Latrine Etiquette

[StevieE]

This is an actcual question but Mods please feel free to delete if needed. Cant see anything on this subject, and it may sound like a sh**y question but how do people cope with going to the toilet for a number 2? If I'm on a one day trip I'll take a dog poo bag. Anything longer and I'm assuming that you would build a self composting latrine from wood around, fill it it with local forest debris and cover over after you've left, disposing of the latrine that has been made. Again to just clarify this would not be my own land and 3 days max would be it. Basically, do bears **** in the woods? I would suppose this would be more relevant to our female bushcrafters' fellowship as well.

 

[Steve27752]

Away from camp and water dig a 5” deep hole, do my business.
Burn the poo tickets and fill in the hole……Job done.

 

[Pattree]

This is history as I don’t hike any more. I only use a bag as a last resort.

This should be discussed with the land owner who has given you permission to be there.

Look here

Forestry Commission taught me to plant trees with two blows of a spade.

First a deep blow across your stance.
Second a deep blow at 90 degrees forming a number seven (if you are British and right handed). I use a pointed little Roughneck spade in preference to a trenching tool.

Don’t withdraw the spade on the second blow but twist backwards lifting a wedge and cultivating the soil at the bottom of the cut. If it doesn’t stay folded back put your boot on it and just smack it one with your spade.

I have found this a very quick way of making a latrine. Once you release the hinged divot the site is nearly invisible. The usual debris camouflage handles the rest.
Small enough to be discrete, big enough not to miss.

A warden/gamekeeper won’t find it but his dog might.

If terrain doesn’t allow then it’s back against a tree or a rock and into a bag. Bag it and burn it. Bet you can’t guess what makes for an excellent incinerator.

Reading this over I need to add:

The technique is for planting trees. If you want the hole to stay open you might need to put your foot in the upturned turf slash the “hinge”.
This is a quick easy and proven method where you won’t be reusing the latrine.

Does anyone know that a shewee actually works?

 

[TeeDee]

I choose to hold it in.

Just as I do with all my unaddressed childhood emotional traumas.

 

[StevieE]

If it's a one day trip I'd bag it take it home and dispose ii. I don't have an entrench tool just a Coglan shovel and tend to camp in woods where the undergrowth is tough. One reason I'm asking this is I've been helping out a homeless person who knows nothing about bushcraft . He's got a great spot legal or not although it it is an open common. I've lent him some of my gear, set up for him so it's ethics against legalality.. Hope that explains the post a bit better

 

[Pattree]

I’m not judging but:

Your friend needs a different sort of help.

 

[StevieE]

I know. Tried AA various housing groups but what should I do pattree in the meantime. All I can do is help

 

[John Fenna]

For my permanent site - used about 6 weekends a year with up to 6 people at a time for two nights - I dig a trench and loo roll is burned and the ash and deposits are buried. Once the trench is full a new one is prepared. There are no water courses near-by. The land owner approves of the method and I have yet to have a wildlife issue with it - although some mice took to living in the open (but covered in branches) trench!

 

[nigelp]

I choose to hold it in.

Just as I do with all my unaddressed childhood emotional traumas.

That’s the ticket, old bean.

 

[Toddy]

Honestly, it depends.

There are some things that are set hard and fast.

Do not pollute waterways.
Do not leave evidence at all beyond a disturbed turf and maybe washed off ashes.

Folks used to use leaves. .....for deposit and cleaning.....and then just burnt them.
That fire is called 'foul' until it's all gone to ash and rinsed away.
Nowadays folks use paper....same thing really. Not good with plastic wipes or sanitary items though.

If you bury, as Steve27752 and Pattree said, then mind that you want it to decompose rapidly, that means don't bury lower than six inches. Insect life is surprisingly active. We used to shove a small twig into the turf, handspan long sort of size, lets anyone else know not to dig there.
Not so good in frozen land though. Burning works. Cattle dung is used world wide as fuel, in North America they called it prairie coal.

At a settled camp we did as John Fenna does. Fire ashes help keep any smell down, keep things tidy, and it all helps enrich ground.

If you can't bury, if you can't burn, then dog poo bags are ubiquitous these days. Just bag and take to a suitable receptacle.

M

 

[shaggystu]

I know. Tried AA various housing groups but what should I do pattree in the meantime. All I can do is help

No idea what area you're in but local to me we have a great organisation supporting local homeless people, I'm sure if you gave them a call they'd be able to point you in the right direction. They've got some great people working there.

Pathways homeless support

To answer your original question, "How to **** in the Woods" by Kathleen Meyer is the standard text on the subject, you'd get a copy for a couple of quid off ebay.