Cat Holes Matter
Human poop is a serious biohazard for humans, responsible throughout history for widespread diseases and millions upon millions of illnesses and deaths from those diseases. It's ironic that because our civilization does such a good job of keeping poop out of our sight, away from our noses, and safely disposed of, that a lot of people have no idea how desperately dangerous poop microbes* really are. In the US, we're even seeing a slide into the Morality theory of disease – where disease isn't caused by pathogens attacking, it's caused by a vague deficiency of purity or morality in the person with the disease. Attributing a lack of "purity and morality" as the cause of disease by pathogens is blindingly, maliciously, and even pathologically ignorant.
* Bacteria, protozoa, worms, and viruses
Here are few relevant links. A quick skim through the tables is recommended, if nothing else.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fecal–oral_route
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterborne_disease
So…
1) We bury our poop to quarantine it as it decomposes**. This keeps it from stinking up the place and it keeps it from being trampled under-foot – by people, animals or FLIES – and tracked into camp. It also prevents it from becoming dust which we might breathe.
2) Burying poop away from water is important to keep it from contaminating the water supply.
3) This is why poop-holes are should be something like 6 to 8 inches deep and 100 to 200 feet from water, campsites and trails. I like to recommend taking a short five-minute walk, if things aren't too urgent. That puts the distance away from camp at more like 1000 feet. Enjoy the walk; it's what we're out there for. It also minimizes the likelihood that a fly
** Perhaps "deactivated" is a more accurate word since we're counting on the soil's microscopic residents (plus time and sometimes temperature) to eat and kill the pathogens in our poop.
Leaving No Trace - LNT
We practice LNT in all our backcountry activities. It's not just about poop and being clean and polite. There's a whole mode of operation to adopt. If you haven't heard of them, here's some refresher links:The Leave No Trace organization
Montem blog
UntamedSpace
Leave No Trace in the mountains with your dog? Oh yes: http://walk9radio.buzzsprout.com
I don’t know about you, but I really wonder just how much actual data went into the usual cat-hole recommendations. It's ABSOLUTELY TRUE that we need to bury our poop in the outdoors. But, are we being told to dig a hole 6” to 8” deep just to be sure we make one 4” to 5” deep? Or does the hole really need to be that deep? Maybe there's a fudge factor built in to accommodate, er, shape and structure? And, leaving aside heavily used areas, is there anything really wrong with the turn-over-a-rock latrine style? (Actually, YES.) So many questions looking for good, sound, definitive answers…
Cilimburg, A., Monz C. & Kehoe, S. 1997. Wildland recreation and human waste: A review of problems, practices and concerns. Unpublished manuscript, National Outdoor Leadership School, Lander, WY. 31pp.
Searching for Toilet Paper info:
Here’s something pretty definitive: TP under a rock does NOT degrade well. Burial in dirt is very preferred (but maybe not too deeply).http://hikethru.com/hiking-information/backyard-science/toilet-paper-decomposition
My favorite toilet paper is "Cloud Paper" – now rebranded as "Save Trees." It's made from BAMBOO and it's strong enough and textured enough for actual cleaning.
https://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Paper-Bamboo-Toilet-Certified/dp/B09R2BX9FY
What about coprophagic animals - ones that eat poop? (Besides eeeeeeeew!) Lots of statements like, “Since animals will often dig up cat holes and scatter the toilet paper...” with no studies cited. Yes, we all know that animals of some kind can accost cat-holes but what animals and why? And, especially, HOW OFTEN? Is it too much to ask see a study or two that directly address these questions? Otherwise it's not actionable information - it's more like a boogeyman. I mean, an animal should be able to detect and dig up our poop any time it wants. So are we looking at a situation where animals do this all the time or so rarely we really don't need to think about it?
Some more:
Tasmania!http://www.crctourism.com.au/wms/upload/resources/bookshop/Kirkpatrick31002_TAShumanwaste.pdf
Canadeh?
http://www.wrweo.ca/MapsArticles/HumanWasteStudy.pdf
Composting - The Humanure Handbook
http://www.weblife.org/humanure/pdf/humanure_handbook_third_edition.pdf
Smearing? Who ever thought this was a good idea?
Ells, Michael D., Lee, Kathryn J. 2000. The fate of feces and fecal microorganisms in human waste deposited on snow and smeared on rocks in the alpine environment. National Outdoor Leadership School, National Park Service, Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Ferris State University. 54p.
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/08/no-microbiome-island-unprecedented-survey-hawaiian-valley-reveals
A last thought:
It only takes one person with disease (with or without symptoms) for their poop to be extremely contagious…and diarrhea is a common symptom of most poop-related diseases…and someone with diarrhea may be unable to get away from a trail or camp in time to make a proper cat-hole.
So if you run into a toilet paper and poop mess in the backcountry, have a hope – it just might not be from some ignorant asshole. Maybe someone was really in distress. And thank the toilet paper for warning you not to walk into the mess. We all hate to see TP, but sometimes it's very good luck..