Snow on the Mind

Jason and I had the opportunity to get some skiing & snowboarding in at Solitude Resort before the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City. It was an epic day with 11 inches of fresh snow, but while getting on the lifts I kept noticing a sign I had never seen at a resort. The general gist of the sign was: "Protect our water, use the facilities provided at the resort." It turns out that 60% of Salt Lake City's water comes from the Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons and between these two canyons there are four ski resorts that see an enormous amount of recreationists throughout the year.

While deep snow is an excellent durable surface, it's important to remember that it is water and in certain places, like the Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons in Salt Lake City, a major source of municipal water. When you're visiting snow covered places, remember the four objectives of proper human waste disposal:

* Avoid polluting water sources
* Eliminate contact with insects and animals
* Maximize the rate of decomposition
* Minimize the chances of social impacts

When possible, use the facilities available! Otherwise, pack out human waste.

All the best...

Agata and Jason