[pct-l] TP in the Cat-hole

[Edward Anderson]

I always try to find a place to dig the cat-hole in organic material - like under a tree or, ideally, beside a rotting log. The acids and bacteria that will be present in organic debris will help with the breakdown. I also pee on the TP to wet it before covering the hole. It is easier to dig a deep enough hole in places like that. I also bring bio-degradable TP.  I have sometimes used either the fairly common lichen known as Grandfathers Beard as a TP substitute. It is the light green lichen that you will see hanging on dead FIR tree branches. Often you will see those branches laying on the ground. In some areas, another species is real dark green - almost black. Mules Ear leaves also work well. You can gather some organic TP substitute as you hike and store it in a ZipLock until needed.  During my 2009 ride I sometimes tried carrying out TP stored in a small OPSak. That didn't work well for me because I usually couldn't find a place (since I mostly
 lived in the trail with my horse and didn't go into towns) to dispose of it - so I stopped that approach. There were rarely trash cans at the road crossings where I cached my resupplies.

MendoRider-Hiker



________________________________
 From: Gord Freeborn <gfreeborn at dccnet.com>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net 
Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 10:43 AM
Subject: [pct-l] TP in the Cat-hole
 
I tend to agree with the individual that suggested, when you take your TP
out in a plastic bag you end up putting a biodegradable into a
non-degradable (Tim Gustafson ) - I thought we are trying to minimize
plastic into our environment? I boated for many years and found that there
are several types of TP that are more biodegradable - no binders added to
the paper in production! Used in the boating world all the time. Dig a good
size cat-hole, get the paper in deep enough and put a little water on it to
help the breakdown happen quicker - cover well! I think that is a better
formula than dumping plastic bags full of waste - how is that going to
breakdown in landfills??????

Gord Freeborn





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