How do walking groups usually manage toilet breaks on day walks?

[Coldnorthwind]

Recently made redundant. There are a few women's walking groups near me and I would love to go out on a day walk. (I wouldn't want go out walking in the countryside alone which is a whole other topic). But what do people do about needing a wee? Is it fine in those groups to dodge behind a tree? I would do this if out with my dh/friends. Writing it down now it seems silly.. this must be what everyone does, I guess?

No you are not. What happens when the leaves blow away? Just remember your countryside code. Take everything with you.

That advice is outdated and never applied to human faeces.

Dodge behind tree or go in the pub

This is interesting! I’d never have thought of this although I did used to use them for trampolining with the kids

I’ve never tried to do a “full wee” into one (as opposed to a few drops( though)

Wearing an incontinence pad and doing a full wee into it is ridiculous. Aside from the fact that ones that can hold a full wee are bulky to start with, once you’d been and considering the average bladder holds up to about a pint it would be even more bulky and would weigh quite a bit too.

This has been very informative and inspiring. It's a ridiculous barrier to going out on long walks with strangers so I am encouraged to just get on with it.

Thanks to whoever posted about the pstyle- I might order one. Though the description of its 'elegant' design did make me laugh- because elegant design is exactly what us ladies want out of a wee device!

To the people who have poos outside and leave it there can I just say 3 times my dog has found human shit and completely covered himself in it.

Can you imagine what that's like? Thick, claggy human shit coated all over him, you can't touch him without getting it all over you, he needs to go back in the car absolutely stinking even when he's been cleaned off with towels.

So thank you, I hope Karma catches up with you one day. Shit in a bag for God sake, scruffy bastards.

After having retention cystitis after walking up Scafell Pike, I would either wear a skirt or take a pair of those silver survival blankets to wrap around myself for weeing. There is nowhere up there to hide and people everywhere.

I will never hike and not pee again.

I genuinely didn't know that hiding it under (sodden, this was before the current heatwave!) leaves was a bad thing and I won't do it again. I've now looked it up here: https://www.muchbetteradventures.com/magazine/how-to-poo-outdoors

I do think though that some MNers don't realise that when you need to go, you need to go. You simply can't hold it in, and so you need to find it the least worst option if there's no loo available.

Hopefully the situation won't arise again as my "issues" have abated.

PS my sympathy for this post is limited given the number of times people's shoes and clothes (and worse!) end up covered in dog poo

Your limiting your sympathy to me because people get dog poo on shoes and clothes?

If we're on longer walks the leader will stop occasionally so that everyone can have a drink of water or a snack. Those of us who want to have a wild wee will then take the opportunity to nip down the path/into the woods/behind a rock. If you can't wait until then, it's absolutely fine to hang behind and then walk fast to catch up, but really important to tell someone else you're doing so - otherwise the leader will worry!

I've been on quite a few walks with Ramblers and never known a cafe or pub stop in the middle.

In your situation I would ask the organiser.

It is usual on Ramblers walks for the leader to appoint a "back marker" to keep an eye on slower walkers. You just need to quickly tell the back marker you are dropping back and they will make sure the group does not leave you behind.

I agree. My dog has rolled in it and my daughter's dog ate some 🤢.

I wee in a sheltered area and take my dirty loo roll with me. It’s fine! There’s nothing as grim as finding soiled loo roll in the wild.

Eewwwwwww. That’s really nasty! Trees and hollows are fine.

No you are not. At the very least you should bury it.

Leaving your poo lying around in the open is disgusting behaviour. Leaves can blow away. It’s not surprising we see headlines like this.

NC500 campers branded ‘scum’ after human waste & rubbish found scattered across beauty spot

My walking group has bladders of varying strengths First time I went out with them I was so relieved (literally) when one lady piped up "ladies' break please". This was followed by a chorus of "oh yes, I'll go too". The gents and those not wanting a wild wee carried on a little way and waited. No issues. Absolutely nothing unusual about it. It's only mildly embarrassing the first time you do a group wild wee!. But even then, everyone keeps a respectable distance from each other.

I can't imagine any group having a problem with stopping because someone needs a wee. Most people who enjoy walking wilder/longer distances understand when you godda go, you godda go.

On the subject of continence pants, I don't use those but I do wear a panty-liner for the drips rather than use tissue paper. Disposed of/replaced in the pub or cafe that's always at the end.

Men are so bloody lucky!

@Coldnorthwind why don't you like/want to walk in the wilderness alone? I love it, the freedom, the solitude, stop when you want, as often as you want, walk as fast or slow as you want.

Drones are fine, just give 'em a wave and a smile.

Dont forget to pull your knickers right back or they'll get splashed 😂

I am afraid of meeting random men with dangerous intentions @15minutesaday . I know it's incredibly unlikely but it really would impede my enjoyment. It's so infuriating how fear of men defines and limits my actions. I am not really fearful in cities - although I am pretty streetwise about where I go - but wilderness or even just countryside areas bother me.

I walk most weekends with a group. If there are no loos, then wild wees are the norm. People say they are off for a private moment or some such, so no one follows them

Nah not for me! Couldn't cope with the stress of needing an emergency no.2 (tmi!)

Noooo. I don't know anyone who would do that, it's a really odd thing to do when you can go behind a tree or others could turn away.

Interesting question op, and one I have pondered. I’m definitely in the weak bladder category, and would have to go at some point.

And yet the chances are almost zero. Think of someone looking for a victim, how far he’d have to travel, how long he’d have to wait about for someone to possibly cross his path.