How to Stay Fresh in the Outdoors:
Impossible you say, it is more manageable than you would think. Here are a few practical do’s and don’ts that will keep you well-liked by your traveling companions:

Bathing - Focus on keeping your hands, face, and feet clean to stay content. Remember ALL soaps, even biodegradable soaps, harm fresh water sources, so use your soap responsibly. There are alternatives to using soap – using unscented baby wipes are great and they are lightweight and easy to pack out. Even rinsing with water alone can make you feel fresher. Applying baby powder in areas prone to sweating is also an effective way to freshen up. If you do decide to use soap, do your washing at least 200 feet away from the water source.

Teeth - You can brush your teeth without paste, rinse, then dab a little paste on your tongue and rub it on your teeth to freshen your mouth. Or, place a small amount of toothpaste on your brush and when it is time to spit the excess paste out, you can do so in a fire pit or you can go 200 feet away from the water source and campsite. Be sure to dilute and disperse the paste.

How to Relieve Yourself in the Wild:
Some people cringe at the thought of having to use the bathroom in the out of doors. “Where do I go?”, “What do I do with the toilet paper when I am finished?”, “Will I have to pack it out?”, or “ Can’t I just hold it?”, are some of the common concerns/questions that folks have.

Urinating - You can urinate on rocks or in non-vegetated areas 200 feet away from the fresh water source. On large rivers or at the ocean, you can urinate in the water or as close to the shoreline as possible. The large volume of river/ocean water will dilute urine rapidly. Urinating on plants will attract animals because of the salt, and then the animals will destroy the flora by digging it up.

Poop - A good number of places we travel to will have portable toilets or latrines. On some of our trips, we will carry a portable toilet and dispose of the waste properly when we return home. There may be times such as on backpacking trips when a latrine is not available. In this case there are three objectives to disposal of solid body waste 1. Minimize the chance of water pollution. 2. Minimize the chance of anyone or anything finding the waste. 3. Maximize the rate of decomposition. Here are some steps:

• Find a spot at least 200 feet from any water source, from the campsite, trails, and popular areas.
• Once you find a spot, dig a “cathole” at least 6-8 inches deep with a trowel (small shovel), or a stick.
• Drop your drawers (or take them off), squat down, and place your heels at the edge of the hole to guarantee you will hit your target.
• Use smooth stones, sticks, moss, leaves, or even snow instead of toilet paper if you want to challenge yourself. If you do use toilet paper, carry it out with you. It is best to pack out the used toilet paper in a designated doubled ziploc bag.
• Fill the hole back up using a stick, not the trowel, and use leaves, pine needles, or rocks to camouflage the site.
• PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER USING THE TOILET!

Tampons - Never bury them!! Animals will dig them up. Triple bag them in a plastic bag and pack them out with the rest of your trash. Crushed aspirin or a used tea bag placed in the bag with the tampon reduces the odor.