Trail Sanitation

“I was hiking earlier this week with a pharmacist friend of mine, our plans were to do a nice Day hike in Muir Woods. He asked, at the start, if I brought any tissue, and I replied that it wouldn't be necessary (thanks to my usual morning routine).

As we hiked throughout the day, I noticed a can of Lysol spray peeking out of his daypack. "Laugh if you must", says he, "but you gotta be careful. A little spray on your hands prevents potential problems when you can't wash your hands for lack of water and soap."

How do you deal with this situation?”

“I take my chances like everyone else did before the industrial revolution!

On a backpack trip I'll bring a film canister sized bottle filled Doc Bronner's soap. If I wasn't addicted to washing my face in the morn I wouldn't even bother with that unless I'm out for a week or more and that would be mainly for washing my socks.

For you ultra-lighters it only takes a few drops of Doc Bronner's to clean up so 1 oz. of it is more than you'll need for most three day trips.

Hmm...maybe I've done too many three month trips. I'm starting to sound like Idiot Bob.”

“Good old soap and water is good enough as long as you wash your hands away from water sources. I like the Doc Bronner's soap too.”

“So why isn't this titled "Obi deals with trail sanitation" in the vein of all the ever growing number of "Obi" threads??? Hmmmmmmm??? LOL”

“I ALWAYS bring at least a little TP along. just in case. and there's several kinds of waterless hand sanitizers. I always have some of that, too. Part of my ten essentials!!”

“Who washes their hands?!?”

“I try not to hike with folks that have obsessive compulsive disorders.”

“Oh, I get it.......

I take baby wipes on long trips......man I hate that smell though.


I hear they now have "adult" wipes...gotta try those, must smell like cigarettes and booze.”

“I take a few baby wipes in a ziploc, alcohol in a 2 oz. spray bottle for feet maintenance and 1 very small container of waterless antibacterial hand sanitizer like Dial or Purell (1/2-3/4 oz?).”

“FYI, I wasn't suggesting that my "friend" preferred using ONLY Lysol... Of COURSE he had TP... i was simply saying that to "wash" his hands, he elected to use the lysol, as opposed to not washing his hands, or using some bio-soap, etc...

Don't get Neanderthal on me here...”

“Dude sprays Lysol on his hands? That can't be good.”

“why not? It works great on your feet to for athletes feet. clears it right up.”

“I use Depends, duct tape that baby on and go with it. Eliminates lots of headaches.

1. No TP or trowel to carry.

2. No germs to spread, all of'em contained snug as a bug in a rug.

3. Don't have to worry about if your too close to a water source or trail.

4. No cares about poisonous plants or snakes.

5. Mornings, stay a little longer in that warm sleeping bag.

Note: For treks over four or five days, get one size larger and use lots of duct tape. Believe me, you don't want a blow out.

There is one drawback, your hiking buds will soon learn how dam.n efficient you are and will become intimidated and jealous, mine won't even go with me now. THEY ALL HAVE ISSUES!!! Hope this a been helpful.”

“...has been helpful.”

“Well, it all DEPENDS........... LOL stalker!”

“LOL,...there Stalker....”

“No rinse hand sanitizer, I never take any kind of soap.”

“My hands get washed when I do my dishes. I bring wipes for the body.

As for the long trips, I cut off a bottom of a clorox bottle (which I also use for prefiltering) and use that as a basin - along with a bandana.

I keep away from the anti-bacterial stuff.

You can also get wipes that are un scented, I also rinse mine out at home with water and put them in a ziploc. It works well if you dry them out before you leave.”

“Lever 2000 wipes.”

“I use the anticeptic gel stuff. Easy to carry around a very small 1 oz. bottle of it.

Has anyone tried "comfort" wipes as a bathing substitute in the back country. Heard them advertised on the radio and thought I would ask around.”

“I usually bring some Wet Ones.”

“Several brands of wipes come in small travel-size packs of about 20, usually for around a buck. They've been a mainstay for me for years.

There are a number of variations among the wipes. Some are anti-bacterial, some are alcohol-free, some leave little residue, some are meant to leave some soothing lotion-like elements. Scentless seems a wise option if possible.”

“I got quite sick on my SHT hike this spring, and although I can't swear to the connection, there are 2 things I'll never do again.
1) Forget the Dial/Purell for Ivory.
2) Use a water bottle with a push/pull top and open it repeatedly with my fingers (I knew it was wrong while I did it).”