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Post by hikerjer on Aug 17, 2018 7:26:11 GMT -8
Maybe I'm just unaware but I am truly amazed that some of you folks actually count out sheets of toilet paper. I mean how do you know how much? I know my whole digestive system kind of gets off track on hike, particularly on multi-day ones. I'd never feel completely safe limiting my supply of TP. Has all the makings of a back country disaster as far as I'm concerned.
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Post by cweston on Aug 17, 2018 7:33:46 GMT -8
Maybe I'm just unaware but I am truly amazed that some of you folks actually count out sheets of toilet paper. I mean how do you know how much? I know my whole digestive system kind of gets off track on hike, particularly on multi-day ones. I'd never feel completely safe limiting my supply of TP. Has all the makings of a back country disaster as far as I'm concerned. I've been thinking the same thing. I'm not sure how to say this delicately...I often have multiple wipe events, especially in the first couple days of a trip. With the whole sweaty, chafey, wear the same drawers every day condition, the last thing on earth I want is to be anything but sparkling after doing my business. I was kidding around about Rebecca's post, but it does seriously seem like a very small amount of TP to carry, to me. I guess you can always fall back on the local flora, but above treeline, there ain't much of that. A pika might work well, but they're pretty tough to catch.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Aug 17, 2018 8:31:13 GMT -8
I used to carry a small roll of TP, one that was less than half of a full roll. Eventually, I realized I wasn't needing that much, even for a week long trip. I began counting the squares I used at home. Now, when I plan any trip, I know how many squares per day I use, on avg. I usually carry a couple of extra days worth, just in case. Still, it adds up to less than the partial roll I used to carry. Yeah, it's like counting grams. There are 200-1000 squares per roll. (There's a vast range of sheets per roll) I could be out 10 days and not need all of that.
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walkswithblackflies
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Aug 17, 2018 8:44:33 GMT -8
Nothing. I use a stick to dig a hole. Up in the PNW, the loam is soft and can be dug deep. I use moss, leaves, rocks, and snow. I wash my hands with moss, sand & water. ^^^^This. Except I use Coleman Backpacking TP and a tiny bottle of hand sanitizer because I'm not a filthy savage.
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walkswithblackflies
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Aug 17, 2018 8:49:28 GMT -8
And dig it far away from camp. I use marmot holes. No digging required.
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Aug 17, 2018 9:19:36 GMT -8
Once upon a time I was in the old (now defunct) Borders Books looking for this book. I asked someone at the front counter, and the response was memorable. I never did find it there, though I know they carried it at one time or another. Now I have an ebook version. Lots of good info therein. I'm not of an especially delicate disposition on the subject, though I try to be aware of the mindset of others. This guy seems somewhat upset by the subject, but it's not like any of us are unfamiliar with the function and its associated difficulties... This is gettin' ugly. I vote we move this thread to TPA. Despite the attitudes of many around here, TPA doesn't necessarily constitute an "outhouse". A friend of mine brings medical-type latex or nitrile gloves, puts one on one hand before doing his business, after he wipes he just holds the used tp in the gloved hand and peels the glove off with the other hand, wrapping everything up inside neatly. Very nice, but something that tends to "overkill". A story: Once, while I was stationed overseas in the Phillippines, I went to visit a local friend's home for a day. When dinner was served (it was delicious), I dug in and ate heartily. There was general laughter around the table now and again, and I asked my friend about it. "What is everyone laughing about?" Seems I would occasionally feed myself with my left hand, and, in the more agrarian regions of that nation, the left hand is used for purposes that are relevant to this discussion, and the right is used for eating. Mixing the two is considered a breach of etiquette - for obvious reasons. I've wiped with my hand before, and it's not that big a deal once you get past the built-in cultural aversion. Note: Make sure to clean your nails.
