Ultralight Tip of the Week

>You mean, you guys don't shave your hariy parts before heading out?

If I shaved all my hairy parts, I'd have to shave everywhere except the top of my head. Besides, there are some locations, like my back, that are unreachable by razor without the possibility of serious joint dislocation.

Ah, the effects of age. You get more hair every place but where you want it.

You CAN reach the hair on your back – all you need is a roll of newspaper and a lighter. Don't ask me how I know that.

This discussion got weird real quick. I'm shocked no one mentioned the potential weight savings of pre-trip manscaping! I think that deserves a tip all its own.

That's why we have fires in the back country. So everyone smells like smoked BO.

I don't mind being smelly; it's part of the backpacking environment! However, I do mind when I develop fungus in various skin-fold areas after several days of not washing. I also have to clean my nether regions daily due to a couple of medical conditions that would become serious if I didn't do so. I therefore carry diaper wipes. If used daily, a single wipe suffices to clean both the skinfold areas and the nether regions, and prevents both the fungusamongus and infections due to the medical conditions. Of course the used wipes are packed out!

I also have been known to take a quick sponge bath in the tent if I get uncomfortably sweaty. I'm just not brave enough to jump into a COLD mountain lake or to endure the bug bites I receive while trying to work up sufficient courage!

Feet, of course, are a special case, and I do dunk them in the creek every evening!

I do leave water, a washrag and hand towel and more wipes in the car at the trailhead so I can remove the worst of the dirt/stink before heading back to civilization.

Re shaving body hair–not a good idea! As any woman who went through childbirth in the bad old days can tell you, it itches like crazy when it's growing back in!

I know a local esthetician (body waxer) who's had entire troops of forest fire fighters visit her before going on assignment for weeks to months at a time. A full "down there" wax (male and female) cuts down on what she called "dingleberries," reducing the need for TP – or as much of it as usual.

I still haven't quite recovered.

"dingleberries"…. that made my day.

Personally, I think I'd take the 'berries' over the itch of new hair growing back in…. not that I would know anything about that.

lol at Addie post.

On the Survivor Man show, he suffocated a campfire with juniper or pine branches. The claim was that the white smoke would kill the BO bacteria, and you smell like a smokey campfire instead of malodorous stink.

Smoke bath.

This is for all you English/poetry nerds out there…..

(My apologies to Mr. Longfellow)

I once got the Itchie Goomies,
I should have washed in Big-Sea-Water,
To avoid the dingleberries
The harsh red dingleberries
Dark behind me rose the forest,
Rose my hairy, smelly nether region,
Rose my cojones with rash upon them;
Smelly before I scrubbed them in water,
Scrubbed them in the clear and sunny water,
Scrubbed them in the shining Big-Sea-Water.
There my wrinkled old nether region
Housed my little "Hiawatha,"
Wrapped in his woolen cradle,
Made soft with moss and rushes.
Safely bound with shockcorded sinews;
Stilled my fretful wail by thinking,
"Hush! Next time wax those nether regions!"
Lulled myself into slumber, singing,
"Ewa-yea! my little ow-let!
Let thy cool cream soothe the "wigwam"?
With baking soda, soothe the "wigwam"?
Ewa-yea! my little ow-let!"

Doug!!! ROTFLMAO!!!!

Same here! If laughter is the best medicine, Doug has delivered an awesome dose!

Was enjoying am ice cream sandwich when I read Doug's "poem" … anyone know how to clean ice cream off a display and keyboard?

regarding:
"Scrubbed them in the shining Big-Sea-Water.
There my wrinkled old nether region

Scrubbing in the Big-Sea-Water (Lake Superior) will most cause your nethers to shrivel as well as wrinkle! Cold, that lake is!

I nominate Doug as Poet Laureate of BPL!

Healthy people with a good diet don't smell as much. To me the 12 grams of dried/cut baby wipes are well worth their weight. I don't mind getting dirty and I appreciate what a luxury it is to be able to get in my shower and turn on the hot water, but why be stinky if you don't have to…

Not as fun as DYI toothpaste dots but handy. Don't know about the ingredients though. Great book and fun reading.

I've been trying to dry colgate total for two months in the arid central valley of california. Its sill sticky and not hardening at all.

What's a good brand to make the dots?

After reading another thread on this, I did a "head to head" of Colgate (the one suggested – I already used it and had some on hand) and Sensodyne Pronamel (I had a sample from the dentist). I just put lines of each on wax paper and dried in room air (don't have a dehydrator). I'm in San Antonio – not really, REALLY dry, but not soggy either.

The Colgate was all spready and took weeks (and is still sort of sticky now). The Sensodyne was mostly dry by 24 hours, and curling up off of the wax paper in solid little "ropes" that you could pick up like sticks within 48 hours. This is even after moving the plates into the bathroom for convenience (where it's more humid). The OP of the other thread (also trying different brands for a trip) also found that Sensodyne worked very well (not sure what "type" of Sensodyne he used).

""I've been trying to dry colgate total for two months in the arid central valley of california. Its sill sticky and not hardening at all.
What's a good brand to make the dots?""

When I made dots in a dehydrator I tried several kinds. The regular old looking Colgate (plane-looking label, travel size, $.99) did the best and was ready after several hours. I tried the Colgate, Arm&Hammer Whitening and Crest ProHealth. Try to avoid stuff with "gels."

Those are kinda cool. Little on the spendy side compared to a tube of paste. But they are already ready.

"but why be stinky if you don't have to…"

It's a guy thing, Kat. You know, snakes and snails and puppy dog tails, and all that stuff… ;=)

Jennifer — I used Colgate TOTAL recently (it's chalky and white) and it dried fast and perfectly.

I might have that wrong, I don't have the tube anymore so I can't be sure.

Clayton — I love the pre made dots!!! THanks for the heads up!!!

I may regret admitting this, but I've shaved "there" for hygiene and ease of use.

I spent ten years in a row working 30-day trips on glaciers in Alaska for NOLS. The itchy factor was minimal, and the benefits of "no hassle" was worth it. I will do it again for my next big trip. Highly recommended.

I regret it :) Too much info!

Re: toothpaste

I use Colgate liquid gel type toothpaste in a small wide-mouth vial so I can get it all.

Baking soda is a LOT easier on the environment–no white spots on the ground or foliage where you spit it out (you don't even need to spit it out!). Dentist recommended, multiple uses–what more do you want?