[pct-l] Ode to TP - The Three P's of pooping in the woods.

[At Rerunner]

I wonder if a slight sprinkling of something like Rid-X
http://www.rid-x.com/faq.shtml would speed up the decomposition enough
to be worthwhile carrying? A little bit would probably go a long way,
carried in a film-can shaker. Maybe there's an eco/forest resources
major out there who would like to set up a double-blind study, and
hand out canisters of Rid-x, placebo, and free Spot transmitters at
the ADZPCTKO. Somewhere, there is a grant-writer who could get some
money for this, although probably not from CA.

fenu

On 1/26/09, Ron Moak <ronmoak at sixmoondesigns.com> wrote:
> A lot has been said over the years of the evils of TP in the backcountry.
> I'll even admit that it can be an eye sore at times. I didn't find it to be
> particularly problematic on my 2000 PCT hike despite the chorus of TP
> critic's decrying the desecration of the wilderness with clumps of TP
> scattered about the landscape.
>
> Over the years I've developed my own methodologies of waste disposal based
> upon some unique knowledge. Acquired by actually having a degree in Forestry
> and having once worked for several years at one of the largest wastewater
> treatment facilities on the East Coast. This somewhat uncommon collection of
> skills allowed me to look beyond the simple bury, burn or pack out
> philosophies pushed by various camps.
>
> Before postulating on my Three P's a few comments are needed to fill in the
> picture of TP.
>
> While it's true chemicals are used in the production of TP to both breakdown
> and soften the natural wood fibers and bleach the color, very little of it
> remains in the TP post production. Remember that 99.999999% of your TP
> travels through large wastewater facilities. The discharge from these
> facilities is sent back into major rivers. So one town's discharge becomes
> another town's drinking water. Any significant chemicals in TP would leach
> out and become a become a nightmare in our major rivers. The result is that
> TP is little different in cellular composition than that leaf litter upon
> which it may ultimately reside.
>
> Second TP is designed to breakdown and decompose quickly. If it didn't you'd
> get to know your plumber better than your spouse and your local treatment
> plants would quickly become overwhelmed. The trick is understanding the
> nature of TP to allow it breakdown quickly and effectively in the dry
> environment normally found along the PCT.
>
> The Poop, Pee and Puree method of Waste Disposal
>
> Over the years I started considering both the nature of TP and the natural
> environment to find a suitable method of disposing waste so that it will
> decay naturally, quickly and eliminate the potential of an unsightly mess.
> The result of too much thought, was the formation of the Poop, Pee and Puree
> method of waste disposal.
>
> It's a very simple method that not only eliminates any sign of the TP is
> also uses the TP to speed up the breakdown of the waste.
>
> In practice once you've pooped and wiped off with TP, you pee on the TP. Or
> if you're unable to pee a half cup of water poured on will work fine. Then
> with a stick, stir the poop, pee and TP into a slurry and cover with several
> inches of top soil.
>
> The stirring performs several tasks. First it helps break apart the fibers
> of the TP and mix it with the waste. It helps to spread the moisture
> throughout the poop and the TP. Properly mixed, the TP will  thoroughly
> incorporated and longer a possible eye sore.
>
> The TP also plays and important function in the breakdown of the waste. The
> incorporated TP will hold additional water like a sponge. Without the
> additional moisture, your poop may dry out before colonies of bacteria that
> break down the poop have a chance to grow. The result is petrified lump of
> poop. The water held with the stands of TP will enhance the opportunity of
> these natural decomposition processes to occur.
>
> Now the 3P method may not be your cup of tea, but if you're not in to
> packing out TP and want to help nature recover faster, it may your ticket to
> a quilt free backcountry purge.
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> Fallingwater
>
>
>
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