Besides TP, living for extended periods of time on unsupported trips, means taking very good care of your body. You must be as clean and well lubricated as possible. You cannot afford to get sick, carry vitamins including C. Carry a towel. You will want to leave every thing behind except what makes you feel good (like maybe down socks). I like "no rinse" body bath, but I hate their shampoo and cream rinse. I can take a bath in 6 ounces of hot water and a splash of no rinse and it really does cut the smell and makes me feel clean and afterwards I am willing to get into a clean sleeping bag with myself. Of course everything eventually runs out. Then you come home.
I think if you practiced at home, jump from the toilet into the shower? Anyway I would certainly practice before committing to it. Just My $.02 Jim
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These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.
Though I was born and raised in the US I'm 1/2 Filipino and have visited the Philippines several times. There is a custom there called "Tabo" and it pertains to washing your hiney after doing the do.
Toilet paper is expensive there and often you won't find any in peoples houses, let alone public loo's. Sometimes, if you are lucky, a spray nozzle like on your kitchen sink will be attached to the plumbing but most often there will be a long handled cup or dipper and a bucket of water. The idea is to use your hand (left hand?) to wash up and then wash your hands afterward with soap.
If you see a long handled cup in a Filipinos bathroom you can be sure they are practicing Tabo.
Much of the world gets by with washing, or natural materiels. It's really not that bad, Personally I've found being able to wash afterwards more important anyway, for me, no amount of wiping will make me not get "rashy" when I'm hiking all day. so I take a small washcloth ( a square of old Tshirt which stays in a ziploc) or baby wipes. I do usually take TP as well, but if I had to choose one I'd only take the former.
Besides, TP as we know it was only invented in 1880..
129 years is certainly enough for me to get conditioned to its use I know about using leaves (just watch out for the poisin ivy ) or water with a rag or hand. If that was my only choice, I'd make do, but I have the option of TP where I hike and I will continue to use it thank you very much!
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If I wouldn't eat it at home, why would I want to eat it on the trail?
My friend, "Camo Bob," sent me a pic of what he's using.
Camo tape? Now that's a different approach. Simply tape up the orifice and don't worry about it anymore. I bet he gains a lot of weight during his hikes!
Supposedly there's TP made for mobile homes that completely dissolves in water. Technically I don't know if it's biodegradeable.
They make tp for RVs that will dissolve, you probably meant to say. I used to work at an rv repair shop and I know for a fact that it doesn't dissolve all that well unless you have a substantial liquid in the tank, otherwise it becomes saturated. Generally if it dissolves it will be biodegradeable, because it just falls apart, where as something like a plastic bag doesn't.
In the south... Leaves and cleaning up with water/wet wipe/bandana.
I've been following this thread all along and have a few good laughs and learned some things along the way. But honestly, I never expected the thread to receive this many responses.
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I always forget and make it more complicated than it needs to be...it's just walking.
I'm still appalled at the realization that they are scientifically designed to stuff you up.. Sheesh if I have to hike all day constipated my disposition becomes like a bear with a sore butt.. never mind if you then put a mattell machine gun in my hand...
I'm still appalled at the realization that they are scientifically designed to stuff you up.. Sheesh if I have to hike all day constipated my disposition becomes like a bear with a sore butt.. never mind if you then put a mattell machine gun in my hand...
I don't know if constipated is the right word. I never have felt discomfort. I just didn't need to go for a day or two. And when I did, I had the convenience of deciding the best time (like when you have a break, or are near a toilet). It is much better than having the runs when people are shooting at you, or even getting that emergency feeling that you have to go NOW and are no where near a convenient spot. Again, I never have felt discomfort. But, YMMV.
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I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.
Having no direct experience in the matter, I have to think that if someone were shooting at me, I'd develop the runs pretty quickly, regardless of what I had been eating.
I never used TP, partly bc my first outdoor experience was with OB.
It really isn't that bad--I prefer smooth stones rinsed in a bit of water, or soft (non poison ivy) leaves. And then you don't have disgusting TP in your pack all day.
