I was going to write something about climbers shitting all over the place after returning from Geyikbayiri a month ago (and it's not even 'that' bad there cf. some places).



It boils down to: if you're involved in developing a climbing area and it's any good i.e. it'll attract crowds, then you are responsible for ensuring that the 3rd thing on the list, right after 'work out approach trail' and 'bolt first route', is 'build toilet facility' if one doesn't already exist very close by. Even then, at crags where there are campsite facilities at the start and end of the day (ceuse / geyikbayiri) it doesn't work well as any meander into the trees during busy times at those places will confirm.



Some popular sport crags make me feel ashamed to be involved in the activity. I came away from Trebanna in Geyakbayiri thinking it's a disgrace to develop an area and attract large crowds of people - all spending hours in one place - into that beautiful canyon yet have no regard for where the inevitable lorry-load of feces is going to end up, i.e.20 yards away in the trees and leading down to the stream. Near to where the local farmers were herding their goats along the path. I'm just as guilty as everyone else.



I've been to crags where people have clearly put in the thought and effort - Lake Louise and Skaha (and Citdibi in Turkey) - where long-drops have been built by local volunteers; even solar-powered composting toilets at skaha iirc. UIAA / regional bodies could do something useful here along with contributions (of the monetary kind) by visiting climbers.