[pct-l] TP - pack it out or bury it

[Jereen Anderson]

From; MendoRider/Ed Anderson
 
There has been several posts lately on toilet paper. It's really disgusting to come across used toilet paper in the wilderness. That should never happen. I would like to offer some suggestions coming from my long experience as an avid backpacker and as an RV manufacfurer - VW and Ford van camper conversions for nearly 40 years. 
 
Not all toilet paper is alike. There are some products used by RVers that I am aware of that disolve quickly in water and don't require chemical tissue digesters. I have used Valterra brand SKU 83-1800. Reliance makes an equivalent product. Unless you are going to pack your TP out in appropriate plastic bags, this is the kind of TP that you should bring. I sometimes bury it and other times pack it out using a small double ziplock bag inside a small OpSak bag. Burying it is OK so long as you do it right. Lets start with the hole that you must dig anyway. This hole should be located well away from any water source - 100' or more if possible. Try to dig it under trees or shrubbery in soil that contains decomposing organic material such as leaves or conifer needles. The carbonic acid present will accelerate the decomposition of the TP. To dig suitable holes you will need a suitable digging trowel. Sticks usually don't work. My digging trowel weighs 8.5 oz.
 The handle is a good place to wrap 10 or 15 feet of duct tape. Get the good kind - duct tape can be great to have along in emergencies. Your hole should be deep enough to allow you to bury your stool and TP under at least 5" of cover. 8" deep will usually do. Before covering it, if you can afford the water, wet the TP. This takes very little water. Or, you could pee on it. This starts the breakdown of the TP. After covering the hole I usually cover it with a rock. The next rain will naturallyfind its way into the hole since the fill will be somewhat looser than the adjacent soil. If you have used the right type of TP it will disolve quickly in the water. 
 
Again, packing your TP out is best. Most hikers go into towns every four or five days anyway.