Human Waste
Before tending to toilet needs, make sure you are more than 200 feet from a water source. Dig a hole just a few inches deep. Cover with earth, and microorganisms will decompose the waste in a short time.
Toilet paper may be put into the hole, but other items (tampons, disposable diapers) should be carried out. (To carry this waste, use two plastic bags, one inside the other, to prevent spillage and to keep down odor.)
Wildlife-proofing your waste
Forest creatures would just as soon eat your lunch as the food the forest has to offer. Squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons and porcupines may look for food, but keeping a clean campsite and keeping food well wrapped may discourage these visitors. Black bears, however, are more tenacious.
The White Mountains have no grizzly bears, but recent years have seen a marked increase in the black bear population. Though black bears have been known to attack humans, they are normally far more interested in fruit and nuts than you. Since black bears have learned to associate backpacks and coolers with easy snacks, precautions are necessary to avoid meeting up with a hungry bear. To avoid conflicts with bears:
- Hang food from a high branch that will not support a bear's weight, as least 10' off the ground.
- Wrap trash and odiforous foods well (in sealed plastic bags or other sealed containers), to conceal smells (hand trash same as food).
- Keep a clean cooking area and fire pit. Grease and food scraps will attract bears.
- Remove the clothes you've worn while cooking, they hold food odors and attract bears. Hang such clothing with your pack.
- Never store food in your tent.
- If a bear gets your stuff, don't attempt to get it back.
- Report any bear encounters to the nearest forest ranger or ranger station.
Drinking water treatment
Water sources may be contaminated by unseen pollutants. We recommend always treating water before drinking it.
While the clear water in that cold mountain stream may look inviting, there may be a number of harmful parasites or bacteria floating in it. Particularly troublesome is Giardia lamblia, a microscopic parasite that can be found in fresh waters. Ingestion of Giardia causes intestinaldiscomfort, diarrhea, and cramps that may last several months. To avoid the risk of ingesting this organism, treat all water before drinking it.
Water treatment methods include:
- Water filters. The most convenient method of water treatment is a lightweight filtration system consisting of a pump and filter material capable of trapping Giardia. Though somewhat expensive, the filtration system is an increasingly popular alternative. Read the label to see if the filter is effective against Giardia.
- Iodine tablets. Far cheaper, iodine tablets are easy to use, lightweight, and take up hardly any space in a pack. Iodine pill treatment can take 20 minutes or longer, and the pill's effectiveness is lessened in cold or murky water. Read the label to see if the manufacturer guarantees the tablet's effectiveness against Giardia, and follow directions for use. Chemical treatment can give a mild unpleasant taste to the water. Ifdesired, add powdered, flavored drink mix to the water to improve the taste.
- Chlorine treatment. Household bleach can be used to disinfect water. The recommended treatment: Add four drops of bleach (sodium hypochlorite) per quart and let stand for 30 minutes before drinking. Chemical treatment can impart an unpleasant taste to water.
- Boiling water. Keep water at a boil for at least one minute (up to five minutes at high altitudes). Boiling water is a reliable method of destroying Giardia.
Safe Washing
Jump in the lake if you wish, but don't bring the soap in with you (even biodegradable soap). Soap is harmful to wildlife and fish, and it adds nutrients to the water that encourage algae growth. Algae endangers fish by consuming oxygen in the water.
To wash up, fill a container with water and walk at least 200 feet away from the water source.