Episode 67 | How to Poop in the Woods (Skills and Tools for Backcountry Pooping)
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Summary
In this skills short episode of the Backpacking Light Podcast, Andrew and Ryan talk sh**, a.k.a, 💩.
How to poop in the woods? It’s an age-old question, particularly as popular backcountry sites become more crowded.
This episode addresses the question of how long poop takes to decompose and suggests alternative LNT-approved methods (beyond catholes) for dealing with human waste.
Outline
- 0:00:00 – podcast introduction
- 0:01:14 – the old ways of waste disposal in the backcountry and their issues (does poop decompose?)
- 0:04:39 – why include a trowel in your kit
- 0:06:01 – wag bags
- 0:10:24 – hygiene in the backcountry
- 0:13:58 – final thoughts: preventing GI distress through hygiene
Resources
- Ryan talks more about his backcountry bidet system in podcast Episode 50 | Listener Q & A.
- Read this interview with the inventor of an iconic backcountry trowel.
- Mark Wetherington has written several articles recently at Backpacking Light covering Leave No Trace skills, specifically in winter and natural hot spring environments, which include more thoughts on waste disposal and management.
- Check out this forum:
- 💩.
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Credits
Executive Producer - Backpacking Light; Show Director and Host - Ryan Jordan; Producer - Chase Jordan; Theme music: Look for Me in the Mountains written by Chris Cunningham and Ryan Jordan, performed by Chris Cunningham (acoustic guitar, lead and harmony vocals, harmonica), Chad Langford (upright bass), and Tom Murphy (mandolin), produced by Basecamp Studios in Bozeman, Montana.
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Disclosure
Sponsorship Policy: Backpacking Light does not accept compensation or donated/discounted products in exchange for product mentions or placements in editorial coverage, including any podcast episode content not excplicitly identified as sponsored content. Some (but not all) of the links in these show notes may be affiliate links. Learn more about affiliate commissions, influencer marketing, and our consumer advocacy work by reading our article Stop wasting money on gear.
Discussion
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I’d like to testify that the CuloClean bidet has been life changing for me.
I just pop it onto the top of one of my water bottles.
As a life-long sufferer of the roids, if I had used this earlier in life it would have saved me immeasurable suffering. It also would have kept me backpacking during times of major flareups.
I use it at home all the time, and won’t travel without it. Once you get the hang of it (took me all of 2-3 times maybe) you can use it with great proficiency. I get about 3 uses out of 1 liter of water – in all kinds of bowel conditions. For the first dozen or so uses, keep a bit of TP handy just to verify that things are fine, then you can trust your work and air dry.
And here’s a great hint for you which I read on an Amazon review and works wonders: pre-wet. Yes, just a quick shot of water before the deed seems to significantly reduce the need for a large volume of water after. I guess it reduces stickiness. Then a quick couple of blasts and – glorious!
Only someone who has been in surgeries and various agonies over this issue can fully appreciate just how life changing this tiny little cap can be. Smearing with TP seems utterly bizarre to me now.
-Mark
Mark if you have roid issues, it’s totally worth the cost to install a bidet seat on your toilet at home. Warm water wash, lovely warm air dry.
Got a CuloClean this season. I swear by it. Works better than TP, and no worries about running out of TP if my meals go through me fast on a several-day trip. I’ve crossed TP off my packing list!
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