What do people think about the etiquette of peeing in the trail. I’ve discussed this with a bunch of people and their are a lot of ideas out there. Some people say it’s the best option environmentally speaking (it keeping the trail from expanding). Others say that it’s rude to do so. What do you guys think?
Peace
Ghostrane
Either way beats waiting in line in some town. You can pee wherever you want. Sometimes it does kill some of the snow asthetics, however.
Tha Wookie
I found sometimes that when you had to Pee and thought you were alone in the woods,thats the exact time someone would round the bend on you. But I think its fine to pee on the side of the trail. You know maybe go into the woods a little(10 ft or so). Whats not good is peeing on rocks or the sides of trees where others may sit. Also, I saw some really lazy people in 2002 that would go around the back of the shelters rather than using the woods around the privy area. I think this is more a male issue. The women really didnt want to be caught squatting on the trail. But some of them could stand too.
Virginian
I pee and poop in the trail. Don’t have the patience to tromp 200 yards away or whatever Miss Manners tells us is polite. Hell horses do it, so do I.:happy
WillK
It makes no difference environmentially. Animals have been peeing where ever and when ever they want for millions of years, and no one can prove or disprove that this has damaged the environment in anyway whatsoever.
From a civilized society viewpoint, it does make a difference. Respect others and walk a little ways off the trail.
All water is re-cycled water anyway, every drop we have has always been here. It evaporates up, condensed and falls down as rain, seaps into the earths, flows out in springs, streams and rivers, we scoup some up to drink, later we pee it out------and we scoup some up to drink.
See you out there. :cheers
Maintain
I was caught taking a dump on the JMT. Went well off trail into the woods. Turns out the trail looped and I had nearly hit the trail again without realising it. 5 hikers walked past! Just goes to show. Nothing is sacred, not even in the woods.
P
Pee Wee
nearly the same thing happened to me. i was going downhill and there were switchbacks; so i waited till i got till i got to the end of one switchback and walked off about 100 yards as i really had to go. turns out the next switchback parralleled the switchback i was on rather closely and i could see hikers coming down it as i was going. if they saw me; they kindly made no mention of it later on; but who knows. in the early spring when there is little foliage its easy to go several hundred yards away and still be able to see the trail. so; you may do the decent thing and creep away behind a tree; but still be seen.
but modesty still rules; i guess. i at least try to go out of obvious line of sight.
Big Boy
Of course, it’s rude to pee in the trail. You should always go at least two feet off the trail first.
What irks me is hiking a few miles up to the privy to find a sign telling you to pee in the woods. I would have sworn tha the privy at Eliza Brook was somewhere in Vermont! :cheers
Harry Dolphin
I find it hard to believe that the males did not pee from a shelter at least once when they had it for themselves.
Bankrobber
What ever your habits,burn or pack out all toilet tissue. I got very sick of seeing toilet paper along the trail.
Cowboy
as one of my friends says:…“you guys have it made…the whole trail is your outhouse!”
hehehehehehe! i find a pee-tree & have @ it.:lol
jaybird
JayBird
Know when it is OK to burn TP. Duff layers (fine, organic soil) are exremely flamable, even when damp. A very large wildfire was started several years ago in Angelas NF by a hiker with good intentions, but poor awareness. It is a better idea to carry it out or leave it buried if buried well, depending on where you are.
Tha Wookie
During my first hikes I always got a bit constipated probably because I put off going till I could find a privy. Now I go when I feel the urge. Usually it is easy to find sufficient cover behind the boulders or some bushes. (It really is no big issue. I guess most experienced hikers occationally have to take a dump outside.)
Barb