The topic of carrying a firearm while hiking is controversial and people are typically divided on the subject with few falling in the gray area.  With this being said neither Todd or  I* have ever found a need to carry a firearm on our long distance hikes- whether we were hiking solo or with others.  As a side note, Todd is a gun owner.  Typically the woods are much safer then the cities and towns we currently reside in.  Managing risk through awareness and prevention goes a long way!  Honestly our biggest fear is ticks when we are out in the woods.

If you do decide that you would like to carry a firearm, here are some things to consider before you decide to take a gun on you next backpacking adventure:

Laws and Regulations                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Know the laws and regulations for the state, wilderness areas, national forests, and National Parks you will be traveling through.

On National Parks: Congress approved a new law allowing loaded firearms in National Parks starting Feb. 22nd, 2010.  That means people can openly carry legal handguns, rifles, shotguns, and other firearms and also may carry concealed guns as allowed by state statute.                                                  

Some of the fine print: Although it is now legal to carry guns in national parks, guns cannot be fired except in rare circumstances.  Hunting is illegal in most national parks except under special permit.  Target practice is also banned.    Not all guns are legal.  You must also know the  firearm laws of the state the National Park is in.  For more information on the regulations in National Parks.    

The Human Factor

Know why you are deciding to bring a firearm into the back country.  Is it out of fear? For protection?  If so fear of or protection from what?  It is important to know the underlying reason why you are making the decision to carry a firearm in the woods.  You want to be proactive and not use the fire arm as a reactive solution to a larger problem.

Do you know how you will react in a situation where a firearm would be warranted?  Does the firearm solve the problem of your fear or is it a band aid?  Are you putting yourself at risk or others at risk by carrying a firearm?  Where will you be carrying your firearm- in your pack or somewhere easily accessible?  Do you have personal rules for yourself on what circumstances will cause you to use your firearm?  How experienced of a backpacker are you-  will the first uncommon night noises result in you drawing your gun?  In using your gun? How experienced of a gun owner are you?  If you get hurt and someone potentially needs to help you- will they help you knowing that you have a gun and you could potentially not be in a solid frame of mind?

Bear Country

Most black bears in our experience will run when you encounter them.  A loud “Hey Bear” typically sends most black bears high tailing it into the woods.  Know whether you are in black bear or brown bear (Grizzly) country before you go out.  This does make a difference.

Is it a sensitive time (i.e. mating season, spring when sows have their cubs out, etc.)?  Have there been problem bears in the areas you will be passing through?  Any closed campsites due to increased bear activity?  Do you have the proper supplies to safely store your food from bears?  Do you know what to do in the instance of a bear encounter?  Will carrying a firearm create complacency in basic prevention because you feel secure?  Do you know what caliber round you need to put down said bear?  Most instances of bear attacks that you see blasted on the news are due to human error.

The majority of bear attacks happen when you have not properly stored your food or if the bear has gotten fed through past humans.   These bears that have been fed human food are now typically your problem bears.  In grizzly country they have seen attacks that have happened due to surprise so prevention and awareness is key.  Bear Spray has been proven very effective in deterring attacks from grizzlies.

The Bottom Line:

It is every individual’s choice to carry a fire arm but in doing so there should be a honest risk evaluation done by that individual prior to carrying one while backpacking to keep EVERYONE safe on the trail to the greatest extent possible.

*Roam The Woods doesn’t carry firearms on any of their courses.  They teach personal safety and awareness in the woods through risk management.  While instructing groups we view the backpacker with the gun as a high risk factor as their background  is unknown to us and the safety of our participants is our biggest priority.

Roam Gear Review: The Hennessy Hammock Ultralite

In October Roam tried out a few new gear items to further our hiking and gear knowledge. For most of the month of October we played in the woods trying out a Hennessy Hammock Ultralite Backpacker Asym Zip Hammock and a Klymit Inertia X-Frame Sleeping Pad.  To say the least both performed well.  Here is what Todd had to say about his experience with the Hennessy Hammock:

First I will dive right into the Hennessy Hammock.   To do this product justice I need to create a bit of a footnote.  I am a lazy hiker and with that, most of the time I choose not to set up a shelter unless it looks like weather is coming in.  On many occasions I have been woken up in the middle of the night by the falling of raindrops on my face. So most of the time setting my shelter up is done in the pitch black and half asleep. So I prefer an easy, no nonsense shelter.   Is the Hennessy a no nonsense shelter?  I would say with some practice.

I used the Hennessy while hiking the Benton MacKaye Trail and there were some pros and cons as well as some very frustrating times to boot.  As a piece of lightweight hiking gear it met all my needs and expectations. It packed down small and at times it took me some time to figure where to pack it in my Six Moon Backpack, but I think that will be the case with any new shelter. Now the first week of our adventure I set the Hammock up every night and I found that it took some time to figure out the right spacing of trees and the right diameter of trees.  I found it was easier for me to find campsites then Rosie, she was using a sil-nylon tarp. I can honestly say that the week on the BMT I dreaded getting into camp because I was tired and setting the Hammock was very frustrating at times. Poor Rosie was subjected to being my Hammock Foreman, constantly checking that my sag looked good and there was even a time when I chose too small of a tree to set up on.  The trees pretty much bowed to the point of me touching the ground. In my personal opinion I failed miserably with the Hammock on the BMT.

