Victor Ome

We’ve all read the textbook outdoor manuals, but knowing how to dig a cathole when the ground completely refuses to cooperate is a vital backcountry survival skill. It sounds incredibly simple when you’re sitting on your couch: “Find a spot 200-feet from water, dig a hole 6 to 8 inches deep, do your business, and cover it up.”

You just checked the permits for your dream backpacking trip to Mount Whitney, the Grand Canyon, or a pristine high alpine zone, and there it is in bold text: “All solid human waste must be packed out.”

There is a common myth that getting your period means you have to cancel your outdoor plans and stay glued to the couch. In reality, wild camping on your period is entirely manageable with the right preparation. Managing a period on the trail requires extra planning, but it ties directly into your overall backcountry bathroom strategy.

If you are planning to leave the crowds behind for an adventure, mastering the unwritten rules of the backcountry specifically how to go to the toilet when wild camping is just as important as pitching your tent. Meanwhile, the chief among these responsibilities is understanding backcountry sanitation and Leave No Trace principles.

Human waste is a major contributor to water contamination and the spread of intestinal pathogens like Giardia in the wilderness. Transitioning from developed campgrounds to remote trails requires a deep understanding of wild camping sanitation and hygiene.