[pct-l] backcountry hygiene

[Jeffrey Olson]

A doctor friend said that it is important that children play in the dirt 
because they take in microbes that their immune system has to respond 
to.  This response strengthens the immune system and is a kind of 
vaccination against many different things that make us sick - or so I 
understood him.  He laughed at the modern suburbanites need to protect 
his or her child from dirt.  This only sets them up for colds, etc., 
later in life.

While I don't go so far as to "eat dirt" when hiking, I certainly don't 
worry about being dirty.  Sweaty - yes - that's sometimes uncomfortable 
when sleeping.  I certainly have not been acosted by hikers wanting to 
shake my hand.  A casual "Hey," a raising of the eyebrows, and openness 
to whatever the other wants to say is good enough...  Hygiene is like 
driving, it is others that I watch out for.

Jeffrey Olson
Martin, SD

On 2/7/2012 12:09 PM, Michael S wrote:
> A lot of physicians and nurses in a hospital setting use the time honored fist bump.  Most healthcare workers are OCD about handwashing, while most patients are, as you say, sketchy.
>
> However, I'm going to have to say that being on the trail for weeks on end, passing of bacteria or viruses is not going to be much of an issue, because you'll touch your clothing (especially since you're just bringing one set to go light), your own skin, rocks, dirt, water, etc.  Seriously, I wouldn't worry about it.
>
>
> Michael
> michaels at skepticalraptor.com
> http://www.skepticalraptor.com/skepticalraptorblog.php
>
> 2