“Does a person poop in the woods? Not if they don't have to.”
So begins a particularly classy Gizmodo article I came across the other day, delicately titled,
“How to Poop in the Woods.” For me (and on this point my mountain-man husband and I disagree), Port-a-Potties at a campsite are a deal breaker, and
au naturel is not an option. However, I acknowledge (oh-so-reluctantly) the possibility of an emergency scenario that requires me to get comfy with the idea of going in the woods. Which is why I actually read this through to the end.
Whether you’re an avid outdoorsy type or a diligent prepper, one of the situations that most urgently requires some forethought is bathroom sanitation. Gizmodo’s article—while just slightly on the grody side—gives some great guidelines for attending to the environment while attending to your business. It also offers some downright brainy ideas for how to dispose of waste when the best options (bury it, pack it out) are not available.
P.S. The comments on Gizmodo’s article have a bit of potty language, but are a treasure trove of useful tips, like how to identify poison oak when looking for a good leaf to wipe with.
For those like me, for whom even typing the word “poop” is squirm-inducing, there are (thankfully!) plenty of products out there to make all this a little less icky. Browse these
search results for some of our favorite emergency sanitation products.
It’s also a good idea toread up on other good hygiene practices for emergency situations. These Insight articles will get you started:
Do you have a favorite tip or tool for the call of nature while in the great outdoors?
