It could easily be done with a vending machine. When you pick up your permit you leave $100 (or whatever) deposit on your credit card and get your WAG bag. When you finish your hike you go to the machine at the trail head (or close by) and have your WAG bag barcode read. It then deposits it in a tamper proof bin designed to be easily swapped out and hauled away. Your card is credited back the deposit. You leave your bag somewhere, you lose the deposit.
"I’ve read dozens of schemes like this for making people use and remove their wag bags."
Yeah, you didn't like the idea when I brought it up a few years ago either. Glad you're consistent.
"They are all either totally unworkable or trivial to defeat."
Your opinion. Not to be confused with fact.
"Pay your $100 deposit and then leave the bag in your car. (That’s the smart thing to do; if you lose the bag, you’re out $100.) Climb the mountain and poop wherever you like. Get the bag out of your car and have it scanned. "
Why bother getting a permit then? Obviously, the ranger could take an extra second to see if you had your wag bag with you. I mean I suppose you could leave it behind and safe in the car, much like I could hike in the Whitney Zone without a permit. I could get caught too.
"If the machine weighs the bag to make sure you used it, just scoop a little dirt into it, or poop in the bag at the trailhead. Even with a live 24-7 bag inspector (obscenely expensive), there is no way to confirm that the bag contains ALL of your poop from the trip. And what if you did a dayhike or one-nighter, and didn’t take a crap?"
Who said anything about weighing it? Who said it had to be used? Don't make things up and then question them. Getting it brought back is the start. Of course douchebags are going to still shit on the trail. You can't stop that 100 percent. Even your super novel idea of putting the toilets back won't solve that. What if I need to shit on the switchbacks? What if I didn't have to go at Outpost (we used to call it Outhouse Camp cuz of the smell) but I need to go a mile later? Am I going to backtrack? Will I be miserable on the climb to Trail camp? Or will I be a douche and just take the dump?
And if you have ever traveled outside of the US, you will know that in many countries that have vending machines that are slightly more advanced than the Pepsi machine outside of Walmart. It could be done. It won't be, we can agree upon that, just like putting the shitters back, will never happen. Appreciate the same ole feedback as years ago, have a fine Navy day.