The next week I used the Hammock on a Roam The Woods course and felt like I was dialed in a bit. We got the The Ultimate Hang: An Illustrated Guide to Hammock Camping, which was very helpful and I totally endorse this book as a useful tool, if you choose to Hammock. I also had some questions answered by the great Hammock Hanger herself; so confidence was high going onto the island. After my week on the BMT I could honestly say I could set the hammock up in the advertised 2 minutes. I found the hammock nice on the shorter days, I was able to setup and use as a lounger, which I quickly fell asleep in. On Cumberland I was hanging in unique ways using one live oak tree branch. I found I slept much cooler even in the small heat wave the week before hurricane Sandy. The whole trip I only had one mishap in which I did not tie my knot right and came crashing to the ground.

Next I used my hammocking skills on the Ouachita Trail in Arkansas and to say the least I set the hammock up twice in the cooler temps. My confidence was dialed in and I finally felt like I understood most of what I was doing, but I feel I’m still a student with Hammocking.

I have talked to lots of people about hammocking now and all say you either love it or hate it, well surprise I fall under neither, I found my experience with hammocking okay. So some final thoughts on the Hennessy, I found it difficult at times to setup when I first started out. I would say practice at home and practice the knots you will be using. I would also say this is a great lightweight shelter for mid spring through summer to mid fall. You need to be very careful because convection can really cause some cold nights sleeping as well as be dangerous. I know they make under quilts and over quilts and fully enclosed tarps, but for my needs packing all those items creates a total shelter weight of 7ish pounds, which is not my idea of ultra light hiking. I found the shelter was great for setting up in difficult terrain since you just hang. To date it has never seen a serious rain storm so I don’t know how it effective it is at keeping one dry, but once again I feel if you practice the different pitches of the tarp at home it should be fine in a storm. I also feel compared to tarping or even setting up a Big Agnes Fly Creek; the hammocks have a huge learning curve. One interesting thing I noticed in The Ultimate Hange, was it showed all sorts of add-on features to make the hammocks easier to setup. Rosie and I both thought if hammocks were so efficient the need for all these add-ons seemed like overkill, but that is just our opinions. To date I still do not feel proficient with hammocking and still find by the morning I have slid down in the hammock after a full night. I can’t say my sleep was any better then sleeping on the ground, but in warm temperatures I found I did not need a sleeping bag and was quite cool in the hammock.

The biggest down side to my experience was we had a mosquito problem on Cumberland Island and it was a pain getting the mosquito’s out as well as they could still buzz your ears when hanging. They never bit through the bottom but it did keep me awake because they could still buzz my head. The last thing I found problematic with my experience, and I want to stress MY experience because no one that I have talked with had this same issue, I found I was a little anxiety stricken in the hammock at night. I never felt like I could scramble out of the hammock if something or someone dangerous came near or in our make shift campsite on the Benton Mackaye Trail. I think if we would have stealth camped deeper away from set campsites this would not have been a problem. With that being said, I think Hammocks are by far better shelters for stealth camping then tents and tarps.

Hammocks are definitely worth a try and have a multitude of pros and cons. Feel free to contact us anytime and we can talk hammocks.

Until then keep roaming!

Solo backpacking can seem intimidating, overwhelming, and perhaps plain scary.  The first time I spent an extended period of time alone outdoors was on a three day solo in the beautiful woods of Kentucky- I would be sitting in one spot with no human contact for the next three days, just me and the wilderness.  The first night I remember going to sleep long before the last light left the sky because the dark scared me.  I don’t know exactly what it was in the dark that conjured fear, but I knew my imagination would run wild and create figments that would leave me wide awake for the rest of the night.  Slowly though, that fear faded on my solo adventures-  not on that first solo, but as time passed my confidence increased.

Self-Portrait on a Solo Hike

Why Solo?

The Couch vs. The Trail.  Sometimes we just don’t have someone to keep us company on all our adventures.  The choice of staying home instead of getting outside is one we just can’t bear.

Solitude and Freedom.  Sometimes we just need some alone time!  We want to move at our own pace, be responsible only for ourselves, enjoy what the trail has to offer in our own time.

Women Hiking Solo

When we explore the topic of women solo backpacking,  the human aspect is typically one women voice concern over.  When something negative happens to a woman on trail it makes headlines.  Unfortunately the news doesn’t tell us about the women of all ages that make the trek from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mt. Katahdin, Maine unscathed and positively radiating confidence and plain awesomeness!  It is more likely that you will have a car accident then encounter the human of your trail fears.  This fear can sometimes be so well ingrained with us that it takes awhile to work through and may always still linger on the fringes.   Being scared does not make an enjoyable backpacking trip.  If you choose to backpack solo work on being aware instead of being scared.  Know this, there are many women out there hiking solo and loving it.  Sometimes the best hiking partners are found on the trail.

As backpackers we share a common love for the outdoors and the common risks we take to explore and live on the trail.  We know nothing is without risk whether we are hiking with a group or solo.  Whether male or female  we take on a whole new perspective of self reliance when we go solo hiking.   We know that if something happens, albeit- sprains, strains, falls there will be no one except ourselves to get us out.  We learn how to trust ourselves.

