Plan For Poo
( A post by Tim Ashelford, Publisher of the website 'We Are Explorers' 13/06/2023)
You never know when you’ll need to go to the toilet in the outdoors so remember the 6 P’s:
- Prior
- Planning
- Prevents
- Poor
- Poo
- Performance
Research Your Potential Poo Locations
Knowing whether there’s a toilet on the horizon might save you the effort of a wild poo. Plus, it’s better for the environment.
If you’re camping somewhere arid, alpine or close to water (like a canyon, more on that later) you might need to consider packing your poo out or using a poo tube.
Prep Your Camping Poo Kit
Your camping poo kit has to be flexible depending on the conditions, there are two main types:
The Wild Poo Kit
This is for when you expect to be able to dig a hole. It includes:
- Toilet paper (the recycled stuff biodegrades the best)
- A trowel
- Hand sanitiser
The Pack-It-Out Kit
This kit is for when you can’t leave your poo behind:
- Paper bags for your business
- A plastic bag
- A dry bag
- Hand sanitiser (but probably keep this separate)
Put your hand inside one of the paper bags, pick up the poo and turn the bag inside out. Now place the paper bag inside your plastic bag, expel the air and tie a knot. Place the plastic bag inside a dry bag to really protect your gear from your portable camp toilet.
Showtime
Location Location Location!
You want your outdoor toilet to be at least 100 metres* from camp, trails and water sources. Don’t skimp on this, the further the better! Look for somewhere people are unlikely to go and do your best to find the softest, moistest soil available.
If you can’t find poo real estate that fits these specs you might need to pack-it-out. Poo doesn’t decompose well in arid or alpine areas and in canyons or wetlands you can’t get away from the water!
*If you’re having trouble working out how far this is, visualise a footy field or take 100 big steps.
Dig Deep
Dig your hole (sometimes called a ‘cathole’) at least 15cm deep and wide enough to handle your shoddy aim. Pile the dirt next to the hole. You can use your trowel, a stick, stone or even the heel of your boot, just get it done.
Assume The Position And Poo In The Bush
Or more accurately, the hole. Squat over the hole and poo into it. Bend ze knees. Easy done. Feel the relief wash over you.
Pro tip: Don’t pull your pants the whole way down. Pulling them as far as your knees should do and it’ll keep them out of the firing line.
Grab A Leaf
Or a rock. Natural toilet paper is Leave No Trace approved! Or you can grab the toilet paper you packed earlier. You can bury small amounts of toilet paper but if you’re in one of the sensitive areas mentioned before, or really want to minimise your impact, the best thing you can do is to pack-it-out.
Don’t burn it: There are far too many stories of fires that have started in this (admittedly pretty funny) way. Plus, burning poo smells exactly as you’d expect.
Fill It In and Stomp It Down
Aid decomposition by mixing your offering into the dirt with a stick, then fill the hole right back up and stomp it solid. Chuck some leaves over the top and voilà, mischief managed.
Special Mentions:
Feminine Hygiene Products
Tampons and pads need to be packed out. They won’t burn, or decompose effectively, if buried.
Urine
Animals are super gross and will come towards wherever you’ve peed and eat the leaves you’ve peed on. Best to pee on hard surfaces like rocks or dirt, avoid the sides of trees in case it leads to ring barking.
Acknowledgement of source and written work
This article was sourced from a post published by Tim Ashelford, Publisher of the website 'We Are Explorers' 13/06/2023
The cartoon was sourced from the same post "Just two bros doing it right. – Illustration by @aidanmh"
You can find out more here https://weareexplorers.co/