How I Learned to Poop in the Woods

My mind was wandering when I was just taking my nature walk through my yard. I was looking at some poop in my yard (bobcat I think), which made me think of times I was walking in bigger woods, examining animal scat, and that reminded me of the time that I stepped in human poop in the woods and ruined my favorite shoes. I had to throw them away because there wasn't anything near by to clean them with. I still miss those shoes.

Anyway, then I started thinking about how I learned to poop in the woods.

I was 29 years old and I was taking my first camping trip. Well, it was more than a camping trip. It was a three month journey across America to try to find the most beautiful place to live.

It was an incredible experience, which I hope to one-day get down in writing before most of it slips away from my over-crowded mind.

If you have never experienced the joys of really roughing it -- sleeping, eating, bathing and yes, pooping outside, then I urge you to get out there and do it! (or doo it, as the case may be)

Anyway, back to learning how to poop in the woods. Like most humans, I thought that all I had to do was go find a spot and squat. And with my inexperienced outdoor mind, the logical spot to me seemed to be near the water, so that I could clean up afterwards. The outdoorsman that I was travelling with soon set me straight: when you are outdoors, pooping near the water is one of the worst things you can do.

So for any of you that don't know, here are the basics of pooping in the woods:

• Head away from water bodies (be kind to the planet), paths (be kind to fellow hikers), and poison ivy (be kind to your own behind)
• Dig a hole. It doesn't need to be large enough to fall into. 6" - 8" should do for most doo. If you are going to be in the woods for any length of time, bring a small shovel.
• Do your business
• Now I have to admit here that I used toilet paper. Most toilet paper is made to degrade, some more quickly than others. Other sources recommend that you carry a resealable plastic bag and pack-out your used paper.
• Refill the hole with dirt. Packing loosely helps speed decomposition

So, there you have it. I have to admit that the first time I had to poop in the woods, I was not a happy camper. I'm not sure my travelling companion had even warned me that, when he said we were going to be remote camping, it meant no outhouses. But sometimes, to really see our planet, you have to dig deep into the wild uncharted areas. The great outdoors were calling me.

So I learned to do what I had to doo!

More information about how to poop in the woods can be found here.

© 2009, Betsy S. Franz