Tips to keep you Safe

* Leave a detailed itinerary (or as detailed of a plan as possible especially for a longer trip) with a trusted person- even better leave your itinerary with two trusted people with your expected date and time  of return.  Do give yourself a safe window of time, we know that sometimes things happen on trail that might slow us down.

*Don’t give out personal information.  If you have a online trail journal perhaps you delay your posts, so your current location (or soon to be location) won’t be broadcast to the whole world.

*Listen to your instincts and use your good judgement.  If something feels wrong, do what you can to get yourself out of this potential situation.  In this situation forget your manners, lie if you need to and leave.

*If you get into a serious situation fight back.  Typically predators are looking for victims that are easy targets, whether male or female.

*Camp away from trail heads and roads.  In our personal hikes we have found three miles to be a good buffer.  The amount of effort to get in typically deters negative situations.  The regulating agency over the area where you will be hiking (State Parks, National Parks, Ranger Districts) is a good source of information on the safety of trail heads.

*Choose campsites carefully.  Be flexible.  If you are around a lot of people in camp make yourself highly visible.  Stealth Camping is a great resource as well.  Being able to find a hidden spot away from established campsites can come in handy.  Make sure you can’t be seen from the trail.

*Know the area where you will be hiking.  For example know if you will be traveling through bear country, know your camping spots and if roads criss-cross areas that could provide easy access, educate yourself on terrain so you are well prepared.  Perhaps you will choose to hike somewhere well populated for your first few endeavors- i.e. being truly alone on the A.T. rarely happens.

*Think about carrying a personal locator beacon.  You typically have two types the SPOT or your standard PLB.  These beacons use GPS to hone in on your location.  The great thing about the SPOT is you can do daily check in’s with your family/friends back home.  They will be able to follow along on your adventures which is an added bonus and you still have the peace of mind with the emergency button.  On your standard PLB all you have is the emergency button that will transmit your location when turned on.

*Bring your cell phone.  Although reception is not guaranteed, there are many areas where you can get reception.  Sometimes a text will make it out when a call can’t.

Backpacking Solo has it’s pros and cons.  Sometimes having the company to share in the experience is just as important as being able to have your own experience at your own pace.  You will find some of the best people out on the trail and create memorable and life-changing experiences.  As with any back country adventure you reduce what risk you can, be aware but not scared, use your judgement, and enjoy the adventure.

Roam’s The Art of Peeing in the Woods:  A series of educational cartoons to demonstrate that peeing in the woods really isn’t that bad.

 www.roamthewoods.com

The EN rating system originated in Europe- EN stands for European Norm.  It is a standardized way to rate the temperature of sleeping bags and is the norm in Europe.  This allows you the consumer  a standard to compare the insulating value of sleeping bags from different companies.  Not all U. S. sleeping bag companies utilize the EN rating system, Mountain Hardwear, REI, Marmot, and Montbell have adopted this standard.

Before we dive into understanding the handy EN ratings on sleeping bags, lets talk a little bit about how they get this rating.  It starts with a copper mannequin that is wearing base layers consisting of socks, a long sleeve top, and long bottoms to maintain thermal value.  This mannequin is placed inside the sleeping bag, the sleeping bag is then placed on a sleeping pad that has a consistent thermal value.  The mannequin is connected to sensors that keep track of  heat loss when it is placed in a cold room.  From this data a mathematical formula is used to calculate the EN ratings that end up on your sleeping bag.

Now for the handy EN ratings, you will see something like this on EN rated sleeping bags:

This is the hand tag for REI’s Men’s Lumen + 25 degree Sleeping Bag.  Important things to note:

T Comfort/Comfort:  This is the temperature rating based on a standard woman (60 kg) sleeping comfortably.  Most women tend to be cold sleepers, if you are a cold sleeper whether male or female pay attention to this number.  For this specific bag  36 is the t comfort rating.

T Limit/Lower Limit:  This is the temperature rating based on a standard man (80 kg) sleeping comfortably.  For this specific bag 27 is the t limit rating.

T Extreme:  This is the survival rating and should not be relied on for general use.

Typically the temperature rating on an EN tested sleeping bag will be somewhere between the T Limit and T Comfort rating, but this is not always the case as the above sleeping bag is the Lumen +25.  The best guideline for comparison between bags is the temperature range between the t comfort and t limit ratings, so pay attention to those numbers.

Remember there are other variables in how a sleeping bag may work for you:

Layers: Are you wearing layers to bed? Are you using a sleeping bag liner?, shelter or conversely no shelter, type of sleeping pad and it’s R value, cold or warm sleeper (women are typically cold sleepers), your hydration level, and what you ate before bed can all have an impact on how well your sleeping bag performs.

The Bottom Line?  The EN rating system is a great starting point in choosing a sleeping bag and gives the consumer a standard to compare various manufacturer’s sleeping bags.

www.roamthewoods.com

We’ve talked about things to look for when choosing backpacks and tents, so it only makes sense that we address sleeping bags next. The guides at Roam have used a variety of sleeping bags and our main decision making characteristic is overall weight of the bag. Roam guides like a 30 degree bag as they are an all purpose weapon of choice. We have found in hiking the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and several other long distance trails the 30 degree bag works great as a general purpose bag.

