Sleeping - I sleep very well on the trail when I go solo. I have had bad nights in group settings where someone is a snorer or has serious body odor issues. Once I was shacked up in a tent with a guy who had too much to drink. I woke up when his pee started soaking into my sleeping bag. (What? A leak? Doesn't sound like rain...) I even had one experience where two of my friends decided to have a fling in the neighboring tent, complete with sound effects loud enough to quiet the crickets. And people ask me why I hike solo!

Is there some tongue-in-cheek reason that you made the topic of pooping #2? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Last year I went hiking with an Indian friend. The morning after our first night on the trail he excused himself from camp, grabbed a cup of water and wandered off. (Do you see where this is going?)

For half of the world's population, toilet paper is a western barbarism (can you say unclean?). They wash their bums when they go. It's just a matter of a few handfuls of water. No bidet required. This is why in India it is frowned upon to use your left hand to offer anything to another person or to eat with - the left is traditionally used for sanitary duties. I tried it on my last outing - it works and no, your hand doesn't stink when you're done and you don't get monkeybutt. A little soap and water afterward takes care of any sanitary concerns. My pack is now 2.5 ounces lighter because I don't carry TP or wipes. Extra bonus: I don't have to pack out TP. Now THAT's gross!

Wet Gear - As most have said, don't get it wet. If it does get wet, either bail on the trip or be prepared for a cold night next to a hot fire. Personal Story: On a canoing trip my canoe was holed by a submerged branch. As it sank we cut the lashings on our gear and started tossing it on the shore. Unfortunately, my sleeping bag rolled back down the bank into the river and began an epic journey that I don't have time or space to tell you about at the moment. Now we could have done the three-guys-huddled-under-two-sleeping-bags thing, but machismo won out. That night I made TWO fires and slept between them. I still didn't sleep well because the fires had to be stoked every couple of hours, but I made it through the night so we could paddle out the next day.

On Shaving - Some don't need water. There were guys in the Navy who would dry-shave on inspection days. I guess someone could also use a travel electric razor - they weigh about 2-3-oz without the batteries.

Bathing - Nope. I take showers if I must be clean. A solar shower is pretty darn light, and for a few ounces it doubles as an untreated water carrier/dispenser. I was doubtful the first time I used one, but it sure beats a cookpot bath. The only drawbacks are that you need a sunny day to get the water hot and a place to hang the bag.