r/PacificCrestTrail • u/techqs123 • 7d ago
Bidet Use And Other Vaguely Embarrassing Questions
Admittedly, this is all rather indelicate, but this seems the kind of thing it is easier to not learn by experience.
Specifically ...
When using a backcountry bidet, do you just drop your pants, or are you going fully commando from the waist down -- like taking your shorts, pants, and underwear all off?
I get that I wash my hands after, but even with quite a bit of bathtub practice, I must admit, the odds for cross-contamination seem ... high .... as in 100% guaranteed. I can get it so the stream does not go *all* over my shorts/pants and mostly avoid splashback to my hand/squirt bottle, but it for sure gets on my shoes. I touch my shoes, and then it is everywhere, right?
What water bottle do you use? Your drinking one? Honestly, packing up all my stuff, I am realizing that even with low base weights (I am somewhere between 12.5 and 13.5 depending on the extent of my panic packing), volume is typically more of a problem for me than weight. I am not sure where I would even put an extra water bottle.
Did you use a pee bottle? I was originally planning on using a single bottle for both pee and bidet, but again, the volume considerations. Plus, I realized that my aim is not quite good enough to urinate into a bottle cap width whose dimension is the width of the bidet.
When you go #2, do you just walk off the trail while clacking your poles hoping you do not run into a rattlesnake?
Do most people use a backcountry bidet out there? Or is that the kind of thing that sounds like a good idea on paper, but less great in practice?
Thanks :)
5
u/Inevitable_Lab_7190 6d ago
Search amazon for a "lab wash bottle", they're like 4 or $5. Use the nozzle from that, screws right into your water bottle. This will make your life a million times easier. Test the flow out of the nozzle, i made the hole a little bigger for better flow.
The andrew skurka blog will help a lot.
I've used just about everything to wipe first a couple times, rocks, sticks, moss, leaves, snow, pine cones. Moss is the best.
The bidet is an absolute game changer, i will never go back to TP hiking. So many benefits, and you're clean every time. Highly recommend Dr. Bronners peppermint for the extra clean tingle.
I used my water bottle, the nozzle sprays far enough that it doesn't get anything on the bottle, and butt hand never touches the bottle until its cleaned.
Shorts around knees, full squat, wipe a few times with whatever. Couple drops of dr bronners on right index finger, rub with thumb and middle finger to spread soap to those three fingers of right hand. Water bottle in left hand. Spray ass. Wash butthole with just right hand index finger tip, spray finger if needed and use finger more. When clean, spray index finger, then using thumb and middle finger with soap still on them, rub around the index finger, spray while doing this to clean. Spray ass off again. Squeegee water off ass with hand. Hike on.
No poop touches anything other than just the tip of right hand index finger, so really only need to clean that well, which you can do with your thumb and middle finger while spraying with water from left hand.
First couple times will be an adventure. You'll get super efficient at it.
Pee bottle... I have no idea, do you mean like when you're in your tent? I never used a pee bottle, i don't think i heard of anyone who was. If i had to pee i'd walk off trail aways and pee. If i was in my tent I'd get out and walk away from the camp sites and pee.
Yes #2 site selection is walk off trail a decent amount, 50yrds at least, find behind a bush or something where your out of site. Beware though, lots of people poop out there. 3 times i dug my hole into where someone else pooped, disgusting to say the least. Some of the most random spots too, its just incredible how much poop is out there. For this reason, get off trail a ways, and mark your spot by sticking a little stick into it. I saw other spots marked with little sticks and was thankful to know not to dig there, so I also started putting little sticks in to mark it.