Typically, Roam leans toward down sleeping bags since they offer the most warmth to weight ratio, but for this article we will discuss synthetic bags as well.

What are the differences of down and synthetic? A down bag is made of goose feathers as its insulation. These bags (typically) when comparing temperature ratings, are far lighter then their synthetic counterparts. The con of down is that if it gets wet, the feathers no longer hold their loft and the bag is pretty much useless until dried out. Most down bags have some type of water proof or water resistant fabric to help prevent the down from getting wet.  Down bags also need special washing detergents to clean them. These bags also tend to be higher priced then a synthetic with the same degree rating.  Down bags should always be stored unstuffed and compression stuff sacks should be avoided to help maintain the loft of the bag and lengthen the life of the bag in terms of it’s rating.

Western Mountaineering Summerlite 32

Synthetic bags, are bags made of a polyester insulation material, some are made of a Polartech material as well as other fancy materials. Typical material in some synthetic bags are shredded plastic bottles. The pros of a synthetic bag are they maintain their insulating properties when wet, if you have on damp clothes on you can actually dry them out in the bag from your body heat, they are made of recycled materials, are very affordable, and typically can be washed with regular laundry detergent. The cons are they are pretty heavy compared to down, if you opt to dry clothes out in the bag, the bag will end up smelling like death, and they tend to be bulkier then down bags.

  The North Face Cat’s Meow 20 (Synthetic)

Something that Roam will always recommend is to choose a sleeping bag with an E.N. rating on the bag. In the past it was up to the manufacturer to apply a rating to their bag and over time there were huge discrepancies in say a 30-degree bag from manufacturer to manufacturer. So now with an E.N. rated 30-degree bag, this will be the same rating from say Mountain Hardwear to Montbell, which was not always the case in the past.

Montbell Super Spiral Hugger #3- Showing the EN Rating for this bag.

Roam views a sleeping bag as a system and should be paired with a sleeping pad.  Roam guides prefer to use sleeping bag liners to help maintain their down bags.  The liners help add extra warmth to the bag’s rating as well as keep the bag clean from your body’s oils. Roam guides also use their mummy sleeping bags as quilts in the field, this helps create a more spacious feel in the sleeping bag and also helps maintain temperature comfort.

A brief note on Quilts:  Quilts are designed to cut weight from similarly rated sleeping bags.  They do this by removing the “mummy hood” of the sleeping bag as well as the bottom insulation of the sleeping bag.  The thought is that on your typical sleeping bag  the bottom loft loses it’s insulating value when it becomes compressed so they remove this insulation.  Quilts are made to be used in conjunction with a sleeping pad, most quilts have tabs in which you can secure the quilt to the sleeping pad to prevent drafts.  There are many brands on the market to choose from, pay close attention to the weights and temperature rating of the bag.  There are sleeping bags on the market that are the same weight as some quilts.

Jacksrbetter Sierra Sniveller Sleeping Quilt 25 to 30 Degree, 1 1b. 8 oz. 

There are a gambit of women’s sleeping bags on the market today.  Women tend to sleep colder then their male counterparts, so they may need a sleeping bag with a lower temperature rating than a man in similar conditions.  Typically with women’s bags there will be added insulation around the torso area and feet, are narrower around the shoulders and wider at the hips to accommodate a women’s specific body shape.  Be aware of the length of your sleeping bag as well, women’s bags tend to run shorter; so if you are a very tall woman a unisex bag may be a better fit for you.  This shorter fit allows for your body to heat the space in the sleeping bag efficiently.  Do try out both women’s and unisex bags to see what will work for you.

Sierra Designs Women’s Eleanor 30 Lite Down Bag

Some other variables to keep in mind as you shop for your sleeping bag:  Are you a cold or warm sleeper?  What type of sleeping pad will you be using (think insulating value of your pad)?  Will you be sleeping in a tent the majority of the time?  Will you be utilizing extra clothing layers to sleep in at night to help supplement your bag’s rating?  A sleeping bag liner? What are the typical temperatures you will be hiking in?  These questions will help you start thinking of your sleeping bag as part of a sleeping system.

For more information on sleeping bags choices check out Roam’s Gear to Roam With Board and Backpacking Toolbox Board on Pinterest.

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Managing your period on your outdoor adventures can seem like a daunting task but it doesn’t have to be.  Here are the basics:

Bears and Menustration

One of the common myths (which you have probably heard) is that you shouldn’t enjoy your favorite outdoor activities while on your period because bears are attracted to the smell making you at a higher probability of an attack.  This myth dates back to the first two bear (Grizzlies) attacks ever recorded at Glacier National Park.  Both attacks were on women, after these incidents there was speculation that the odors of “menstruation” were the cause of these attacks, one of the women was on her period and was using pads, the other carried two tampons with her.  After these incidents a study was done on menstruating women and black bears, in this study there was no evidence that menstruating women or the odors associated with them attracted bears.  There was also a historical study done involving grizzlies in which they analyzed hundreds of grizzly attacks and their causes*, no evidence was found linking menstruation to any of these attacks (this includes the two attacks in Glacier).  Polars Bears are a different story but if you come across one while hiking in the woods you’re already in trouble!  If you want to learn more about this study visit: http://www.nps.gov/yell/naturescience/bears_women.htm

The end result?  Don’t let your period stop you from enjoying your outdoor adventures.

