I have noticed that American bloggers are far less reticent
when it comes to talking crap in posts about wild camping. But with the growth in
understanding about the importance of the ‘leave no trace’ philosophy I thought
I would pose a question about a subject that would be guaranteed to start any
decent school boy sniggering.
Now we all know that bears shit in the woods. And
backpackers shit on the hill. So what is the appropriate way to deal with
the doings? Many years ago I was taught to dig a hole, the deeper the better, commit
the deed, produce a lighter and burn the paper, refill the hole, making sure
you didn’t set fire to the peat or surrounding vegetation. And that’s what I have done until this day.
However, I am worried that this might not be adequate, but hope it is! Many
US bloggers now appear to be discussing the best sorts of methods of carrying
out the used paper in a hygienic manner. Here's an example, with (discreet) photos included. And now I read that in some places eg
in Yosemite (I think) it is a requirement to carry out the whole caboodle,
doggy poo bag style. I have to say I don’t fancy that. Even worse, it might
lead to the backpacking equivalent of those dog owners who seem to think it is
ok to scoop then hang the bag on the nearest branch or chuck it over a garden
wall.
So it’s not a very delicate subject but what is the
appropriate way to deal with this in the hills in this day and age?
I've never had to carry it out in Yosemite, but have heard of this happening in the Grand Canyon. 'Smearing' used to be a popular idea in Yosemite - spreading it as thin as possible on the surface (well off the trail obviously) so that it could degrade as quickly as possible in the weather.
ReplyDeleteI will say though, that I always bag and carry out loo paper....
It's Chrissie btw - don't know why google has me down with my previous surname.
The rules in Yosemite are to dig a hole (6 inches deep), do your business, bury it and pack out the paper. No burning or burying of the bog roll. Mount Whitney area has different rules, you have to use a 'Wag bag' which is basically a bag with absorbent cat litter type stuff in it. You have to bring the lot out with you.
ReplyDeleteThe Leave no Trace rules are more widespread over there I think.
We did Whitney back in 1997 and there were no Wag Bags then, but the pooh issue was already becoming a big problem and it doesn't surprise me that they have been introduced.
DeleteCarrying out used paper is not that bad. I had to in Zion. Double plastic bags got the job done, but I have to admit that I was glad to find a trash can in the middle of nowhere where I could dispose of the evidence. If I was bothying alone, I'd probably burn it. When you think of the nasty surprises waiting for anyone who overturns a boulder near Corrour bothy, perhaps that ought to be more common. Poo might go in a week in summer but paper doesn't. Alternatively, collect dock leaves.
ReplyDeleteCorrour actually has a toilet so there shouldn't be any nasty surprises (except perhaps adders - I saw one near Corrour this May)
DeleteFull, easy-to-follow instructions here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Every-Day-Above-New-Horizon/dp/1493505580/ref=la_B00MAXJ9G6_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415810877&sr=1-2
Pages 97 and 98!
We carry our paper out in ziplock bags. Bury all solids as deep as practicle, although there was a time in Patagonia where I couldn't actually dig! I kept my WAG bag from our JMT as a handy souvenir. It may come in handy if I get caught short during Xmas shopping!
ReplyDeleteThe essence of toilet paper decomposition is wetness. It is designed to break down in water so that when you flush it, by the time it gets to the sewage works then it should be in small bits. So, the best way to ensure breakdown is to make sure that it's wet - leaving it out in the rain is actually better than leaving it under a rock from a decomposition but not an aesthetic perspective. My guess is that burying toilet paper in acidic wet peat will lead to decomposition in a very short time.
ReplyDeleteThis post has done a comparitive test of toilet paper disposal methods:
http://hikethru.com/hiking-information/backyard-science/toilet-paper-decomposition
It would be 'interesting' to repeat this in British conditions. A garden experiment perhaps?
As far as the shit itself is concerned, I really don't see a problem with burying this so long as it's not near a watercourse and it's not where someone would camp (e.g. on a hillside). Again, I think it will decompose pretty fast.
Dave, plastic bags are for cooking not for carrying crap. Trust you!
ReplyDeleteI burn my paper and wait until its fully burned before burying it. I don’t think i could pick up my doings anyway.
I would just like to thank everybody for all their crap comments.
ReplyDeleteI’ve made a nice crap trowel that actually works and looks like a trowel and not a tent peg. Weight 24grams and took 5 minutes to make.
DeleteI can't make diddly squat, Alan, so I will stick to the MSR Blizzard with some duck tape wrapped around it as a handle!
ReplyDeleteI once got caught short climbing the Orient Express on Denali while roped between two other climbers in a white-out. Had to dig a wide enough ledge in the steep snow to squat down on, dropped my salopettes......and completely missed. It all rolled off down the mountain gathering speed. My climbing partner below got a hell of a shock..... BELOW !! (Ordinarily it was bagged off the mountain, at least the temperature keeping it frozen)
ReplyDeleteThat is a splendid tale, John. Fancy, you could have started an avalanche by having a shit :-)
ReplyDelete