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. 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 travelling 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 ing 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.

Women's Concerns: For advice on what to do when menstruating in the backcountry, and how to dispose of used tampons and pads, navigate to our next skill: Women's Concerns.