When Nature Calls
With the warmer weather getting us outdoors more often, we thought it might be the perfect time to highlight hygiene strategies for the outdoors.
Everyone poops (anyone else remember that childhood classic?) and many people menstruate. These basic human functions can often seem like a good reason to stay indoors and close to a bathroom, but they don't need to serve as a barrier to getting outdoors. With the proper preparations, anyone can enjoy their time outside while also being ready for those moments when "nature calls".
First things first - let’s always remember to Leave No Trace. The 7 Leave No Trace Principles were created to help us minimize our impacts on nature while recreating outside. The third principle, Dispose of Waste Properly, is most applicable to this topic. It’s important that we carry out everything we bring into the outdoors when we’re on a hiking or camping trip. Yes, this does include toilet paper or menstrual products (more on that below!). Toilet paper can take over a year to decompose, so it’s always best to pack it out. Leave No Trace principles require that we are at least 200 feet, or approximately 70 large footsteps, away from any trails, campsites, or water sources when going to the bathroom in nature.
For peeing in nature, you first want to find a place that’s at least 200 feet away from the trail, any campsites, and most importantly water sources. Next, look around you and, if possible, find a place to pee that has little vegetation and more durable surfaces. Durable surfaces can include top of rocks or pinecones.
Even though it sounds a bit weird, it’s really helpful to use a pee rag when you’re out hiking or on a camping trip. What’s a pee rag you wonder? It could be something as simple as a bandana or you could purchase a specialized, antimicrobial cloth (like a Kula cloth). Simply use the cloth to wipe after peeing outdoors and then let it hang on the outside of your pack to dry during the day. If you’re on a multi-day trip, I would suggest rinsing it each night and washing it when you return home. To those of you who wonder how sanitary a pee rag is, consider the fact that the ultra-violet rays from the sun are a great disinfectant - by hanging your rag on the outside of your pack it’ll dry in the sunshine & disinfect itself pretty well.
Another helpful tip is to wear moisture wicking underwear. This type of underwear breathes well, dries quickly, and is often antimicrobial. Cotton underwear will absorb more moisture and stay wet, which isn’t great for droplets when you’re on a long distance hike. Our favorite brand of moisture wicking underwear is ExOfficio.
For pooping in nature, the most important step is putting together your “poop kit” and remembering to bring it with you on your outdoor adventures and camping trips. What should you include in a poop kit? You’ll want to bring a small shovel/trowel so you can dig a cathole to Leave No Trace, toilet paper, a small ziplock bag to pack out your toilet paper, and hand sanitizer. Don’t have a small shovel or trowel? No problem! Sticks work as a great make-shift trowel when you need it.
The first step is finding an appropriate place to poop. Once again, make sure you’re at least 200 feet away from any trails, campsites, or water. Find a spot on the ground where you can dig a 6-8 inches deep hole using your trowel. Poop in the hole, wipe, and pack your toilet paper away in your ziplock bag. Cover the hole back up and use your hand sanitizer!
Depending on where you’re recreating or camping, you’ll have to research whether you can simply dig catholes in the ground to poop in or whether you have to pack your waste out. Most likely, if you’re camping in the Midwest, you’ll be fine to just dig a cathole. However, in some more sensitive environments like the desert or tundra, you need to pack out your poop. Yes, I know…not what you were wanting to hear. Thankfully, for those situations you can purchase what is known as a “wag bag” - puncture-resistant, ziplock bags that contain a deodorizing/gelling agent to make transporting your poop much more enjoyable (and sanitary!)
Getting your period doesn’t have to be a dealbreaker for a camping trip, either! For periods in nature, you need to consider whether you want to use pads, tampons, a menstrual cup, period-specific underwear, or some combination of those items.
If you choose to use pads and tampons, just remember that all of the waste needs to be packed out. This includes all wrapping, packaging, and the used items themselves. Bring a ziplock or disposable bag to hold all your waste. Some people prefer an opaque bag to hide the items inside, or you could cover the ziplock in duct tape. Additionally, a little sprinkle of baking soda in the bag before you leave can help with deodorizing.
If you choose to use a menstrual cup, make sure you’re comfortable using it before you use one outdoors. This is a great waste-free option to use and a single cup can be reused for several years! A menstrual cup is a flexible silicone or rubber cup inserted to catch your menstrual flow. There are many brands and the sizes may differ depending on your age, flow, or childbirth history. A perk is that, once inserted, you can keep it in for up to 12 hours. At that point, you just remove the cup (follow directions on packaging or research your brand’s instructions online) and empty the contents into a 6-8 inch deep cathole. After that, rinse the cup using some clean water and reinsert it. When you get home from a trip, you can boil the cup for a thorough cleaning. A key part in all of this is maintaining clean hands as well, so be sure to wash your hands before and after.
Period underwear (like Thinx) can be helpful because they absorb your period, similar to a pad, however they are less bulky and reusable. Unfortunately, they are pretty pricey and take a while to dry so they may not be the best for long trips. For shorter trips, period underwear can be a great solution to help you move comfortably while you recreate.
Oftentimes, peeing, pooping, or dealing with a period while outdoors or on a camping trip can be a person's worst nightmare. With these tips & tricks, you’ll be prepared for the next time nature calls while you’re on trail!
