Pooping outdoors is easy to do: squat and wipe.

It’s more difficult to do it well. A stroll around any popular frontcountry or backcountry area will attest that some fraction of hikers, backpackers, and campers struggle with this skill, due to ignorance of laziness, or a combination thereof.

A good poop job will avoid:

Contaminating water sources;

Degrading the natural setting and the experience that it offers; and,

Personal discomfort and/or group contagion resulting from poor personal hygiene.

In this four-part series I will share my know-how and practical tips. I address appropriate methods for the woodlands, alpine, desert, and snow. I also explain the backcountry bidet, which is the key for long-term hygiene and happiness in the outdoors.