Where do hikers go to the loo?

[borisescomb]

Not a poo troll, ask MN to check etc etc etc.

My New Year's resolution is to walk more and I've started exploring and going further afield. But I have quite bad IBS that can come on suddenly and urgently. This is putting me off going to certain places. I want to do the likes of ladybower and other popular tourist hikes but the thing is they are still too busy to just be able to pop into a bush. I can the the only person who has these sorts of issues. I wondered how you cope if you're the same? I feel like it's hampering my life and stopping me doing things I'd like to do more of.

I neeed to wee very often (I always have, it's not an age-related thing - I consulted a GP when I was early 20s and she said "You've just got a very small bladder"). It means that unless I know there will be toilets en route, I cannot do such walks.

Many hikers are fine with popping behind a bush, I'm not - I physically can't go.

Just squat behind a bush/tree/rock. I'm a dog walker and do a lot of wild wees

Take poo bags and put any wipes you use in one...

Either at planned stops along the way (pubs, cafes, public loos) or ‘wild wees’ in emergency situations. If you need to do a no2 please ensure you clear up after yourself. Either bury it or take dog poo bags along for the purpose and dispose of it appropriately.

When I did Kilimanjaro a few years ago one of the women on our group got the squire on the way back down. It’s a barren volcano so absolutely nowhere to hide. She went off the path and her DH held up a coat to hide her as much as possible but she was absolutely mortified. In most other situations it’s normally fine to nip behind a bush/ boulder. I’ve occasionally had dogs come and have a nose about but as long as you don’t mind people knowing what you’re doing (as in having a squat rather than them knowing you’re having a poo) you’ll be ok. Take a trowel and cover.

I go hiking a lot and there's always a bush to go in - even in places like ladybower/kinder scout etc! I take some wipes and nappy bags. My friend has a 'shewee' that she uses!

Plan routes where you pass toilets? In the U.K. you can generally make sure you are never walking more than 90 minutes or so between toilet stops. Carry biodegradable paper, a small trowel and scented bag just in case

If you go to Ladybower you'll probably find my dim crouching behind a bush somewhere. She had a weak bladder and loves long walks so just crouches shamelessly behind the nearest bush. I'm not sure about pooing though, that's tricker isn't it. Sorry, not much help!

My mum not dim!

Come on OP surely you can work it out for yourself

Please pack it out and leave no trace, its disgusting to leave human waste behind

I rarely need to go, the walking seems to reduce my frequency of weeing but I have done a few outdoor wees. Normally it’s fine, just need to find a quiet spot and don’t dawdle. Having someone as lookout helps but dh is useless, he gets distracted🤣

For ladybower there are loos in the relatively nearby derwent dam car park.

I love hiking and have a very very tiny bladder. You just get used to finding cover for a wild wee.

Never had a wild poo though!

Having a wee is rarely a problem. The amount of times I've dropped my trousers behind a tussock in the absence of anything else....yet I've never been caught!!

But I can see the problem with poos, especially if it comes on really fast. Practically, it's easy- carry a trowel and some toilet paper, and bury it. You may wish to initially plan walks in wooded and/ or quieter areas at first, until you get a feel for it.

Get one of these, OP:

Bog in a Bag

Both of these are part of my kit,
Backpacking Trowel
Piss off cloth
As well as ziplock bag and tissues and antibacterial gel.
Just make sure you dig a hole deep enough, so that animals don’t smell your business and dig it up.

Take a trowel to bury a number 2,

If very remote, the same place as the bears.

As an aside, the bog in a bag I may mention to DW for our longer walks. Thanks @LakieLady

Take an immodium before you go.

Trowel
Bog Roll
Lighter
Handwash gel

Dig a deepish hole, drop trousers, squat, curl one out while enjoying the views (be careful not to shit into your own trousers), wipe your hoop, burn the used paper in the hole, bury, wash hands, congratulate yourself on a job well done.

Exactly

Digging a hole isn't really appropriate around ladybower - it's very busy and popular

There are areas of "wilderness " that suffer pollution caused by too much human poo - Derry lodge cairngorm springs to mind

Poo with a view or the bush with no flush… i actually prefer wild wees as more hygienic

You wear a knicker liner in lieu (geddit?) of bog paper and nip behind a bush as and when. This is for weeing. For the other you bloody well hang on.

I'll find the link when I get home but there are devices for you to poo into and then wrap up and carry out. A nappy spread on the ground then folded into a nappy bag then a bag for life would work.