Wilderness camping hygiene

by Tim
(Louisville,KY&THE ROAD)

Emergency Preparedness # 4 LATRINE/ HOT SHOWER

As far as a restroom area there is not a lot to say. You should always bury your waste and cover it with a log or large stone if possible. I burn the used toilet paper to help cover the odor and prevent animals from dragging it about. Then I bury it all and rock it.

If you are required to stay in one location for an extended period of time you should consider digging a pit toilet. It doesn't need to be any larger than a 12" hole and a few feet deep. To help keep the odor down you can sprinkle in ashes from your fire and then cover it with a thin layer of soil.

I have heard that you can urinate around the perimeter of your camp to help ward off predators. I have not needed to do this so I can't tell you if it works. It would be worth a try,you need to pee somewhere anyway.

Now lets discuss the mobile shower. In the past I have always used the SUN SHOWER brand of solar showers. These work great providing there is enough sunlight and it is warm outside. If not you can heat water and fill them using a funnel. You need to be careful not to get the water to hot and melt the bag as you pour it the water.

The capacity also makes a big difference, around here the 5 gallon size never gets warm enough so I only use the 2.5 gallon size. It will heat water to 105 degrees on a good day. If there is something available to use as a heat sink it is possible to speed up the heating process. Some items may be a dark automobile, a metal canoe, a piece of tin roof, a shingled roof,etc...

I recently purchased a ZODI battery powered propane fueled portable camp shower(WAL-MART $90.00). I haven't had a chance to use it yet but it gets great reviews. I have friends who love this. I will write a review on it at a later date.

Next of course is a private place to use any of these showers. I have an ozark trail shower surround from WAL-MART $20.00. It is designed to be hung up and here is the way I accomplish that.

First I assemble the shower surround, I added a piece of 3/8" rope to it with a loop to hook the sun shower into and another loop to clip the lift rope to. This allows the shower head to be at the correct height.

Next I select a large tree limb that I think can support the 30 pound sun shower and surround. Now I toss a 50'x3/8" rope over the tree limb using an arborist throw bag. (small canvas bag with a keyring attachment and filled with lead shot. The first rope has a pully tied to one end, through the pully I run a second 3/8" rope with a loop in one end. The pully rope is pulled up close to the tree limb and then tied off. While doing that you should hold onto both ends of the second rope. These ends should now be close to the ground, if not lower your pully until they are. Hook a carabiner into the end of rope#2 and then to the top of the rope on the shower surround.

When it comes time to shower clip your sun shower into the lower loop on the surround rope, pull on the #2 rope until the surround and sun shower are high enough and tie off the #2 rope.

If you are using the ZODI, omit clipping in the sun shower but do the rest or use a free standing surround. I use a rubber door mat to stand on below the shower, you could use a trash bag in a pinch. The ZODI comes in its own carry bag the rest I carry in a sack chair bag that I scavenged.


"SAFE JOURNEY'S"



Emergency Preparednes Article # 1 TARPS

Emergency Prepardness # 2 TENTS/SHELTER

Emergency Preparedness #3 WATER

Emergency Preparedness # 4 LATRINE/ HOT SHOWER

Emergency Preparedness #5 PORTABLE KITCHEN

Emergency Preparedness # 6 BEDROOM

Emergency Preparedness # 7 COMMUNICATION

Emergency Preparedness #8 TRAVEL/NAVIGATION

Emergency Preparedness #9 DEFENSE/HUNTING