Backcountry Cleanliness
- rlown
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Re: Backcountry Cleanliness
hmm.. if i smell myself, and i don't like what I smell, I wash.
I used to have to do my hair everyday, or i couldn't sleep. Now with little hair, and what is there cut to 3/8" pre-trip, a quick head dunk suffices.
For me, the most important thing is the gallon of water and a towel back at the truck, with a change of clothes for the trip home. Civilization doesn't like stink, so much.
I used to have to do my hair everyday, or i couldn't sleep. Now with little hair, and what is there cut to 3/8" pre-trip, a quick head dunk suffices.
For me, the most important thing is the gallon of water and a towel back at the truck, with a change of clothes for the trip home. Civilization doesn't like stink, so much.
- oldranger
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Re: Backcountry Cleanliness
Come to think of it Matt got wet, Mark got wet, I got wetbut I didn't see Tehipite Tom nor rlown near the water (except for russ to fish) the entire trip. Maybe that kept the bears away!
Mike
Mike
Mike
Who can't do everything he used to and what he can do takes a hell of a lot longer!
Who can't do everything he used to and what he can do takes a hell of a lot longer!
- rlown
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Re: Backcountry Cleanliness
god, you're getting old. actually, i don't think you were back with your stringer yet. I went in. It was refreshing as heck.. Now, Tom..
- balzaccom
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Re: Backcountry Cleanliness
yeah....
so washing hands every day when we wash up the dishes, once at breakfast, once after dinner.
Rinse off when I am really hot and sweaty, maybe once every two days.
Wash hair maybe once every three days...far from any stream or lake.
But I also wash my sock, undies, and even once in a while my shirt.
And yes, I bringin sleeping clothes so that my bag makes it past the current trip.
so washing hands every day when we wash up the dishes, once at breakfast, once after dinner.
Rinse off when I am really hot and sweaty, maybe once every two days.
Wash hair maybe once every three days...far from any stream or lake.
But I also wash my sock, undies, and even once in a while my shirt.
And yes, I bringin sleeping clothes so that my bag makes it past the current trip.
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- Hetchy
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Re: Backcountry Cleanliness
I am somewhere betwee 0 and 1. My longest stretch without a shower was from Steamboat Springs Colorado to Rawlins Wyoming on the CDT.
Since I was totally solo and saw only antelope and elk it really didn't seem to make any sense to clean up.
However i always use Purell hand sanitiser after pooping.
I will admit that after about five days I begin to offend myself a bit.
Now why don't i have a girlfriend?
Since I was totally solo and saw only antelope and elk it really didn't seem to make any sense to clean up.
However i always use Purell hand sanitiser after pooping.
I will admit that after about five days I begin to offend myself a bit.
Now why don't i have a girlfriend?
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- oldranger
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Re: Backcountry Cleanliness
Oh yeah! I think last summer all of us that got together used hand sanitizer, especially before cooking for the others in the group.
Mike
Mike
Mike
Who can't do everything he used to and what he can do takes a hell of a lot longer!
Who can't do everything he used to and what he can do takes a hell of a lot longer!
- TehipiteTom
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Re: Backcountry Cleanliness
Yeah, agreed. If there's a shower near the trailhead I'll do that, but otherwise I'll do what I can at the car.rlown wrote:For me, the most important thing is the gallon of water and a towel back at the truck, with a change of clothes for the trip home. Civilization doesn't like stink, so much.
Right. Not getting sick is key.Oh yeah! I think last summer all of us that got together used hand sanitizer, especially before cooking for the others in the group.
Yeah, about that: cold water just isn't fun.Come to think of it Matt got wet, Mark got wet, I got wetbut I didn't see Tehipite Tom nor rlown near the water (except for russ to fish) the entire trip.
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Re: Backcountry Cleanliness
Negative 1?
God, one of the many great things about backpacking is not having to shower, shave or look in a mirror! My theory is that I build a protective layer of filth after 2 days, and that trying to bathe at that point actually makes things worse. Analogize to when orange groves are facing freezing overnight temperatures, and the farmers spray them with water to form a protective ice coating.
God, one of the many great things about backpacking is not having to shower, shave or look in a mirror! My theory is that I build a protective layer of filth after 2 days, and that trying to bathe at that point actually makes things worse. Analogize to when orange groves are facing freezing overnight temperatures, and the farmers spray them with water to form a protective ice coating.
- Troutdog 59
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Re: Backcountry Cleanliness
Outstandingquentinc wrote:Negative 1?
God, one of the many great things about backpacking is not having to shower, shave or look in a mirror! My theory is that I build a protective layer of filth after 2 days, and that trying to bathe at that point actually makes things worse. Analogize to when orange groves are facing freezing overnight temperatures, and the farmers spray them with water to form a protective ice coating.
Now that's my kind of 'scientific reasoning'
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- SSSdave
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Re: Backcountry Cleanliness
Hah! Knew I would be the only 2. While backpacking we almost always jump in a pond, lake, or stream unless it is really cold outside. We are infamous for getting into cold water and there is a way to do it without pain. See I strongly dislike getting into my sleeping bag grubby. Oh, of course have done so but dislike it. So nice feeling clean. When winter snow backpacking or desert backpacking of course there is no washing option.
So what about option 4? Is that like at one of the High Sierra Camps?
So what about option 4? Is that like at one of the High Sierra Camps?
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