Returning for a Second Year, “Doo” Colorado Right Campaign Tackles Colorado’s Increasing Poop Problem in the Backcountry

June 25, 2024

Expanded distribution, research initiatives, and new 'Clean 14' program drives 2024 efforts

Gunnison, Colo. /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – As Colorado’s beautiful busy summer kicks off, the “Doo” Colorado Right initiative — launched last year by PACT Outdoors and Gunnison Crested Butte’s Tourism & Prosperity Partnership (TAPP) with support from a Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) grant — returns to help minimize human waste on the state’s public lands.

This summer, thousands of PACT Lite Kits — lightweight all-in-one bathroom kits for outdoor adventures — are being distributed free-of-charge to outdoor enthusiasts across Colorado to promote sustainable practices and protect Colorado’s waters and public lands. The kits are available at Colorado visitor centers, USFS ranger stations, and trailheads, accompanied by educational resources on proper backcountry bathroom etiquette.

“As visitation to the Colorado backcountry continues to grow, promoting land stewardship and sustainable tourism is essential,” says Andrew Sandstrom, TAPP Marketing Director and “Doo” Colorado Right organizer. “Discussing bathroom habits can be awkward, but by providing partners with a platform for these conversations and equipping recreationists with tools for proper backcountry bathroom practices, we’re empowering individuals to protect our public lands and waterways, and to preserve the natural beauty of Colorado.”

New and noteworthy elements of the 2024 “Doo” Colorado Right campaign include:

Additional Distribution Partners

This year’s program has attracted increased interest from tourism organizations wanting to participate. New distribution partners include the Steamboat Chamber of Commerce, Aspen Resort Chamber Association, Telluride Tourism Board, Go Breck, and Town of Vail. In total, 37 distribution partners are teaming up for “Doo” Colorado Right this summer. In addition to tourism centers, numerous trail organizations & forest service crews will be distributing PACT Lite Kits at key points of outdoor access that receive high use.

Reflecting on their participation in last year’s pilot program & their renewal for this year, Kevin Warner, District Ranger of the US Forest Service Aspen-Sopris Ranger District, remarks: “Having the kits available at the primary access point to the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness was extremely helpful in addressing our human waste challenges, especially with the people who were otherwise not prepared. As visitation to the Colorado backcountry grows, it’s imperative to promote the principles of land stewardship among visitors to our public lands. Increasing awareness of outdoor bathroom practices is an important step in protecting Colorado’s public lands for the long-term future.”

Survey/Data Research

This year, campaign organizers have partnered with The Wright Challenge to develop a research study and survey to quantify the impacts of the “Doo” Colorado Right program. The survey will measure current knowledge and behaviors around outdoor bathroom practice as well as how mis-handled waste impacts visitors’ experience in Colorado’s public lands.

The Clean 14

Feedback from distribution partners in year one of the “Doo” Colorado Right program lead to the creation of “The Clean 14” initiative this summer — a partnership with PACT Outdoors, The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics (LNT) and the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) — to help reduce the amount of mis-handled human waste on Colorado’s fourteeners (peaks that are at least 14,000 feet above sea level). Kiosks are being installed at Mount Elbert with free “pack out poop kits” and trash bins to dispose of the waste, to support hikers in being compliant with LNT principles and alleviate the negative environmental effects as well as the burden on land managers and organizations.

While hikers are strongly encouraged to pack out their waste above treeline due to fragile ecosystems, the lack of familiarity with this practice makes human waste an issue on many 14ers across the state. “The Clean 14” will study how physical infrastructure helps to support better compliance with waste practices, as well as users’ attitudes and barriers around backcountry poop etiquette. The resulting data will be published and used to develop more effective waste management solutions across Colorado and the USA.

“The “Doo” Colorado Right program helps to support visitors with the tools they need to bury their waste properly in the backcountry. However, our 14ers are very different environments with fragile ecosystems that require users to pack out their poop. “The Clean 14” initiative is about testing a solution that supports users in developing another essential practice, namely packing out their waste,” says Jake Thomas, Co-Founder of PACT Outdoors.

The “Doo” Colorado Right website features additional details, a how-to video, and a map showing visitor centers and trail organizations where free PACT Lite Kits are available. Media may use these photo assets (please give photo credit if indicated in file name).

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Media & Editorial Contact for the “Doo” Right Campaign:

Andrew Sandstrom, TAPP Marketing Director

Email: andrew@gunnisoncrestedbutte.com // Phone: 720.220.5700

Media & Editorial Contact for PACT Outdoors:

Jake Thomas, PACT Outdoors Co-Founder

Email: jake@pactoutdoors.com // Phone: 610.334.5597

About TAPP

The Gunnison Crested Butte Tourism and Prosperity Partnership, or TAPP, was born in 2002 by popular vote of the people in Gunnison County. TAPP leverages a 4% tax on lodging to grow overnight visitation revenues for Gunnison County. TAPP also works to diversify the local economy beyond tourism with a focus on supporting local exporting businesses through the ICELab, growing enrollment at Western Colorado University, as well as actively participating on the Gunnison County Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee. For more information, visit https://gunnisoncrestedbutte.com/.

About PACT

PACT Outdoors is the creator of award-winning all-in-one bathroom kits for outdoor adventures. Designed in the mountains and tested in all environments, their kits reinvent the backcountry bathroom experience with a unique species of mycelium that breaks down human waste faster while reducing pathogens. PACT Outdoors is headquartered in Crested Butte, Colorado. For more information, visit: pactoutdoors.com.

About the Colorado Tourism Office

The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) is a division of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade. The mission of the CTO is to empower the tourism industry by inspiring the world to explore Colorado responsibly and respectfully. The CTO seeks to advance the strength and resilience of the entire industry through collaboration, inclusivity, innovation and leadership. In 2022, Colorado travelers spent $27.7 billion, generating $1.7 billion in local and state revenues, reducing the tax burden for every Colorado household by $760. For more information, please visit www.colorado.com

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