Bathroom Stuff

Right off the bat, kicking this blog off with a question many newbie backpackers have: How do you go to the bathroom out there?

First and foremost: Learn the Leave No Trace principles. I won't go over them here because they're covered so well and thoroughly elsewhere, but this is crucial. Don't be that person who thinks their used toilet paper is going to stay buried. It won't, at least not in the Sierras. I don't know why, but animals dig it up and scatter it all around. it's gross. Pack it out.

Now: On to the rest of it!

My Current System

This would be considered overkill by a lot of hardened backpackers. God forbid an ultralight backpacker ever reads this. But it works for me. And even in situations where I'm not able to immediately wash my hands afterwards, this system makes me feel pretty good about the cleanliness of my hands.

Supplies:

I have a small polyester (machine washable) stuff sack I use to hold the essentials:

• a small trowel

• a sandwich-sized Ziploc with clean toilet paper. I fold it accordion-style into squares for easier packing, and bring 18 squares per day (which is more than I've ever needed, but I really wouldn't want to be caught short-handed if I'm already in some gastrointestinal distress, and it doesn't weigh much).

• a sandwich-sized Ziploc with surgical gloves (any kind is fine... I use whatever my drug store has in stock). I bring 3 per day.

• a quart-sized Ziploc covered in masking tape (for opacity), with a sandwich-size Ziploc nested inside -- this is for my used toilet paper.

• hand sanitizer, kept in a snack-sized Ziploc (one time it leaked all over everything, hence the Ziploc).

Number Two:

This is the grosser one, admittedly. I dig a hole (at least 6 inches deep!) and get all my supplies lined up -- my clean TP, my hand sanitizer, my bag for dirty TP, and I pull on a surgical glove. When I've done what I came there to do, I use the gloved hand to wipe (using a couple squares at a time), and when that's done, I hold all the used TP in my gloved hand, and pull off the glove over the TP. Then the whole package goes in the used TP Ziploc. I fill in my cat hole, drop a big rock on top of it, and hand sanitize on my way back to camp.

Number One:

After using a Freshette for a couple of years, now I just squat, aim downhill, keep my feet as far apart as possible, keep my clothes out of the line of splatter, and go. If I'll be able to wash my hands afterwards, I'll skip the surgical glove when it's time to wipe (and just use hand sanitizer). But if immediate hand washing isn't in the cards, the surgical glove gives me that extra bit of cleanliness and protection.

Hand Washing:

Obviously, hand washing is the ideal way to make sure you aren't spreading or ingesting any gross germs post-bathroom trips. I always cook my breakfast and dinner, so I always have a basin of water on standby for dishes at those times. I go to the bathroom before food prep, wash my hands, make and eat my meal, then wash my dishes in the same water.

Periods:

So, this is my area of least experience. I've never had a period in the backcountry. The first few years, I just lucked out with the timing of my trips. Then I ultimately switched to a birth control pill that only gives you a period four times a year. I don't get a period all summer long. It's glorious, and I highly recommend it.

Other options are tampons (and pack them out) or a period cup like DivaCup. Both have their drawbacks: the former with the extra weight of used tampons, the latter meaning you have one more thing to keep clean, while squatting in the woods.

Other Options Worth Considering

Freshette or similar: Pee funnels do make it easier to pee in non-ideal situations -- they direct the pee away from your body/clothes, and you can use them without pulling your pants all the way down. I used them for a few years, but ultimately I decided they were a little fussy, and I grew more comfortable just squatting. But they were a good gateway device for me.

Pee rag: I first heard about this idea years ago -- just as a bandana tied to the outside of a pack -- and now I see they make them for sale, too. The idea is that fresh pee is pretty clean, so there's no harm in a reusable rag that you can disinfect in the sun between uses. My personal reservation is that, after a full day's hike... let's just say clean, fresh pee is not the only thing this rag will be picking up. But other women love them! And use them without issue. It would eliminate a lot of toilet paper usage.

Backcountry bidet: I've never tried this, but the idea is that you fill a squeeze bottle with soapy water, and actually wash yourself after a Number Two bathroom experience, rather than using toilet paper. Popular with through-hikers, in particular, and serves double duty in keeping your body clean. If I did ever try this, I'd try combining with the surgical gloves. I'd also think about how cold lake water is at 10,000 ft. at 7 in the morning.