*As a side note the biggest factor in the attacks they analyzed was the bears habituation to human food and/or garbage. So remember to practice Leave No Trace Principles.

Now that we debunked a common myth lets start with options!  Typically tampons or menstrual cups are recommended in bear populated areas since they are worn internally (they reduce the odor associated with your period).  I have done a good amount of hiking in black bear country utilizing pads and have never had a problem- so just make sure you are taking proper bear precautions.**  As a side note in grizzly country I would not use pads.  One downside to pads are their bulk and weight.  Tampons are widely used and make great emergency fire starters (with hand sanitizer) as well as a handy plug for an aggressive nose bleed but do carry the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome.  Menstrual Cups are the best of both worlds, (sorry I am slightly biased now) they don’t have to be changed as often as the other options (up to 12 hours depending on your flow), have a minimal amount of waste, and are lightweight.  Since the menstrual fluid is caught in the cup instead of being absorbed, cups are not associated with toxic shock syndrome.

Menstrual Cups can seem intimidating but after a few periods utilizing them, they are great.  A word of advice do not go out into the woods dependent on a menstrual cup unless you are familiar with it’s use!

One type of menstrual cup, this one is particular is called the Diva Cup.  Other popular cups include the Keeper and the Moon Cup.

Some general tips: Choose hygiene products with less packaging.  Think OB tampons without the applicator.  Choose thinner pads or smaller tampons to reduce bulk and what you have to pack out (this is not realistic for everyone).

Let this be your mantra when dealing with tampons and pads- Pack it in and Pack it Out.  It used to be common practice to burn both your used tampons and pads.  The problem is you need a very hot, intense fire to completely burn these items.  Now if you are in bear country think of what you smell when your neighbors are barbecuing!  I typically just double bag all my used period trash (including baby wipes/wet wipes) in quart size freezer bags, this takes care of any of the smell associated with your trash.  You can also use a brown paper bag or a plastic doggie poop bag to be discreet about your trash, then double bag.  Others use a piece of tinfoil, a crushed up aspirin or tea bag  to help keep the smell down.  Like anything with a smell, you should bear bag your period trash at night.  Please don’t bury used tampon or pads as wildlife could dig it up, and as bears are great foragers and scavengers they might start to associate these smells with food.  We don’t want to turn  the bears and menstruation myth into a reality!

Menstrual Cups are a little bit of a different beast.  Per Leave No Trace:  ” For The Diva Cup, The Keeper or other menstrual fluid receptacle. If possible, pack out the menstrual fluid to the nearest acceptable receptacle. Otherwise bury in a 6-8” deep cathole a minimum of 200 ft from any water source, campsite or trail.”  While in the majority of cases packing out your menstrual fluid to a receptacle can be far fetched, the cat hole remains one of the best practices.

Hygiene:  Definitely bring some kind of wet wipe or baby wipes to keep yourself clean.  Make sure these are unscented.  Some women also like to wash themselves at the end of the day, just make sure you are at least 200 feet from your water sources.

It is useful to keep all your period stuff in one place- so you have hand sanitizer, wet ones, and tampons, pads, etc. all in one place.  Typically I will put this in my general hygiene bag (a gallons size freezer bag) with my trowel and toilet paper.  I will keep this in my shovel pouch so I can grab and go when I need to.You can also bring a small stuff sack just for your period trash if you are worried about being discreet.

Women do synchronize their cycles, this is not a myth, so even if you haven’t had your period in awhile bring some supplies just in case!

Here are some good tips to follow not only in bear country but in general:

• Carry only unscented items (wipes, tampons, t.p. etc.)
• Use internal tampons/menstrual cups instead of pads**
• Pack it in and Pack it Out
• Bear Bag anything with a smell (this includes your period trash)

Thru-Hikes:  On longer hikes where you will be out for months some women might choose to suppress their periods by using birth control.  There are many birth control options (i.e. Depo Shot, Seasonique) so talk to your doctor about what would be the best option for your needs.

It is not uncommon when you are thru-hiking for your period to become irregular, it may come later or earlier, and the duration could be shorter or longer. Sometimes your period may not come at all.  This is fairly common due to the increase in exercise, just be aware of your body so you can see a doctor if you notice signs that could be pointing to another cause.

The great thing about having your period in the woods, yes I said period and great in the same sentence, is that typically cramps and the duration of your period typically decrease.  If you normally take anything for cramps ensure you bring those out on your outdoor adventures as well.

The main goal is that you are comfortable with your body and how to manage your period, and taking it out to the woods will become second nature.

Happy Backpacking!

For more information on Peeing, Pooping, and Periods check out the Roam’s Three P’s board on Pinterest! www.pinterest.com/roamthewoods

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Now that you have Peeing in the Woods down to a science, let’s talk more about Pooping in the Woods.  Intimidating? Yes. Does it have to be? No.

Best Practices- the most common way to dispose of your waste properly is the cat hole.  Backpacking Lore traces the naming of the “cat hole” back to your common house cat, who although doesn’t dig a hole to poop in, will cover up their poop after using the bathroom.  Now days though the common cat may be more likely to use your toilet and flush afterwards.

