A serious talk about a silly topic.
When I first started serving as a Trails and Access Assistant, I had very little knowledge about the rules of going to the bathroom in the woods. But as the year progressed and I spent long days outside on the trails with no restroom in sight, I learned the tips and tricks of Leave(ing) No Trace outside.
Leave No Trace(1) has updated their policies and has decreed that you should always try to use an actual facility first, try to pack out, or bury your waste in a cathole as a final option.
The rules of pooping(2) in the woods have four main purposes:
Avoid polluting water sources.
Avoid other people finding your waste.
Minimize spreading diseases.
Maximize the rate of decomposition.
The location of your cathole should align with every purpose listed above, which means your cathole should always be:
200ft from water, camp sites, and trails.
At an elevated site that is not on a direct fall line where water will bring your waste downhill.
Maximum sunlight exposure to increase the rate of decomposition with heat.
6-8 inches deep, 4-6 inches in diameter in deep organic soil. The hummus encourages decomposition with the presence of worms and microorganisms.
Catholes should always be widely dispersed.
Bury or pack out your selected tp.
Now peeing in the woods is a different story and is a lot more common a problem for the average day hiker than pooping in the woods. Peeing in the woods is relatively straightforward and relatively harmless to the environment, if you follow the main rule; stay away from water sources!! So always:
Walk 200 feet (that's about 70 steps) away from campsites, trails, and water.
Find a secluded and appropriate spot, such as behind a tree, bushes, or large rock.
Assume your position of choice—aim, squat, sit, stand.
Avoid peeing on plants that could be defoliated by animals attracted to the salt in urine.
If you're on a slope, orient yourself so any runoff heads away from your feet and any water sources.
If water is plentiful, consider diluting the site with water to cut down on odor.
Now that we’ve gone over the rules of going to the bathroom outdoors, we can get to the fun part. Ranking our natural TP! Look for large, thick leaves with no irritable hair, spikes, or thorns. You want a green leaf that won’t tear and leave debris behind in an unfortunate place. And remember to check for small insects or eggs which might be hidden in the leaves!
1. Hobble Bush Leaves
Our front runner is Hobble Bush! These leaves are broad and heart shapes and are nice and thick. They are difficult to tear and are abundant in the Northeast.
2. Maple Leaves
Especially in the Northeast, Maple leaves are everywhere. These leaves have a lot of surface area but are less absorbent than Hobble Bush, so therefore, are second on the list.
3. Beech Leaves
Third on the list are Beech leaves. The shape is oblong and the hair on the leaf edges are perfect for natural toilet paper, however, the leaves themselves are relatively skinny.
4. Honorable Mention: Snow!
Snow is only useful for peeing in the woods in the winter (or fall/spring depending on where you live), but it’s easy to clean up and it’ll wake you right up!
Make sure you NEVER use leaves you don’t recognize as toilet paper, especially if they follow these rules. Avoid plants with waxy leaves Remember the “Three–In–One Isn’t Fun” rule Look at how the leaves are growing. If the leaves are growing in groups of three throughout the entire branch, AVOID THEM! Examples of poisonous plants with this growing pattern include poison ivy and poison oak. Remember the “Alternate Isn’t Great” rule Look at how the leaves stem grows on the branch. If they grow in alternate positions (i.e. never directly opposite each other), AVOID THEM! Examples of poisonous plants with this growing pattern include poison ivy and poison oak. These are not the only identifiers, but there are common poisonous characteristics.
1. How to Poop Outside - Leave No Trace
2. Yes, I said “pooping.” Get your potty humor out.
Em is a full-timer serving with the Squam Lakes Association. She only has a couple of weeks to go before finishing her 1700 hour and 11-month commitment! Learn more about Em here.