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The trajectory and fate of crevassed human waste on DenaliMichael G. Loso, Ph.D.Katelyn Goodwin, MSHaley Williams, BSRich Johnson, BSDustin English, BA*Alaska Pacific University

Matthias Braun, Ph.D.*University of Erlangen

Funded by Denali National Park and Preserve

Loso SS 7/23/2014

The trajectory and fate of crevassed human waste on DenaliMichael G. Loso, Ph.D.Katelyn Goodwin, MSHaley Williams, BSRich Johnson, BSDustin English, BA*Alaska Pacific University

Matthias Braun, Ph.D.*University of Erlangen

Funded by Denali National Park and Preserve

Loso SS 7/23/2014

Loso SS 7/23/2014

The ProblemKahiltna Glacier is the busiest “trail” in the Denali National Park

wilderness, and it has the least capacity to degrade human waste

Cumulative waste burial 1951-2012:

68 metric tons

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Year

Num

ber

of c

limbi

ng a

ttem

pts

Esti

mat

ed a

nnua

l hum

an w

aste

(k

g)

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Our Questions

• Trajectory– Where will it emerge?– When?

• Fate– Bacterial survival in glacial environments?– Present in runoff?

• Solutions– Carbon and cost accounting– Weighing costs and risks

Burial

Emergence

Accumulation zone

Ablation zone

Equilibrium line

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Trajectory I: Glacier velocities

• Stake measurements and feature tracking

• Glacier-wide: 0-400 m/yr• Climbing route: 20-120

m/yr

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Trajectory II: Flowline velocities

Velocities

Elevations

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Trajectory III: Mass balance• ELA 1879 m• Ablation zone gradient 0.0031 m weq/m• Accumulation zone gradient 0.0008 m

weq/m

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Emergence predictions

• Expected first emergence 2025

• With errors, possible now• No evidence yet located

210 years

142 years

102 years71 years

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Effects of climatic warming

warmer / less snow

Emergence times shorten by 13-27% in response to a 10% rise (188 m) in ELA

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Bacterial survival I: Lab experiments

Kat

ie G

oodw

in p

hoto

s

• 150 day freezer experiments• Constant 0° C or modest

freeze-thaw• UV or no UV• Consistent results: no

detectable microbial mortality

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Bacterial survival II: Burial experiment

• One-year waste burial experiment at base camp

• Still biologically active

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Bacterial survival III: surface exposure

10 m

• fecal coliform and E. coli present in pee holes near camps

• Improper disposal common on summit day

• coliform and E. coli present in year old surface samples from 18,900’ and base camp

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Surface runoffContamination in eastern channel of Kahiltna River• E. coli and total coliform• Higher than drinking water

standards, but safe for “recreational waters”

• No contaminants elsewhere

• Consistent with findings of Whiteman et al. (Switzerland, 2005)

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Summary of findings

• Present management strategy mostly effective, along climbing route, in keeping glacier surface clean

• Waste will emerge on glacier surface within decades• Emergent waste will be intact and biologically active• Buried waste already contaminates Kahiltna River• Emergent waste will contaminate surface waters, too

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Solutions

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Carbon and cost accounting: 3 options1. Current Practice

• 1 CMC each• Crevasse-dumping• CMC’s flown off from Base

Camp by air taxis• Most waste remains on

mountain2. Intermediate

• 1 CMC each• No crevasse-dumping• Full CMC’s traded at 14,200

Camp for clean ones, flown off by helicopter

• All waste removed3. Full Packout

• 2 CMC’s each• No crevasse-dumping• All waste carried to Base

Camp, flown off by air taxis• All waste removed

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Carbon and cost accounting II

• Up-front costs dominated by purchase of CMCs

• Operating costs dominated by use (or not) of helicopter

• Up-front emissions dominated by shipping of CMCs from Kansas

• Operating emissions sensitive to use of helicopter and road-hauling to wastewater treatment plant

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Weighing costs and risks

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FINANCIAL SUPPORTDenali National Park and PreserveMurie Science and Learning CenterAlaska Pacific University

FIELD ASSISTANCENPS mountaineering rangers and patrol membersJill MichalakAnthony ArendtJoanna YoungJT Thomas

LAB AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORTRusty MyersJason GeckMatt HeavnerPaul BrusseauChad HultsLouis Sass

Thanks