How To Go To The Bathroom Outdoors

Just as a bear poops in the woods, so may you need to.

As many public restrooms in outdoor areas remain closed, or you're hiking or backpacking it is important that you’re prepared to go to the bathroom to ensure your comfort and safety, and to minimize your impacts as much as possible. Here are some tips so that you’re prepared when the time strikes: 

1. Make your own poop kit- pack a small bag with all the essentials so that you’re always prepared to go the bathroom outside- a trowel for digging a cathole where regulations allow, tp when you need it, a bag to pack out used tp, hand sanitizer and a way to pack out your waste where regulations require, such as a biffy bag.
 
2. When pooping or peeing, go 200 feet- about 70 big steps away from water, trails and camp. Choose an inconspicuous site that other people will be unlikely to go.
 
3. Pee on surfaces such as rocks, pine needles and gravel- places without plants that won't be damaged by wildlife who dig for salts and minerals found in urine, and pack tp out. For solid waste, use a trowel to dig catholes 6-8 inches deep.
 
4. Bury solid waste in catholes where regulations allow, and pack tp out. Cover the area back up to make it look as if you were never there, and always use your hand sanitizer!
 
Check out Leave No Trace for more tips. 

Please Don't Feed the Ticks!

Please Don't Feed the Ticks!

Few things in the great outdoors make folks squirm as much as ticks, and for good reason. Besides being disgusting little critters, the insects can burrow into the skin and suck the blood of the host, whether it be a hiker (you), deer, dog or other animal. Ticks are not only pesky but also can carry dangerous diseases that could infect the host.

Tick prevention is important to keep in mind while hiking or doing other outdoor activities.
Here is some information from the American Hiking Society to help keep you safe while enjoying the outdoors.

Protect yourself against these potentially dangerous insects.

Summer brings warm weather and great hiking. Unfortunately, ticks appreciate the season as much as we do and they pose a serious threat to hiker health. Though ticks themselves seldom cause medical problems, the diseases they transmit can wreak havoc on a hiker’s body. Elrichosis, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are just a few of the tick-borne pathogens of which hikers should be aware.

Here are a few easy steps to prevent tick-borne illness:

• Determine risk: Spring and early summer are high-risk for ticks because ticks are in an earlier stage of their development, called “nymphs.” Nymphs often carry heavier loads of disease-causing pathogens, and are smaller and harder to spot. Tall grass and brush are higher-risk, too, because ticks can easily climb on to hikers.

• Wear long and wear light! Wear long-sleeve shirts and long pants of a light color. Lighter colors seem...

https://americanhiking.org/resources/ticks/