Wilderness Washing

**Rick** · 05-07-2008, 07:13 PM

I chanced upon an article about bathing in the wild. It talks about soaps being not only biodegradable but biocompatible. That's a term I had never heard but one that makes a lot of sense.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006...rness_body.php

**Guide** · 05-07-2008, 08:14 PM

For backpacking a warm sponge bath is another method. It works very well when living in the backcountry and above the snow line. I find it's more comfortable for most people than taking a dip in the icy water of a high alpine lake or stream. In wilderness areas the type of soap choice (no detergents) only biodegradeable soap and not disposing of your dirty water within 200 ft. of a water source is a proven practice avoiding contaminated water. For longer camp stays showers or baths can be rigged up if the enviornment allows that.

**Ridge Wolf** · 05-07-2008, 09:21 PM

Rick, I am 57 all year long.. I am not going to take a frigid bath.. Brrrr!! but I have never heard of bio-compatible anything before. Thanks for pointing to that article.. I'll just have to look for the word bio-compatible in the supply stores.. Good idea.

**klkak** · 05-07-2008, 09:37 PM

When I'm in the bush, I bathe at least every three days. A dirty body leads to a sick body and a sick body is no fun at all. I wash my hands before touching anything that goes into my mouth.

**Ole WV Coot** · 05-07-2008, 10:34 PM

If it's cold I don't smell. When it's warm and I start to decompose I try and bathe each day in the summer. I even put on clean clothes and turn my undies inside out, next day reverse. They are good for a week. Don't use scented soap or anything that smells nice the bugs love it.

**Rick** · 05-08-2008, 08:01 AM

Originally Posted by Ole Coot

turn my undies inside out, next day reverse.

Man....that is just plain wrong. PeeeeeU!

**dilligaf2u2** · 05-08-2008, 01:30 PM

Undies? Undies? I don't need no stinking undies!

If I am going to be out for more then a couple days I want a change of under cloths for every other day. I want to be clean, so as to not offend the skitters and scorpions.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness. I am no heathen! klkak had it right. Sick in the woods is no fun! Rick I am 55 yrs young. That cold dip in the river is the last place you would find me! I heat water and use a bandanna, I have for washing, to make myself less offensive to the bugs.

Don

**wildWoman** · 05-08-2008, 03:08 PM

It's really funny how some people don't have a clue how they can wash unless the water comes out of a tap! I get that question sometimes when peole hear we don't have running water, "but how do you wash". Wash cloths, heating up water and using a pitcher system for washing hair seems to have never occured to them. Kinda weird.

**nell67** · 05-08-2008, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

Man....that is just plain wrong. PeeeeeU!

I agree Rick. Coot: ewwww, ewwwww !

**Rick** · 05-08-2008, 03:24 PM

Hey! don't get the idea that I want to dunk my little tootsies in those mountain streams either. That was just the gist of the article. I was more concerned with the fact that biodegradable doesn't really mean it's good for the environment if it degrades into dangerous substances. I was impressed with the biocompatible term. Not only would the soap break down but it would break down into substances that are NOT dangerous to the environment. Hadn't ever heard the term before.

Don, I'm 54 years young (you old timer) and I like my hot water, too!

**Ridge Wolf** · 05-08-2008, 09:24 PM

Boomers all... 'cept Nell... Aahh.. to be young again...

**crashdive123** · 05-08-2008, 09:27 PM

Nice to be part of the pack....well except when the arthritis kicks in.

**nell67** · 05-09-2008, 02:41 AM

Originally Posted by Ridge Wolf

Boomers all... 'cept Nell... Aahh.. to be young again...

Young???? Nah,I just hide my age well

**FVR** · 05-11-2008, 12:18 AM

Been known to strip down nekked and take a quick bath in the mountain streams more than once. Gets a bit chilly in Feb., but it's better than being nasty.

As far as the soap goes, I take the dip downstream. I really don't think the amount of soap that I use is going to effect the environment. He ll, walking across the camp, buckarse nekked effects the environment more than the soap.

**Alpine_Sapper** · 05-11-2008, 01:13 AM

Originally Posted by FVR

As far as the soap goes, I take the dip downstream. I really don't think the amount of soap that I use is going to effect the environment. He ll, walking across the camp, buckarse nekked effects the environment more than the soap.

Downstream is relative, just like downwind or downhill, etc. Not saying don't do it or anything, as I'm guilty on occasion myself, but don't kid yourself that "taking your dip downstream" has any relevance to the guys camping downstream from you.

As for the amount of soap, it's kinda like this guy I saw dumping his used motor oil in the dumpster the other day. We kinda got into it, and he said that a couple quarts wouldn't hurt the environment. Sure, it probably won't. Until his buddy does it. And then his buddy, and his buddy. Now we're talking gallons instead of quarts. Spread that across blocks in the city and now it's barrels. Snowball and soon we're living in a cesspool. But it'll be a soapy one downstream.