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Post by JRinGeorgia on Aug 17, 2018 10:27:58 GMT -8
I am truly amazed that some of you folks actually count out sheets of toilet paper. I mean how do you know how much? I know my whole digestive system kind of gets off track on hike, particularly on multi-day ones. I used to be the same way, Jer, and my digestive system also goes out of whack. But it's always the "grinds to a halt" out of whack, so invariably I come home with extra tp so haven't had any issue with counting out the tp. Besides, you have any idea how heavy one square of tp is? ![::)](//storage.proboards.com/6271026/images/XseHj_1yreG4gS7WuWvf.jpeg)
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Aug 17, 2018 11:32:43 GMT -8
LOL Nope, my head never went there. I thought to myself, "of course she's a woman. Haven't you seen enough pics?" The famous pillow note, indeed. Me, neither. Maybe we're getting old? I don't quite see the connection. Too subtle for the kind of sleepless nights I've been having (the wrong kind, before anyone jumps to more exciting conclusions than are justified).
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Aug 17, 2018 11:36:39 GMT -8
I am truly amazed that some of you folks actually count out sheets of toilet paper. I mean how do you know how much? That's why I carry about twice as much as my spouse. He really can count on 1 per day. Me, I take at least twice that. On this last trip, I experimented fairly successfully with using a squirt bottle for extra cleaning. It worked pretty well and greatly reduced the need for TP. We've been packing TP out since we hiked the Pariah River in 1995. It was required there and we discovered how easy it really is.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Aug 17, 2018 12:24:12 GMT -8
I don't mind carrying spare toilet paper. My requirements vary enough to fear risking the average.
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Post by johntpenca on Aug 17, 2018 14:24:56 GMT -8
Hard to believe this thread has gone to four pages. As to the amount of TP to carry, WTH? It weighs practically nothing; I wouldn't want to be caught short.
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Post by hikerjer on Aug 17, 2018 15:42:43 GMT -8
Yup, does appear some people are kind of “anal” about the topic. Sorry. Couldn’t help myself.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Aug 19, 2018 7:42:21 GMT -8
In the NE US when hiking solo or maybe one partner I use a stick, no trowel. Organic layer is usually easy enough to dig in. Also I stir in organic matter in my waste before filling in the hole. It is supposed to seed/speed breakdown of the waste. Once we get to 3 or more we carry a trowel for the group. Still use a stick for the mixing organic thing. I don't know if they implemented it but a time back I was talking with a Mt Washington ranger and she said they were considering a pack it out rule for winter campers. Evidently there is a ring of unburied/snowbound poop around the camps when the spring thaw comes. She said the smell is so bad the camps are hard to use for several weeks.
Edit: Put me in the category of taking more than enough TP. It's light and too little is an undesirable state of me.
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mk
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Post by mk on Aug 24, 2018 19:02:01 GMT -8
Put me in the category of taking more than enough TP And sometimes ya need to blow your nose -- it works nicely for that, too. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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snappypepper
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Post by snappypepper on Aug 24, 2018 19:22:25 GMT -8
Luckily, I am female, so I do not poop, fart, or burp, so it's a little easier for me. But that being said, I carry wet wipes for a variety of reasons, including bathroom hygiene, wiping down really muddy legs or smelly armpits before climbing into my sleeping bag, etc. Even on a 2-3 day trip, my husband and I have never used more than a single pack of wet wipes (even though we each carry our own, there are always PLENTY left over). I also carry bags called "scentsible" bags amzn.to/2Nfa1GV. They are advertised for feminine hygiene, but I put all soiled toiletry products in them to pack out and they work really well. The only time I had to actually worry about packing out solid waste was when I did the Narrows in Zion from top down. I carried the bag they sold me and fortunately didn't need it, but it would have been too difficult to get far enough from the water to NOT use it if the need arose, so I was grateful I had it just in case. I also tend to save rolls of TP when they are about 75% empty and putting them in the camping supply closet so we never have to carry a whole roll. We always have a few small rolls around to grab. One warning about wet wipes, they aren't always the "kindest" thing for that delicate female area, so I often carry baby wipes for that purpose and give hubby the wet wipes for his less delicate needs and also for hand washing and other personal cleaning.
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