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renegadepilgrim said:I have to admit, though, the AMOUNT of garbage is what amazes me. Those pictures are disturbing and educational, all at the same time. I don't know if me picking up a back of garbage would even make a dent in it. However, I do know that twenty or thirty people picking up a bag of garbage will make a huge dent in the garbage!
nellpilgrim said:Thank you Annie you are well....a pooper trouper :lol:
.... fresh 'pilgrim spoor' on the path
Nell
nellpilgrim said:....... which of my fellow pilgrims was 'The Phantom Arse'? I'd two or three candidates lined up but the evidence was too circumstantial.
Nell
Backpack: In Camp: Managing Human Waste
Proper disposal of human waste is important to avoid pollution of water sources, avoid the negative implications of someone else finding it, minimize the possibility of spreading disease, and maximize the rate of decomposition.In most locations, burying human feces in the correct manner. Solid human waste must be packed out from some places, such as narrow river canyons.Deciding where to relieve yourself requires a little foresight.
1. Number One: If you only need to pee, make sure you are 150 feet from a trail, water source, or from a slope or drainage that feeds into a water source. At camp, walk at least 150 feet from your sleeping and cooking areas. Urine is virtually sterile, but it's nice not to have the stench of urine wafting by as you're cooking dinner or trying to get to sleep.
2. Number Two: More planning is required when you have to do more than pee. It's important that you follow these procedures for proper waste disposal to prevent our waters from becoming contaminated, to ensure that people and animals don't encounter your waste, and to speed the rate at which fecal matter decomposes.
1. Choose your poop site: Your poop site should be 200 feet from trails, camp, and a water source - again, in a place that will not drain into water during the next storm. Select an inconspicuous site where other people will be unlikely to walk or camp. If camping in the area for more than one night, or if camping with a large group, poop sites should be widely dispersed.
2. Dig your cathole: Use either the heel of your boot or a plastic or metal trowel and dig a hole 6-8 inches deep and 4-6 inches in diameter.
3. Poop in the hole.
4. Then take a stick and mix up the poop with the surrounding soil so bacteria that decompose fecal matter can get straight to work.
5. Fill in the hole and scatter leaves or rocks on top to disguise it.
Toilet Paper: Never bury toilet paper; it must be packed out. Too often, I've seen toilet areas at popular campsites littered with toilet paper that has escaped from hikers' shallow holes. Carry a Ziplock bag for this purpose.
* It used to be acceptable to burn toilet paper, but the high incidence of fire in the last decade has made people wary of this method. If you have a controlled campfire, though, and if your companions don't object, you can burn your used paper there. Keep in mind that packing it out is the preferred and most environmentally sound method.
* When you get home, dispose of your used toilet paper in the toilet. Contaminated paper cannot end up in a landfill; it must go through your wastewater treatment plant or septic system. The bag can be washed and reused on your next trip.
Natural Toilet Paper: Of course, you can avoid this entire ordeal by using natural toilet paper: Leaves, sticks, smooth stones, snow. When done correctly, this method is as sanitary as regular toilet paper, but without the impact problems. Be aware of where you squat - you don't want to end up in a patch of poison ivy or stinging nettle. Know the poisonous plants in the area you're traveling.
Pack Out Your Poop: If you are traveling in certain conditions - snow, narrow river canyons, some alpine and desert environments, and anywhere the land management agency requires it - you must carry a few extra Ziplock bags and pack out your poop.
-Backpacking: Woman's Guide, by Adrienne Hall Latrines: Latrines may be more acceptable than catholes in certain situations such as when camping with young children or if staying in one camp for longer than a few nights. Use similar criteria for selecting a latrine location as those used to locate a cathole. Since this higher concentration of feces will decompose very slowly, location is especially important. A good way to speed decomposition and diminish odors is to toss in a handful of soil after each use. Ask your land manager about latrine-building techniques.
falcon269 said:I am not holding my breath
Caminando said:nellpilgrim said:....... which of my fellow pilgrims was 'The Phantom Arse'? I'd two or three candidates lined up but the evidence was too circumstantial.
Nell
Hi Nell, to find the culprit, you could have used Inquisition techniques and "shown them the instruments".
:|
Beverley said:Last year I stayed with friends who have a private albergue in Velaca near Porto Maraine. While there I did a patrol once or twice along a short stretch of the Camino and picked up bottle, cans, wrappers, plastic bags, etc. I was astonished at how much litter or garbage as we Canadians say was just dropped, stuffed into rock walls or hidden behind bushes. I guess people do not realize that other Pilgrims share the Way and have to deal with all their left over ego crap "I can drop this, who cares!" :arrow: Let's just make a difference where we can and the next time I see someone dropping something on the trail, I will pick it up and give it back to them. Suppose they will get the message??? I didn't really ask that question did I?
ksam said:Wow Cominando!! That would be a sight to see! Would the said pooper scooper have a bell around there neck and cry out "Unclean" like lepers of old? Or would the stench simply drive all out of the way before them?
The book Beverly mention..."How to Shit in the Woods" is widely available here in the US too and should be read by any and all heading out onto the trail. Doesn't matter whether it's the Camino or the AT...people need to think before they "go" .
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