[pct-l] Monkey butt

[JPL]

Yeah, generally if you don’t use soap, bathing in a large body of water, lake, stream/river, is ok by LNT standards (ref: Backpacker’s “Leave No Trace”, author McGivney).  I still think its better to rinse off first, then hop in!  

From: Justin West 
Sent: Monday, June 03, 2013 9:20 PM
To: JPL 
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net 
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Monkey butt

Way more fun to get into the creek and wash off!  ;) 

Anyway, the salt coming off your body, while seemingly highly concentrated after a long day of hiking would rapidly dilute into even a low flow creek at parts per billion or less.  I cannot see how that would become a problem.
If you are concerned with pathogens, I don't think a rinse with a little titanium pot full of water is going to do much one way or another prior to a dip.  
But if you know of some research that suggests otherwise I'd be really interested in checking that out as I have wondered about that.

Obviously crapping right next to a water way is a major no no!!

Unless you are actually sitting in the creek while you are crapping and then it's ok as you won't need to use any toilet paper which will save lots of resources.   







On Mon, Jun 3, 2013 at 5:09 PM, JPL <jplynch at crosslink.net> wrote:

  Whew.  Lets have another LNT lesson: 


  "also getting into streams and getting the salt off your body as often as
  you can is important"

  NO!

  Get some water, wash your salty bod *away* from the stream!  *Then* if you want to get your clean self in the stream, go for it!