Outhouses were separated by males having a sun shape carved in the door. Females had a moon. Each were responsible for the cleanliness of the building. That is why most outhouses that have survived over time have a moon on the door.
So… not only are they Not the first to the top… but a female beat them to it.
That’s something I’ve wondered about. In 2023, over 1200 people attempted Mt Everest, and around 660 made it to the top (sources vary). The thing is, the climbing season is April and May. So on average, 20 people were on the path every day, and 10 got to the top. They must generate an astonishing amount of all sorts of waste.
There’s a mountain nearish here that has a fire lookout station that is occupied during the summer months. It’s a wilderness area, so no roads, no plumbing… Forest Service minions actually haul backpacks holding 5 gallons of drinking / cooking water up to the lookout. And food too. There is an outhouse up there, but it’s locked to keep hikers from using it. I don’t really want to think about how the night-soil is handled… but what gets hauled up very likely gets hauled down, so no wonder they want to limit its use.
It reminds me of a story I read years ago of two mountain climbers who, upon reaching the top of a mountain, were surprised to find a native priest at the top.
Fun fact: it costs US$11,000 per person just for the permit to climb Mt. Everest. And then there’s the added costs for travel, equipment and hiring Sherpas. Which, in my mind, puts climbing Mt. Everest clearly in the “only for rich people” category. For what? Bragging rights? Bragging about a trail littered with trash, frozen feces and corpses?
The only outhouse that I’ve ever seen outside a L’il Abner cartoon was outside a gas station in Georgia. It was boarded up. The sign above it read, “Colored.” This was 1970 and it did not seem to be that long abandoned.
I grew up watching the evening news in the 1960s. It made an impression in my mind. This sight made an impression in my gut.
We celebrated when one of our classmates got indoor plumbing by putting the outhouse on top of the high school building, with the sign, “Principal’s Office.” [Nebraska, 1964]
I’m surprised they haven’t built a convenience store yet. Small bag of Doritos, $32.00. ‘Guess the age of the Roller Dog!’ Next year-‘Top o’ the World Tatoo Parlor!’ ’Wise hermit, next left. ’
FRITH RA about 20 hours ago
So who does the delivery and cleaning?
Ratkin Premium Member about 20 hours ago
Yeah, but is there indoor plumbing?
I Mad Am I about 20 hours ago
Way back when…
Outhouses were separated by males having a sun shape carved in the door. Females had a moon. Each were responsible for the cleanliness of the building. That is why most outhouses that have survived over time have a moon on the door.
So… not only are they Not the first to the top… but a female beat them to it.
zzeek about 20 hours ago
The answer to the question “Why?” was “We just wanted some place to go.”
GreasyOldTam about 19 hours ago
That’s something I’ve wondered about. In 2023, over 1200 people attempted Mt Everest, and around 660 made it to the top (sources vary). The thing is, the climbing season is April and May. So on average, 20 people were on the path every day, and 10 got to the top. They must generate an astonishing amount of all sorts of waste.
Concretionist about 19 hours ago
There’s a mountain nearish here that has a fire lookout station that is occupied during the summer months. It’s a wilderness area, so no roads, no plumbing… Forest Service minions actually haul backpacks holding 5 gallons of drinking / cooking water up to the lookout. And food too. There is an outhouse up there, but it’s locked to keep hikers from using it. I don’t really want to think about how the night-soil is handled… but what gets hauled up very likely gets hauled down, so no wonder they want to limit its use.
Imagine about 19 hours ago
Why did you climb the mountain?
I had to go…
keenanthelibrarian about 19 hours ago
Where’s Edmund Hillary when you need him?
SHIVA about 19 hours ago
The Abdominable Snowman is doing his business, after eating the 5 alarm chili earlier at the base camp!!!
Doug K about 18 hours ago
You can finally get some relief (and relieve yourself in privacy),
some idiot from R'lyeh Premium Member about 17 hours ago
It reminds me of a story I read years ago of two mountain climbers who, upon reaching the top of a mountain, were surprised to find a native priest at the top.
He was surprised too: “Oh my, you walked?”
Walrus Gumbo Premium Member about 17 hours ago
With that view you would really “Enjoy the Go!”
Indiana Guy about 17 hours ago
Fun fact: it costs US$11,000 per person just for the permit to climb Mt. Everest. And then there’s the added costs for travel, equipment and hiring Sherpas. Which, in my mind, puts climbing Mt. Everest clearly in the “only for rich people” category. For what? Bragging rights? Bragging about a trail littered with trash, frozen feces and corpses?
bobpickett1 about 15 hours ago
A good supply of TP
Darth Stevious about 15 hours ago
Not enough Danae lately. Still awesome though.
Vegetable Patch 62+236 about 14 hours ago
Mount Carmel has had some of the best news. Why settle for good news when you can reach the best news?
Better news might be on a bunny hill.
CountOlaf2.0 Premium Member about 14 hours ago
A primitive Port-A-Potty.
dflak about 14 hours ago
The only outhouse that I’ve ever seen outside a L’il Abner cartoon was outside a gas station in Georgia. It was boarded up. The sign above it read, “Colored.” This was 1970 and it did not seem to be that long abandoned.
I grew up watching the evening news in the 1960s. It made an impression in my mind. This sight made an impression in my gut.
kjnrun about 13 hours ago
Daughter and I climbed Mt. Rainer several years ago. Quite the experience. Tougher than running a marathon.
freshmeet2030 about 13 hours ago
the next bad news: the toilet paper is frozen
GreenT267 about 13 hours ago
We celebrated when one of our classmates got indoor plumbing by putting the outhouse on top of the high school building, with the sign, “Principal’s Office.” [Nebraska, 1964]
DaBump Premium Member about 12 hours ago
And they even have TP! Much better than using a handful of snow. Brrrrrrr!
goboboyd about 12 hours ago
I’m surprised they haven’t built a convenience store yet. Small bag of Doritos, $32.00. ‘Guess the age of the Roller Dog!’ Next year-‘Top o’ the World Tatoo Parlor!’ ’Wise hermit, next left. ’
ladykat about 12 hours ago
It probably drains down the other side of the mountain.
mindjob about 11 hours ago
They were secretly hoping to find a McDonalds…
skildude about 11 hours ago
well that answers the question of why it rolls downhill.
mistercatworks about 10 hours ago
If it ever melts at the top of Everest, the smell is going to be horrible — and not just from the bodies.
eb110americana about 9 hours ago
I believe there’s an applicable axiom here about something running downhill…
[Unnamed Reader - 14b4ce] about 9 hours ago
Have you noticed when a guy tells a girl “I’d Climb The Highest Mountain”, he hardly ever does?
Smeagol about 9 hours ago
A church house, gin house A school house, outhouse
KEA about 9 hours ago
I always thought it interesting when there was a photograph of climbers being the first to a summit, when the picture was taken from the summit.
davahob about 8 hours ago
A democrat brain repository on top of a mountain!
PaulGoes about 4 hours ago
Looks like they get their toilet paper at Costco
eddi-TBH about 3 hours ago
The Park Service tries to keep ahead of the tourons.