Vantage: Vehicle Use Permit

[WayneR]

I am wondering what the WDFW provides at Vantage to justify charging climbers through the Vehicle Use Permit? I ask because the 2 porta-jons at the main parking lot don't seem to be emptied often, are frequently filled to the rim, and out of TP. A few weekends ago when I was there on a Sunday(5/7), they were out of TP and very full.

Thought I'd ask here first before firing off and email to the manager.

[Matt Perkins]

That's a good question. I think the answer is that they justify the parking fees because they need the money.

There is a little bit of information on their web page.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/vup/qanda.htm

You might also contact this guy:

Kevin Dwight, Frenchman Coulee Climbers Coalition
kdwght@elltel.net
509-929-2826

[Andy Fitz]

It is a good question. I know in years past, WDFW has relied on mitigation money from the Gorge Ampitheatre--and NOTthe "stewardship pass" funds--to manage the toilets.

I don't think it's a bad idea to ask the question of the manager. A couple of years ago, WDFW supported a grant proposal I worked on to put in some more infrastructure out there (including real vault toilets). They came to me with the idea of submitting the grant, saying that they recognized climbers as a user group at Frenchman Coulee. Sending off a courteous message reminding WDFW that you're helping to pay, but not seeing great results, isn't a bad thing at all.

[Lucky Gibson]

Don't strir up anything at the coulee ,we still have free camping ,parting around the pits, I know that concrete and urbannation is coming , but let's enjoy what we have now and not be a thorn in the side of the DFWL, I still love the last resort of climbing days that are far gone in other areas, hey if you want to do something lets put up the bucks and pay for more toilet pumping. Every time I climb at the Vantage i thank the powers to be that it is still what it was ...climbers that drop by for a daytime visit don't know what the coulee is about.
if your talk'n infustructurture as closing off the car camping and putting up concrete to close off the pits ,let it go untill it is forced upon us.
this my first reply to this board but you have hit a subject that is close to my heart
LUCKY

[Matt Perkins]

Here's a photo of yours that I particularly like, Lucky.

I agree with Andy that a POLITE letter to the land manager probably won't hurt. However, I agree with you that we don't want to become a "thorn in the side" of land managers at Vantage or anywhere else. If we could raise $ to pay for pumping of a sanican that is largely (mostly?) used by non-climbers, we would indeed be "silent heros" and we'd do a lot for the ambiance there, too.

[Lucky Gibson]

I have suggested in the past the addition of two more potties.
I haven't got any backing in the past on the idea.
If they were added in the spring and pulled during concert season, than added again in the fall with a scheduled pumping on a Fridays would be good . Funding could come from The FCCC fund, Guide book money that is allready being donated, Donations from Climbing gear shops ect.

With all the rainfall this year the coulee is really green this year. BY Sunday the potties could have used another pump. The weather was good this weekend, with only a few car campers.The walls were sparce as far as climbers go.
The Air force was having a drop zone training in echo canyon complete with all terrain vehicles, I wonder why they don't use there own reserve.

[WayneR]

Thanks for your replies and input. Lucky, not wanting to screw things up is exactly why I asked this question here first. Personally, I think a vault toilet would be nice, but would be happy if the existing toilets were pumped more frequently. I don't enjoy having to dig through my car for some spare paper and using a rock to knock over the tower of excrement that reaches to the toilet seat rim.

I'm going to send off a polite letter to Greg Fitzgerald, asking if the toilets could be emptied on Fridays so that this might be less of an issue.

[Lucky Gibson]

I would be into a vault toilet if we could figure out how to keep the concert goers from dumping trash in them and or distroying them, it could get pretty spendy.

[SaraLingafelter]

I'm surprised there isn't an entire discussion forum by now on here devoted to the composting toilets at Morning Glory wall at Smith... that setup is incredible.

- Sara