If you're female I'd still recommend bringing a small cache of baby wipes for the end of the day if you won't be able to wash.
Do you mean spruce cones? I know of no soft pine cones.
[quote=Bearpaw]I taught with NOLS from 2001-2003.
western pine cones. They are thoroughly different from those I grew up with in the east. No sharp edges and they are basically brushes that work quite well. I've actually known students to fill a plastic bag with the softest, "downiest" pinecones they can find at each campsite so they have a ready supply of natural TP.
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Ahh yes... The freedom of the hills
I am looking at this thread a couple of weeks late but will give a suggestion at the other "end" of the spectrum. And I'll try to keep the puns at a minimum.
Some time back I had lower intestinal problems and among other things (surgical, painful things) my doctor recommended a daily dose of powdered fiber. He said that Americans just don't get enough fiber in their diets and he recommends this to all patients, young and old.
So to make a long story short, after some experimentation to discover the "right" dose for me, it is 1 teaspoon in a glass of water in the morning and a second in the afternoon when I come home thirsty after work.
What I have noticed from this and my point is, my bowel movements are relaxed and easy because the stool is very soft but at the same time it is not wet or sticky. I only use one square of paper because there's just nothing left behind to "wipe" away. More out of habit than anything else. It is very clean.
So there's more than you need to know, sorry for that. But you could try it for a week at home to see what works for you. It takes a couple of days for your system to get used to it and settle down.
A little bit of very judicious shaving may help also.
I worked for NOLS in the field for 20 years and spent most of my backcountry time without toilet paper. Snow, spruce cones, certain leaves, bundles of soft early pine needles, smooth dry sticks and smooth rocks all have some workability. I always thought that squirrel fur would be the ultimate, but the little buggers are hard to catch with your pants down.
Washing the privates regularly also helps tremendously. Any leftover smears on your butt will turn into diaper rash.
These days I carry TP and wet wipes, pack it in and pack it out. I take three small Ziplocks, one with TP, one with wipes, one for the used goods.
And remember to wash your hands. Fecal-oral contamination is a common cause of intestinal illness in the backcountry and has caused distress to quite a few NOLSies.
Registered: 09/04/02
Posts: 101
Loc: Washington State
I have not used TP in the backcountry for a few years now. Instead, I use a little squirt bottle that once held Campsuds soap. It is, indeed, my backpacker's bidet. I fill it with wild water and just squirt it down my backside after doing the dirty deed. A scrub or two with my left hand followed by rinsing. Wash my hands with biosoap and more water. Leaves you feeling clean and happy!
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"There is more to life than increasing it's speed" - Gandhi
Just a thought after reading this entire thread. I might be wrong but it seems to me like you will do more harm to the environment if you rinse and then use soap(even if it is biodegradable) than if you just use a little tp.
I might be wrong but it seems to me like you will do more harm to the environment if you rinse and then use soap(even if it is biodegradable) than if you just use a little tp.
How so? What harm, exactly? The soap I use, (dr. bronners) is vegetable based and literally only a drop or two is used. The water was already there. I can't see it doing any more harm than the chemicals in your poop and pee, along with no telling what else your trip impacts (plastics off-gassing, car exhaust, your own human presence). NOT using TP saves weight, garbage, trees... . When you wash, you are in fact, cleaner. After a while, you're going to run out of TP anyway. What then?
The TP and our waste is very degradable. The problem is folks don't cover the cat-hole well enough and some critter will dig up the corpse and scatter it and the TP about the area. Very bad.
Find a large rock roll it over dig the cat-hole deep and neat, the earthen mounds will protect your calves from the dreaded splash back (GI Trots) cover the evidence with the dirt and then cover the dirt with the ground leaves. Finally replace the rock and King TUT will forever be sealed in his tomb.
Like the man said keep it fun...and for gods sake don't crap in a sandwich bag, if you carry your waste on your pack use what we did in the army a large garbage can bag.Much easier to hit the target that way. Like they say "all employee's must wash their hands before leaving."
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