (Cleanwaste), Restop 2, and various generic equivalents. The chemistry in each varies slightly, but all work on the same principle: absorb, gel, and neutralize. Many are rated for air-travel safe disposal in standard trash (not hazardous waste) once fully sealed, though regulations vary by jurisdiction.

Wag bags are odor-resistant enough to carry in a pack alongside food for a full day without noticeable scent, which is important for multi-day pack-out situations. They are single-use, generate some waste of their own (the bags themselves), and cost approximately $2–4 each depending on brand and quantity purchased. For heavily used zones like the Mount Whitney Trail, they are a legal requirement — rangers may check permit holders for them at the trailhead.

Using a Wag Bag Correctly

Using a wag bag effectively requires a small amount of practice, particularly for users unfamiliar with the system. Follow these steps:

1. Prepare your site: Find a flat, stable location at least 200 feet from water and trail. You need a surface where you can squat comfortably while holding or placing the bag appropriately.
2. Open the inner bag: The gelling agent and treatment powder are pre-loaded in the inner bag. Keep it upright to prevent spilling before use.
3. Use the bag: Squat directly over the open bag or set it on a flat rock surface in a stable position. Some users find it easier to hold the bag open with both hands; others prefer a stable surface. Practice makes this less awkward.
4. Seal the inner bag: Use the included twist-tie or zip-seal to close the inner bag securely. The gelling agent will immobilize liquid contents within a minute.
5. Place in outer bag: Insert the sealed inner bag into the heavy-duty outer bag and seal it. The outer bag is the layer you handle and transport.
6. Pack it out: Store in an outside pocket of your pack if possible (convenient for access and reduces risk of accidental damage to food). At most trailheads and mountain towns, bins designated for wag bag disposal are provided.

Toilet paper used with a wag bag goes directly into the inner bag — do not pack toilet paper separately when using a wag bag system.

Regulations by Region in California

Waste management requirements in California wilderness areas vary by zone and are updated periodically. The following reflects general requirements as of recent years, but always verify current regulations at the time of your trip:

• Mount Whitney Zone (Inyo National Forest): Pack-out required for all solid human waste above 12,000 feet (essentially the entire trail above Guitar Lake). Wag bags are required and are available for purchase at the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center in Lone Pine and at the trailhead kiosk.
• John Muir Wilderness — Dusy Basin, Bishop Pass area: Pack-out required. Wag bags strongly recommended throughout.
• Yosemite National Park: Cat holes are permitted in most areas at least 100 feet from water, trails, and campsites. Pack-out is not currently required park-wide but is encouraged in high-use zones.
• Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks — above 11,000 feet: Pack-out strongly recommended; some specific zones (Precipice Lake, Kaweah Basin) have had pack-out requirements implemented due to documented water quality issues.
• Desolation Wilderness (El Dorado NF): Cat holes permitted; check current regulations for any pack-out requirements in specific zones.
• Eastern Sierra — South Fork of the Kings, Monarch Wilderness: Cat holes generally appropriate at lower elevations; check for current updates to regulations in specific zone management plans.

The trend in California wilderness management is clearly toward expanded pack-out requirements as use levels increase and ecological limits are better understood. Carrying wag bags on any Sierra Nevada trip is a practice that will become increasingly standard, and doing so before regulations require it is the ethos of the Leave No Trace framework — choosing the option that is better for the land, not just the minimum that the rules require.