Note: if you are going to attempt to wash your wool socks while on the trail I advise you do this when off the trail in town at a laundry. You WILL need to dry them in a dryer or else they will be wet for days on the trail <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> I helped out a guy who had washed all his clothing on a trail one time; and had nothing but wet wool socks to hike in. I gave him a spare pair of dry ones from my pack and we met up in a town down the trail a few days later; where he graciuosly returned my socks <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Again, bathing in any water bodies is frowned upon by those coming up behind you for their drinking water <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Use a large contractor type garbage bag to 'shower' in. Fill with a few gallons of water in a sunny spot where you might like to camp for the night. In a few hours the water solar heats enough to step in in your b'day suit and wash up. I suspend the bag edges with clips from nearby bushes sometimes in order to have the bag up somewhat while my hands are free to wash. This also makes a decent washing machine on the trail IME <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />