Poop procedures

[SGT Rock]

Something I started contemplating recently are poop procedures. The customary advice is to bury the poop at least 6" below the leaves and duff. BUT more and more of the privies on the AT seem to be turning to mouldering style privy since apparently the poop breaks down faster. Some of them ask you to pee in it, others ask you not too - so I won't go into that aspect.

BUT given the fact that the ATC seems to push using these sorts of privies, then wouldn't it be more environmentally friendly to recommend a person to dig a hole to the bottom of the duff, do their business, then bury the poop in just duff and then leaves to cover the trace. If you get off the trail a hundred feet and poop in no-camping areas it seems that the poop would break down faster and contribute to the soil. I reckon in high use areas without privies the recommendation to bury in the traditional cat-hole still makes total sense.

Thoughts?

[Hooch]

Rock, I'm thinking that someone had said something about that recently while you were still inabsentia on the Trail. It does make total sense to me, especially if you can do it out of the way like you said. Bonus if you have a blowdown to sit on.

[Lone Wolf]

i never dig a hole.. most times cover it with leaves and branches

[Tin Man]

For me, the urge to purge is highest halfway between pointless privies.

[sofaking]

privies are disgusting, thank goodness they're only around those nasty shelter things...

[Blissful]

That's what I thought also - with the duff procedure. So that's what happened.

[Bulldawg]

I do what LW does!

[JAK]

I don't dig either. I just go well off trail and dump and bury in forest litter.
I think it breaks down faster because it is insulated from the cold ground.
I don't use toilet paper. I just use leaves. I think that helps also.

Is there a difference between the following:
1. Forest debris?
2. Forest duff?
3. Forest litter?

Just curious.

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

I dig a hole in high use areas, but when I go far off the beaten path (and far from all water sources), I clear the duff, dump, cover with duff and leaves and mark the place with a stick just in case someone goes as far as I did (not likely, but never say never.)

[sofaking]

I don't dig either. I just go well off trail and dump and bury in forest litter.
I think it breaks down faster because it is insulated from the cold ground.
I don't use toilet paper. I just use leaves. I think that helps also.

Is there a difference between the following:
1. Forest debris?
2. Forest duff?
3. Forest litter?

Just curious.

debris- branches, sticks and such
duff- partially decomposed plant matter
litter-plant leaves (if it's the good kind)

[JAK]

So debris is bigger stuff and litter is smaller stuff and duff is more decomposed stuff. Makes sense. Thanks sofaking.

[JAK]

As a general rule I try to avoid geo-cache sites.

[SGT Rock]

According to the mouldering privy instructions duff is the layer of stuff that looks like loose potting soil that is under the layer of leaves that have fallen but above the soil layer.

I started going off trail about 50=100 feet and using a log for a bench to do the butt hang. The leaf stuff next to the log is easy to do this in and makes for good sitting. Better than most nasty pit privy holes. But mouldering privies actually do smell better than normal pit latrines.

[take-a-knee]

You should get it deep enough to keep the flies away from the turds, that is the primary reason for burying, especially near the shelters.

[Bulldawg]

According to the mouldering privy instructions duff is the layer of stuff that looks like loose potting soil that is under the layer of leaves that have fallen but above the soil layer.

I started going off trail about 50=100 feet and using a log for a bench to do the butt hang. The leaf stuff next to the log is easy to do this in and makes for good sitting. Better than most nasty pit privy holes. But mouldering privies actually do smell better than normal pit latrines.

Do they smell better or is that they just do not smell as bad? I'd say there is a difference. Oh Yeah, how's the ankle??

[sofaking]

You should get it deep enough to keep the flies away from the turds, that is the primary reason for burying, especially near the shelters.

"don't ***** where you eat. or sleep."

[JAK]

Interesting point about flies. Hadn't thought so much about flies. I usually squat while leaning back from a tree. Good idea to test tree before dropping drawers. Learned the hard way. Went ass over tea kettle down the hill. Fortunately I had not commenced the deed.

[Bulldawg]

Interesting point about flies. Hadn't thought so much about flies. I usually squat while leaning back from a tree. Good idea to test tree before dropping drawers. Learned the hard way. Went ass over tea kettle down the hill. Fortunately I had not commenced the deed.

Hilarious!! Anybody get pictures??

[JAK]

Hilarious!! Anybody get pictures??

No, but my wife was an eye witness to the entire procedure. It was winter. Snow everywhere. Deep snow, if you catch my drift.

[Wilson]

It don't matter how fast you try, them green flys will be on it before you can cover it up...Where do they come from? Ya never see one till ya take a dump, then all a sudden there's a dozen on the pile.