Bathroom necessities

[Humbertico]

If nature calls and you are far from restrooms any recommendations especially for lady pilgrims? Should you carry bag to dispose at a trash can or carry shovel to dig letreen and bury?

Gracias peregrinos

 

[Albertagirl]

If nature calls and you are far from restrooms any recommendations especially for lady pilgrims? Should you carry bag to dispose at a trash can or carry shovel to dig letreen and bury?

Gracias peregrinos

@Humbertico
My own practice is to carry tissue paper and a plastic bag to carry used tissue to a trash can for disposal after urinating, and a trowel to dig an appropriate hole when disposing of solid bodily waste. I have very seldom needed to do the latter. Some kind of hand sanitizer might be a good idea, if you don't want to use your drinking water to wash up. I wouldn't put personal wipes of any sort except tissue in a hole.

 

[nycwalking]

I took baby wipes; cleans and moistens both hands and backlands.

 

[Robo]

For remote bathrooms Ladies..............see 4th video down the page
http://robscamino.com/2018/los-arcos-to-viana-videos/

and a plea from Pat 3rd video down.
http://robscamino.com/2018/akerreta-to-pamplona-videos/

 

[Dancing Rain]

As someone who is easily “caught short” due to extensive surgery on my digestive system.
1) Learnt to stop at every village & use the facilities at the local cafe or bar - often gave one or two euros in gratitude
2) Wore incontinence pads - took some & was able to get more at the pharmacies
3) Carried an easily accessible small Eagle packing bag with toilet paper, hand sanitiser, two spare pads, pair of undies, and a supply of single use plastic bags to make sure I left no paper
4) Became adept at spotting potential private spots, to use, and had to accept there was often evidence that others had discovered these before me

 

[easygoing]

One morning as we started in the dark because of expected high temperatures that day we struggled as we left the village to find the trail. Suddenly the the trail was outlined by bright little white pieces of toilet paper along each side. As helpful as we found this I recommend carrying out all toilet paper. If you bury it animals or ? seem to expose it again. It would be nice if people would make an effort to bury the solids. I have stepped off the trail and found big turds laying on the open ground.
My personal method is to carry a yellow bandana folded to fit in my pocket. I have perfected the drip dry pee shake which also tones the buttocks. Then I unfold my bandana one or two folds and blot. And being a nurse who has seen way more than I want, I know pee is sterile. There is no bacteria unless you have an active infection, I refold the damp side in and back into my pocket it goes. I rinse the pee rag out at night. In the interest of science I have given the system the sniff test and the rag does not smell until the third day if you don't wash it at night.
I very rarely poop in the woods probably because all the wine the night before sets things loose early morning. But I carry a thick paper dinner napkin or or too, a hand wipe and a doggie bag. I bury the soid and carry out the tissue.
And please disregard any advice to just take toilet paper from the cafe or albergue. Many cafes are out of toilet paper so bring a partial roll with the cardboard center removed from home.
The best advice is Leave only footprints!!!!

 

[Loretta Jane]

Knowing you wash undies on arrival at albergue, I gave up on paper and started to absorb drip after a wee in panties till then. No big deal. Most of time you find a bar here & there. Number two, bury paper behind bush.

 

[ritaj]

I'd like to second the "carry out your paper" -- for peeing AND pooping. It gets dug up or washed out of holes and we all know how much we hate seeing TP all along the way. I recommend a thin "pantyliner" pad for each day of your walk (one ziplock bag holds enough for weeks of walking with virtually no weight) and, with it, you won't need TP at all when you pee. As a retired National Park Ranger, I've seen it all and burying the paper in the poop hole just doesn't last.

 

[Deleted member 397]

One morning as we started in the dark because of expected high temperatures that day we struggled as we left the village to find the trail. Suddenly the the trail was outlined by bright little white pieces of toilet paper along each side. As helpful as we found this I recommend carrying out all toilet paper. If you bury it animals or ? seem to expose it again. It would be nice if people would make an effort to bury the solids. I have stepped off the trail and found big turds laying on the open ground.
My personal method is to carry a yellow bandana folded to fit in my pocket. I have perfected the drip dry pee shake which also tones the buttocks. Then I unfold my bandana one or two folds and blot. And being a nurse who has seen way more than I want, I know pee is sterile. There is no bacteria unless you have an active infection, I refold the damp side in and back into my pocket it goes. I rinse the pee rag out at night. In the interest of science I have given the system the sniff test and the rag does not smell until the third day if you don't wash it at night.
I very rarely poop in the woods probably because all the wine the night before sets things loose early morning. But I carry a thick paper dinner napkin or or too, a hand wipe and a doggie bag. I bury the soid and carry out the tissue.
And please disregard any advice to just take toilet paper from the cafe or albergue. Many cafes are out of toilet paper so bring a partial roll with the cardboard center removed from home.
The best advice is Leave only footprints!!!!

Recent research has found that urine does in fact contain bacteria