Knowing where to Poop: 

*200 feet (think 70 adult steps) from all water sources, trails, and camp sites

*avoid areas where there is obvious water run off (drainages and such) – this will drain back into your valuable water sources

*look for a nice flat spot preferably or a GENTLE hillside, (pooping on an incline is no fun but sometimes you don’t have a choice)

*look for easy digging (avoid rocky and rooty areas if possible- this is where a true trowel will come in handy)

*look for an out of the way location where others are less likely to wander

So now that you found your view for your poo.  You should have on hand toilet paper or some kind of natural wiping material.  You should also have a trowel or a digging apparatus of some kind.

Cathole Dimensions: 

*You want your cat hole between 6 to 8 inches deep, roughly the depth of a Nalgene Water Bottle and 4 to 6 inches in diameter.

Technique:  When digging your cat hole, mound the dirt up on one side of your respective hole.  This will allow for an easier fill in of the cat.  It is common to get excited while digging the cat and start throwing your precious soil behind you.

Natural Toilet Paper Options:  Everyone is different but some people swear by the natural toilet paper method, here are some options:  Snow (this one is especially refreshing), leaves- your going to have to know your poison ivies/oaks/sumacs on this one (from experience big tulip poplar and mullen leaves work well and juniper tree sprigs out west), smooth river rocks, grasses and rounded, smooth bark less sticks.  Some people even use water when it is plentiful.  (Remember this is water from your water bottle and nowhere near your water source!)

 What to do with your used natural t.p.?  The best practice is burying it in the cat hole as well, if it won’t fit make sure it is placed somewhere inconspicous.

Digging Apparatus:  Once again a personal preference- the most important thing is that you can dig down deep enough.  Factor in both how long it will take to dig a good cat hole and the durability of the digging apparatus.  Some options:  heavier duty snow stakes (takes longer to dig your hole, but is lighter then the typical trowel), the heel of your shoe (in my experience near impossible except in very, very soft soil), a good old stick (just make sure it’s not rotted- works great in sandy areas but not many other places, when I worked in Utah we utilized fire hardened digging sticks for all our digging needs), the tip of a trekking pole (once again will take longer, won’t work really well in rocky or rooty soil) or a trowel.  Remember not all trowels are created equally.  Plastic trowels will work great in easy soil but you may want to invest in an aluminum or stainless steel if you are encountering variable terrain.

Montbell Handy Scoop (1.4 oz)

Sea to Summit I-Pood Trowel (3.5 oz)

 Snow Stake (1 oz)

Just remember your cat hole depth should be 6 to 8 inches deep.

The Pooping Stance:  Definitely a personal preference type of thing, but in life we like to have options.  Here are a few but not all:

*The Free Style Squat- yes this works great as long as those good knees are still around.

*The Supported Squat- find a nice tree or downed log that will provide a supportive back rest and maybe a hand hold to help yourself back up.

*The Overhanging Squat- if you can find a nice down log you can potentially sit on the log as your seat and do your business- nice to have one if not two hand holds for this stance.  (Check for snakes who like to curl up under things just so you won’t have any nasty surprises.)

Most importantly find the stance that is most comfortable for you.  This might take a little bit of practice to find out what is comfortable- but don’t worry you will get it.  Remember to fully get your clothes out of the way.  A hiking partner of mine, I won’t reveal his true name, is deathly afraid that he will poop in his pants while utilizing a cat hole which is one reasons why he wears a skirt in the woods.  Skirts do come in handy for dispelling the option to ever poop in your pants while using a cat.

Set the Mood:

Settle in and enjoy the view.  Bring what you need to make yourself comfortable.  If you have never dug a cat, it can be handy to dig a cat the evening before.  This way you can choose a proper spot, dig a great cat, and know you will not be running to go in the morning.  Just remember where you dug it.

Use your toilet paper of choice to cleanse yourself.  The best practice is to carry out your used toilet paper if it is not the natural kind- double bagging in freezer Ziplocs usually does the trick to keep down the smell and gross factor.  Some people like using wet ones or a baby wipes (go for unscented) of some kind to use alongside toilet paper, this allows for use of less toilet paper and you will feel cleaner.

*Per Leave No Trace you can also bury your toilet paper- a less acceptable practice, use toilet paper sparingly and bury it thoroughly in your cat.  One of the problems that have occurred is lovingly referred to as Charmin Lilies, which really aren’t loveable at all.  This is where after rain storms and over time, the used toilet paper in popular and not so popular campsites start poking it’s head out, that is enough to take away a breathtaking moment with nature.  So make sure you are digging your cat to an appropriate depth.  So whatever option you choose use your common sense and be responsible with your toilet paper.  Do not burn your toilet paper.

*Chances are the longer you spend time in the woods, the more important packing out your t.p. will be to you.

Now that you’ve pooped and have disposed of your toilet paper in a responsible fashion your going to need to cover up your hole.  Fill it in with the dirt that you’ve set aside.  In general, if you feel comfortable walking over your spot after filling your cat hole in, you’ve done a good job of achieving the correct depth and have covered your cat hole appropriately.  Naturalize the area so it will look like you haven’t been there. Everyone’s stance is a little different on this- some will leave an x made out of twigs to mark their spot or some other reminder- just in case someone wanders into the same area.

