What happens when thousands of people relieve themselves in a landscape where nothing decomposes? In this episode, we tackle the ”grossest” secret in the Himalayas: the human waste crisis. For decades, the solution was to ”dig a hole and forget it,” but in 2026, the melting glaciers are revealing the consequences. We discuss the biological reality of trekking at 5,000 meters.

While mountaineers often get much of the grim light around this story. The mountain villages trekkers go through are also feeling the stink.

What we cover in this episode:

• The Stink: Why local municipalities are stuck on how to proceed.

• The Wag Bag Revolution: A practical guide to biodegradable bags. How do they work? Where do you get them? Are they even practical?

• The Biogas Hope: An update on the Biogas Project and how engineers want to try and turn waste into renewable energy for local villages.

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