Pooping Outdoors in Style | Gier Hernandez
Let me paint you a picture:
After a long day of backpacking at the Lost Coast, you find yourself by the beach. It is summer and the cool Pacific, evening, breeze blows. The sun is about to set, the waves crash on the rocky beach and you listen as the water pulls the rocks towards the sea. You take a deep breath, taking it all in while letting everything out — as you poop.
Pooping in the outdoors does not have to be stressful. On the contrary, it can be a stress relieving experience. When I first started camping when I was young, I made sure that I would NEVER pooped while I was outdoors. I would use the bathroom before I left and hold it until we returned from camping. I am going to admit, I was embarrassed about pooping, even though everyone does it.
When not pooping in the woods, you can catch Gier doing the most glorious hair flips in the water.
But then everything changed when I was exposed to … week-long camping trips. I could no longer plan a bathroom schedule. I would have to go. Luckily, I had great mentors and outdoor leaders to teach me the ways of Pooping Outdoors with Style. Here are a couple of pointers that I want to pass along.
Know the Proper Poop Procedure
Different areas and land will have different guidelines on how to manage waste. In the case at the Lost Coast, the guideline is to bury poop 6–8 inches below the high tide line. This is because most of the trails in the Lost Coast are on the beach. The farthest you can go inland are through the streams (your fresh water source), hence the necessity of beach pooping. In certain rivers, like the Rouge or Klamath — where rafters and kayakers travel in large groups, surrounded by steep cliffs, and can’t easily walk away from the water source — folks are required to pack out everything. Rafters will typically have a “groover” or a portable latrine (i.e. toilet) that they can bring along. But for our purposes here in Wild Diversity, we will be going over how to poop in a cathole (i.e. a poop pit), since this is what we will be using in the majority of our trips.
Let’s Talk About Tools
All WD trips will have a bathroom kit which will contain: a trowel (i.e. a small tool to dig your poop pit with), toilet paper, and hand sanitizer, contained in a ziploc bag. You will also be provided an opaque personal ziploc trash bag. On WD trips, we practice Leave No Trace (i.e. packing out everything we pack in), so make sure you hold on to those plastic bags.
For those adventurous types, you can omit the TP and look for more natural materials in the area, like (smooth) rocks and leaves. Just make sure you know what poison oak looks like.
Locating your Scat Spot
Poop and drinking water should never mix so finding the right place to poop is super important. The general rule in Leave No Trace is that you have to poop 200 ft or 70 large steps away from any freshwater source.
There are also other factors to think about:
Finding some privacy
A log/tree to prop yourself on if you are not comfortable squatting
Soft ground for easy digging
A beautiful location to contemplate the meaning of life
Getting Down to Business
You have your tools and your spot. Now what? Let’s start by digging your cathole. It should be 6–8 inches deep, typically, the length of the trowel’s spade. Set aside the dirt you’ve dug close by. Once you have your hole, find a comfortable position and poop. 10 points if your aim is accurate. If you miss, it’s okay, take a stick and move it into the hole. DO NOT use the trowel. The trowel is for dirt, not poop.
Take a deep breath and ponder … are you done?
Wipe as usual and make sure to bag your toilet paper. If you are using natural materials, place them in the cathole as well. Cover your cathole with the dirt that you set close by. Mark where you dug the hole with a stick or a rock so that other folks will know not to dig in the same spot. Sanitize and wash your hands.
You have done it! You have pooped outdoors. You have embarked on probably one of the most vulnerable activities you can do surrounded by the marvel of nature.
But wait! We are not quite done. Here are some other tips to make your pooping experience a little bit easier.
Pooping in the outdoors takes time. Like a hand crafted piece of art, this shit can’t be rushed. Looking for the right spot, digging a cathole and even finding a comfortable position can be a lengthy process. SO DON’T WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE! If you planned to have cheesy pasta or three bean chili soup for dinner, then expect a poop excursion. You know who you are, tummy sensitive people.
If you are camping with people, talking about bathroom procedures can be helpful; like where we should walk to or even having a system to let people know that someone is using the bathroom so we don’t call for Search and Rescue when people disappear. Everyone does it and having an honest, down to earth conversation can make things run more smoothly.
For folks that have never pooped squatting, it may take a bit of practice to get comfortable. The easiest solution is to find a log to prop yourself onto. You can also use the Tripod Method, where you prop yourself with one of your hands behind you to create more balance. Another tip is removing your bottoms so that you don’t accidentally pee and/or poop on them.
I hope that these tips relieved any pressure you might be feeling about pooping in the outdoors, leaving room to enjoy the wonders of nature, instead.