Wash those hands of yours in some fashion- hand sanitizer works well.  Others like carrying a small bottle of Dr. Bronner’s super concentrated natural soap- if you use this option make sure you are far from your water sources.

 Mt. Whitney

Now that you are feeling more comfortable with pooping in the woods- remember to check local land regulations to make sure that cat holes are in fact the best practice where you are going.  In some alpine regions you have to pack out not only your toilet paper but your poop.  One such place is Mt.Whitney in the Sierra Nevada range of California, the highest peak in the lower 48, which requires your poop to be packed out due to the high traffic and the impossibility of digging a good cat hole in this terrain.  Most of the time areas such as this will provide “blue bags” or “wag bags” to pack out your poop.  You can also create your own poop tube which is commonly used by climbers, mountaineers, and kayakers.  The moral of the story is be prepared, so you don’t end up with any unexpected surprises or leave any unexpected surprises for others!

A brief note on privies- every once in awhile you will come across a coveted (and not so coveted) privy.  These are routine on the Appalachian Trail due to the shelter system it houses.  On this trail it is a good system due to the high volume of traffic and it limits waste to one spot instead of a multitude (upon multitude) of cat holes.   This also allows novice wilderness users to practice a method of waste disposal that is effective.  You will not always be close to a privy and often times later in the season or peak season privies can be overflowing so it is still necessary to know how to dig a cat hole.   Tips on privy use- do not throw trash in the privy, utilize any composting material that the privy caretakers have left (i.e. duff, wood chips, mulch), and try not to pee in the privy (pee before you go to the privy, the urine makes it hard for the privy to compost effectively.)

Leave No Trace Side Note: In arid environments it is better to dig a shallow cat hole, think 4 to 6 inches.  Pick a site that will maximize your cat hole’s exposure to the sun.  In heavily traveled areas it is a good idea to try to poop away from your campsites, this allows for cat holes to be dispersed far away from each other.

 Hardcore Composting Tip:  Mix your poop (once it is deposited in the cat) with a stick and a little bit of organic soil to help your poop break down faster.  Just bury your stirrer as well.

Not so Hardcore but a Helpful Tip:  Storing all your hygiene supplies together makes life easier.  If your in camp all you have to do is grab and go.  In a gallon size zip, I keep some wet wipes, some toilet paper,  hand sanitizer, my trowel, some femine hygiene products, and a couple extra zips for double bagging.  Starting out you might even throw some lightweight reading material in your zip to make yourself comfortable.

Putting it into Practice: Realistically you are going to encounter a few situations where your cat hole does not fall into perfect pooping parameters.  There will be times when your going to have to poop, and by that I mean, there is no time to dig a cat.  If that happens get as close to an appropriate spot as possible and you can dig your cat after the fact, not optimal, but at some point this is likely to happen.  (You can use a stick to move your waste into the cat hole, never use your trowel.)  You will encounter terrain where you won’t be able to achieve the desired depth for your cat. ( To clarify I always carry a lightweight trowel because I know I can get the appropriate depth for a cat hole, so I rarely come across a situation where I can’t dig a cat.  By no means am I saying bring nothing and just leave a shallow cat.  If this situation occurs often you may need a different digging mechanism.)  In these situations you do the best you can, sometimes wide and shallow, other times you might be able to find a rock to unearth that will help you get a decent depth.  Just do what you can to be considerate of others and follow the disposing of waste guidelines to the best of your ability.

Happy Pooping!

Check out the 3 P’s Board on Pinterest:  www.pinterest.com/roamthewoods and stay tuned for our final P.

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Peeing and Pooping can seem to be a daunting task in the woods.  Throw in your period and that might be enough to keep you from taking that first step outside.  Don’t worry though it’s not as hard as you think.

The First P: Peeing in the Woods

First of all, there are no lines to the ladies restroom in the woods.  Just make sure you are away from the trail, you don’t have to go too far, just somewhere where no one will take a break later and sit in your pee!  That is usually no problem for women as we tend to go to the ends of the earth to make sure no one catches sight of us.  At some point in your outdoor adventures someone will come across you peeing, just give them a wave and ignore, it is much better then getting pee all over yourself.  Before peeing, do make sure you are away from water sources.  Typically looking for a soft area to pee will eliminate the splash back on your pants- pine needles work great.  You can also widen your squat to reduce splash back as well as pee standing up- (that takes a little more practice or a FUD- a female urination device.)

Peeing in the Woods doesn't have to be overwhelming.

Drying: There are a couple of ways to dry yourself after peeing.  You can drip-dry, do a little shake and be on your way.  You can use toilet paper to wipe after peeing, just bring a Ziploc bag with you so you can pack out your used toilet paper.  A favorite among female long distance hikers is the pee rag or dab rag.  Exactly what it sounds like, you can utilize a bandanna or a lightweight pack towel material to dry yourself after peeing.  Tie it onto your backpack where it will get direct sunlight and dry out.  The pee rag will have virtually no odor and can be used again.  When you have an opportunity you can always rinse it off with water and then dry it out again.  If you use bandannas for other things differentiating these bandannas by color is pretty helpful.  Although you will look really hardcore if your hiking partners think your using your pee rag to wipe the sweat from your face.  As a side note, the dab rag method doesn’t work well when there are prolonged periods of rain because your rag will never have a chance to dry out it and will start to smell like urine.  Sometimes humid conditions can have the same effect so you might want to rinse your rag more often.

