Dale, the supposed reason the toilets were removed is because Inyo and others claimed they were not technically viable. As an engineer, I took exception to that and fought that battle over dozens of posts, research on backcountry toilet systems, letters to Inyo management, obtained public records from Inyo, phone calls with the Forest Supervisor and District Engineer. Any yet Inyo's website still implies that:
"In the past, toilets were located along the Mt. Whintey Trail. Despite numerous renovations and retrofits, they never functioned properly and were overwhelmed with waste. Sometimes the toilets and related cesspools overflowed. The toilets were removed several years ago."
I'm glad you were not in that camp back in 2011 but a lot of people were, and there are still people who don't agree that toilets are technically viable - just read this very thread. The tide has changed on that one issue since 2011 for many people on this forum, but its not "pointless" to discuss the technical viability of the toilets.
Again, if you have a plan for moving forward that covers all the challenges and requirements you laid out, please focus on that one topic. You seem to have good knowledge of public process so please focus on solutions. If you just want to warn everyone how difficult this issue is, please don't, we all know that and its a buzz kill. Keep it constructive.
Last edited by SierraNevada; 07/13/17 07:33 AM.
