Norovirus in the wilderness? How an outbreak spread on the Pacific Crest Trail

cabin with a pit toilet, are you really in the backcountry?

Some trails run into cabins and pit toilets open to the general public.  Some maybe fire “cabins” that haven’t been used except by rodents.  Don’t really care to hang around them to be honest (unrelated: probably rodents, potential hantavirus, attracting rattlers and the sharp end of nails, burrs, etc.. for the demise of technical fabrics).

There’s taking more precautions but even some states get in the news with widespread norovirus outbreaks nowadays.  Talking towns, frontcountry, and backcountry.   Maybe gloves on everyone and masks on food preparers will make a comeback?

Here’s some advice to the lay audience from AARP  about avoiding norovirus on ships (should apply to backcountry) = wash hands, especially w/common utensils, surfaces, etc…

https://www.aarp.org/travel/travel-tips/safety/info-2023/how-to-avoid-norovirus-on-cruises.html

I’ve seen them. I try to avoid them. They do require a lot more caution. I consider the back country to be off trail away from most people.

 

Those wilderness pit toilets in Washington are disgusting…..you open the cover and a whole bunch of flies will come out. After using a couple of them, I decided that digging is cleaner than using them.

I try to not touch my food with my bare hands while backpacking. For example, I keep my 1 oz snacks like cashews or almonds or trail mix in these small 3×4 ziplock bags. I open the ziplock bags and put a few pieces into my mouth from the bag directly without touching the food with my hands. Bars as well, never touch them – always the wrapper. I also try to use treated water to wash my spoon. Use only sanitizer – use it generously. I keep two different sanitizers – one in the toilet kit and one on my backpack – so, you can avoid some cross contamination is the reasoning. If I do get poop in my hand, then will use brommers soap/water as soon as possible. Also I cold soak – so don’t have access to boiling water. So far, so good.

I also try to wash my hiking pole handles, spoon etc at resupply points with soap.

But of course luck plays a big part after that.

Jerry, thats pretty much it except I leave the cap off till needed and open with one hand.  If suspecting contamination on bottle, I just suds it up same time.

One site on La Cloche had a Thunder Box that violates the Geneva convention.  Glad I had soap!