Trimming: Trimming your pubic hair is a good practice, keeping things neat and groomed will help you stay cleaner and cooler out in the woods.  At the end of the night (at the very least) use some kind of wet wipe to give yourself a sponge bath, this will help you feel cleaner and will typically get rid of much of the salt build up that encourages chafing.  Make sure you get your bra line, underwear line, genitals and bottom too.

FUD’s: You may have heard of female urination devices, these devices allow women to pee standing up.  Personally I don’t use them for my backpacking endeavors but know other females that utilize these for backpacking and love them.  They are great for canoeing, winter sports, and everyday life with public restrooms.  You have a myriad of options with FUDs.  The Go Girl, which I have used, is made of a soft plastic, which I like and is easy to use.  A couple of other brands out there are; The Shewee and The P Style- both of these are a hard plastic.  These are great options for many women so don’t be afraid to give them a try.  Disclaimer:  Do practice with your FUD before you head out to the woods!

  The Go Girl

 The P Style

 The Shewee

Skirts can make the process of both peeing and pooping a little easier.  Find a skirt to hike in that still allows freedom of movement.  Some ladies choose to go commando underneath, which allows for great ease with peeing-  bring some body glide or your personal remedy to combat chafing when starting out.  Even with an undergarment of some kind, the skirt still makes this process much easier and provides some coverage while peeing.  Hiking in a skirt also allows everything to breathe, which is a good thing.

 Leave No Trace Considerations:  Urine has little effect on vegetation or soil but animals may be attracted to the salts in urine.  Urinating on gravel, pine needles, bare soil and rocks is less likely to attract wild life, you could also dilute your pee with water if you are in an area where water is readily available.

Keep your eye out for the next installment of The Three P’s:  Where we will talk about the best practices for Pooping in the Woods.

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Check out our 3 P’s Board on Pinterest:  www.pinterest.com/roamthewoods

In today’s market of high-tech fabrics, the choices for a tent can be daunting. In this article Roam will help point you in a direction to make an educated purchase per your needs. As always gear choices are a highly personal decision.

Tents of today can be broken down into two basic categories: single wall and double wall.

So what are the differences of a single wall and double wall? A single wall tent is just that, a tent made of a single fabric design. These tents much like a tarp are made of a single piece of silicon nylon as their waterproof barrier. Some will have a bug netting but these tents are always a one-piece shelter.

A double wall tent is comprised of two components the “body” and the “fly”. The body of these tents is made of silicon nylon from the floor to the partial sides of the tent. The rest of the body is made with netting for venting and to keep the bugs out. Then you have the second component the “fly.” The “fly” is made of silicon nylon and is typically draped over the body acting as a proverbial rain jacket for your tent “body.” Now that we know the difference of a single wall and double wall tent, lets talk about the pros and cons to the two systems.

Single wall tents generally are lighter weight since they are one piece. They break down faster, and generally are not as bulky as double wall tents. The cons of a single wall tent; typically it takes a little more trial and error to setup correctly, and depending on terrain you might find it hard to guy out the tent. Roam has found with East Coast hiking and the higher humidity that single wall tents need to be setup with good air circulation or else you will find that these tents will condensate easily on the inside.

Double wall tents are typically  “freestanding” in design and can be set up on a variety of terrain, with the air space between the “body” and “fly” this system seems to condensate much less, and with some tent designs when paired with a footprint can be used as a single wall setup with just the rain fly.   This can help lower your overall shelter weight.  The cons to double walls; generally a little heavier, a little more bulk, extra parts like tent poles that may need repair.

So what is it that Roam guides look for in a tent? We look at tents, for its most basic function. We look at a tent as a shelter, sheltering us from weather and bugs- that’s it. When you talk to a Roam guide you will find that we rarely set a tent up. The number one reason you see us setting a tent up is when rain looks eminent. So we are looking for a tent that has either been seam sealed by the manufacturer or by one of us. We want a nice, dry nights sleep.

The next item we look at for a tent is overall weight. Roam likes their tents to be under the 2.5 pound range.  Rosie and I both own single wall and double wall tents and depending on the course location we choose the tent that fits the needs of the environment that we are in.  One thing I should mention is the overall sizing of a tent. I would say in the last 3 to 5 years there has been a shift in the sizing of some manufacturers. Before when one would talk about a 1 person, 2 person or 3 person tent, it was standard that a 1 person tent was similar to a coffin, and a 2 person was pretty much a 1 person tent plus their gear. Now days we have found that Big Agnes single person tents are pretty roomy. In a pinch we have fit 2 people in a Fly Creek UL 1, sure it was cozy but needless to say 2 people fit. I know with our single wall tents both being a single person tents, they still easily fit 2 people with no problem.

So when going out to look for a new tent, come up with a checklist; single wall vs. double wall. Think about the overall weight of the tent, and finally is this for solo hikes or do you like extra room for Fido or your gear.