Just went to rocktown for the first time last weekend. What is up with the bathroom situation there? Its pretty ridiculous and sad the locals don't have more respect for the land to try to get something done.

There is a fancy new guidebook which literally every group was carrying around but no money that is available to be put towards a bathroom? The camping was cool but the entire opposite side of the road you camp on was FILLED with shit piles every. Disgusting and the locals should be ashamed... The trailhead also has no restroom. Im fine with shitting in the woods but with the crowds that place sees its pretty crazy none of the locals have took it upon themselves to try to get a bathroom put in. Oh well I am happy to shit all over your land if you guys are fine with it. Awesome to see a few piles of shit covered with just TP on the downhill side of most of the boulders as well!

Awesome the camping is basically free($3) but I would be happy to pay an extra two bucks to have a bathroom. Maybe there was a restroom I was missing? But every morning you could see a train of people walking across the road to poop in the woods...

Seems like no one cares... Cool I will not feel bad about shitting all over the place then, Ill just put some TP over it and no one will notice!

I've never been, but it does sound like a problem now that there's a guidebook and much more traffic.

Freaking hilarious post. Would read again. 4 stars :P

This post violated Rule #1. It has been removed by Mountain Project.

...so why don't you call the Georgia DNR and file a complaint instead of whining on the internet?

It's a bouldering destination. A bunch of shirtless, beanie wearing teenagers don't really care about there being shit everywhere.

Oh snap.

(the original post has a very good point)

i'd bet that the reason there are no bathrooms is because up until the guidebook was published there was not enough traffic to warrant it.

I prefer to start my day with a bowel movement at the base of the waterfall at Lost Wall whilst reading the local newspaper. It is quite peaceful and very elegant. No need to bring toilet paper either because you have your own natural bidet. Although, it can be rather cold for you genitalia.

Are there seriously no locals here who can answer Ted's questions? I for one would like to know why this place that I've heard so much about has a shit problem.

No one take this the wrong way but maybe its just the area/ community. I went to shaking rock in Georgia (which is very small and im sure doesnt see too many climbers) but there was poo and graffiti all over. I said to myself "Wow this would not fly in my region. There would be a crew of people scrubbing the rock and making sure it wasnt a poo field.

Welcome to the Dirty South.

You clean the spray paint off the rock and you create a new blank canvas for the local white trash to come paint how much they love their girlfriend, how much they love Jesus, and how much they hate every other race. I've wondered a lot about what kind of solution would actually work. You surely can't afford to hire someone to police the the place 24/7. What suggestions do you have?

R. Walters posted some info previously in this thread. Start by contacting the land managers. We have a similar issue (no shitting though) here at a crag in Central, PA where the locals (and possibly climbers) just trash the place in every way minus physical damage to the rock. I wrote to the land manager (state forest) and asked if they realized the atrocities and what can I do to help? I pointed out there was no trash can (can the state supply one?) to start with. I threw some suggestions but your thoughts mean nothing unless you contact the people with power! If the climbing community (even just a few effort givers) and the land managers work together (both apply effort) it'll be a win-win for sure.Good luck!

To answer the question though: the specifics don't matter at first on what to do at the site. Start by contacting the managers and work together from there.

+2 for Post by R. Walters.

When you poop underwater it's called a thunder dunk.

+1 for dogs who eat poo

I guess I just think its kind of lame that guidebook authors can put out a shiny new guidebook that attracts all kinds of visitors to the area but aren't responsible for the ensuing shit that comes with it. I think the book mentioned that $2 of every book goes back to the SECC, it would be nice if that money went directly towards getting that place a bathroom.

I have climbed all over the SE and have never seen an area as covered in shit piles as that place. Kind of rediculous, I will email or call the people listed above but it will probably be 3 or 4 years before I ever make it back there. It would be nice if some of the regulars stepped up and got something done.

I think areas with this much traffic should go through closed periods to allow changes to be made (bathroom construction) and vegetation to recover, poo go away. Rocktown, LRC and HP are trashed and whether you are building bathrooms or putting in fancy stone steps.. that many people just can't be good for one area.

Maybe Rocktown could use one of these.

the BoatRock toilet.courtesy of the SCC,Access Fund, and the American Alpine Club. Submitted By: Swamp Cookie on Feb 1, 2013

The unfortunate fact is that you could put one of those in at the trail head but if the moment arises while out on the scoop or even the orb.. they (climbers) are not going to walk all the way back to the trail head. Thus continuing to fill the Pigeon Mtns with poo and TP. Just close it down for a couple of years is what I say. Think about what kind of cesspool Rocktown is going to be in 10 years.

I have to disagree. While it has been a few years since I have been there (2007ish when it there was probably far less excrement), I think that having restrooms available at the campgrounds would alleviate not only the extreme amount of waste there, but deeper in as well. Yes people will still defecate out near the orb even with bathrooms at the trail head but it will occur far less frequently if they have a good option before leaving for the morning/afternoon (ie right after morning coffee/food/...).

But I will agree without some intervention the out look is not so good...

the last time i was at the red, roadside was open and the place was trashed. climbers are trashing these places! dig a hole, use a bag, clean up after yourself.