[pct-l] TP or noTP issue

[Edward Anderson]

I don't know the answer to this question:  Once TP is in a hole and you pee on 
it and cover it with, say, 5" of organic soil, does the smell of the urine (it 
smells like ammonia) repel critters?  I'm pretty sure it would repel dogs or 
coyotes, but what about other animals? Does anyone out there know the answer to 
this one?

As I mentioned, I pack my TP out about 50% of the time. Whether I pack it out 
really depends on whether I know that there will be a trash can ahead to dispose 
of it. Realize that I ride one horse and always have to consider both bulk and 
weight just as the hikers do. Since I live on the trail, I cannot simply hitch 
into towns as the hikers do. Also, I sometimes even pack out other peoples 
trash. Usually it is trash left by day-hikers or overnighters, not PCT hikers.  
My decisions on what to pack out will often be influenced by whether I have 
knowledge of a trash can near the trail up ahead.  I realize that this is not 
something that the hikers have to consider.

MendoRider/Ed Anderson



________________________________
From: Gary Schenk <gwschenk at socal.rr.com>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Sat, November 20, 2010 10:38:50 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] TP or noTP issue

And that prevents critters from digging it up? Sorry, but leaving it 
behind should never be an alternative.

On 11/20/2010 9:31 AM, Edward Anderson wrote:
> Properly disposing of toilet paper remains an important issue.  And. of 
course,
> this issue will be discussed every year. and rightly so.
>
> Leaving no trace behind your behind  (pun intended) - is imperative!  There is
> nothing more disgusting than coming across TP blowing in the wind. There are 
>two
> possible approaches to this problem - either you do a proper job of burying it
> along with your poop or you bag it up ( I use a small OpSak) and carry it out.
> The latter is certainly the best. Sometimes I decide to bury, but only if I 
can
> dig a proper and deep enough hole in organic soil where carbonic acid and
> bacteria will be present to help break it down. Peeing on it also helps to 
>start
> the process. So, a lot depends on where you are - can you find the right
> conditions to bury.  During my ride I could only find acceptable conditions
> about half of the time.  So I packed it out often.  Since I don't go into 
towns
> unless the trail passes through them, one consideration for me is always where
> will I find a trash can?  Since I often drive my rig ahead and cache my
> resupplies near road crossings, I am always able to check this out when I 
>cache.
> Also, try your best to bring a bio-degradable TP - found in places like 
Camping
> World - used by RV'ers.  This kind of TP is designed to break down more 
readily
> than most regular TP.
>

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