my question is what do women do on the trail when it is there time of the month???
lego
lego
Period - Appalachian Trail
system
#2
I had asked the same thing last month. The post was on 2/6/03, I believe. There were some good answers, so you might want to scroll back through and read them. I think I’ll be going with the continual pill routine myself when I finally get out there on the trail.
Good luck.
Danielle
Danielle
system
#3
Lego,
Check out Yahoo’s group Women Hikers at WomenHikers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. They talk about this quite a bit, and you can search the email archives.
Basically it just amounts to packing out the trash into a zip lock baggy or something similar. You may want to use tampons without applicators, like OB, to reduce trash amount. You may also consider burning the trash in a very hot campfire.
There is also the debate of weather or not menstruating women attract bears. A friend of mine swears that a bear followed their group because of a woman who was. So that may be a good argument for burning the trash. And guys, you may want to try and broach this subject with your female backpacking partners that are new to backpacking because sometimes they are reluctant to ask about it or to burn the trash in front of you.
:girl
Farrell
system
#4
That’s all I have to say about this topic, burning trash is just never an option. This is about the last thing you’d want left half burned in a fire pit, and that’s what happens to most trash, never mind the ecological impact of what has just been put into the atmosphere.
Pack it out, it’s not that big a deal. Due to this public forum, I don’t want to get into particulars here, email me privately if you want more detailed info.
Bluebearee
system
#5
I found it!!! The name of it is “The Keeper”. It is a menstrual cap. It is made of natural gum rubber and it works great!! No more carrying bulky products! No more buying them evry month! Look it up under a web search or e-mail me.
Bigbird
system
#6
no, no, no, don’t burn it!!! Pack out ALL your trash.
The thread last month addressed this issue pretty thoroughly.
yogi
system
#7
I’ve over heard some lady-hikers who have said very good things about THE KEEPER. Just a reference.
THA WOOKIE
system
#8
A lot of the hikers tried to burn it and it didn’t work. By the time we got north most had figured it out. They also throw them in the privies and they are not degradable!! Flame carried small pieces of tinfoil and ziplock baggies. Take them out with the trash. DON’T LEAVE IT IN THE WOODS!
Papa Smurf
system
#9
Since trash has been mentioned, it was one of my pet peeves last year. At the begining of the hike (first 500 miles) the thru hikers trashed the campsites. They would leave trash in the fire pits. MRE’s, tuna cans, foil packs from their instant dinners, etc. For those that are starting out, don’t trash the sites. Carry your trash out. By the time we got to Neels Gap last year I had a trash bag full of trash. About 10 extra pounds that the thru hikers had left the first 3 days! If you see trash pick it up, even if it is not your own. The other hikers will get the message with out you having to say a word. I did this several times. And they asked for the trash back and said they were sorry and would carry it out. Keep the trail clean for others to enjoy.
Papa Smurf