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The Big Walk - My First Kit

1/29/2022

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As I outlined in the last post, I am assembling various "KITS" (as those across the pond say) and this weekend I put together the easiest of the lot - my Trail Hygiene Kit or as I am calling it  Provisions for Pooping on the Path.

To some this is a taboo subject but it is a fact of life so deal with it. If you are too delicate, leave now! Otherwise read on and enjoy!

Pooping in the woods is as old as humanity and yes there are scientists who specialize in fossilized poop, human, dinosaur, or other animals. In lieu of the human hand, leaves, animal skins, moss and more has been used in the past to wipe our bums; then we used paper, newspaper, old mail order catalogs and telephone books until 1857  when it became wildly sold, in the USA and became a commodity - though catalogs and phone books were still used as they were usually free.

So how does one POOH ON THE PATH??  Note: I will be only talking about what I WILL DO, your choices and milage will vary. To find out more, trust me on this, there are lots of YouTube videos that cover the subject.  Unless I am near a village, operating train station, or park, I will have to literally go in the woods.
  • One must find a place that does not expose one's bum to others near by be that behind bushes or a large tree. You must be 100 ft minimum for a number 1 (pee) or 200 ft for a number 2 (poop) from any water sources.
  • Using a stick, rock or trowel, dig a small hole a.k.a "cat hole" that is 8" deep and 6" wide . I will be carrying a small plastic trowel which is kept in a plastic bag. Set the dirt to one side. If you dig the hold by a tree, you can lean your back on it so you are in a sitting position.
  • Lower your pants and do the deed. For women, there are pants that have zippers in the crotch or some women were skirts and go commando, to assist in the step. I will be dropping trou.
  • Wipe, or not, with TP or a bum wipe of some sort but do not put in the cat hole (more on this later).
  • Stand up, not stepping in anything, and pull up your pants.
  • Cover it and if possible, mix your deposit with some dirt to aid in decomposition and absorption. If you want mark your spot by putting sticks in the shape of an "X" on top.
  • Now, take a bag, turn it inside out, and put your hand in the "inside" and pick up your TP and/or Wipe. Turn the back over the wipes and seal. DO NOT BURY IT, they won't bio-degrade anytime soon and wild animals might try to dig it up. The should be packed out, follow the Leave no Trace mantra! 
  • Use hand sanitizer to clean your hands. 
  • Put the trowel in the carrying plastic bag.
  • Continue on down the trail.

Here is what is in my kit
  • Plastic trowel in a zip lock bag
  • Toilet Paper - I have taken a roll of TP and made mini rolls which are a few feet long. I store all the rolls in a zip lock bag but have 4 in a sandwich bag. This is so when I head into the wood, I am only taking the sandwich bag and there is less chance of all of the rolls from getting wet, if it were raining or I drop the bag while it is open
  • Hand Wipes - again divided into a large zip lock bag and a sandwich bag which has 4 wipes.  I can use them for wiping my butt or hands.
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Pet Poop Bags - to hold the used TP and wipes. These are light weight and easy to tie off and dispose of when I hit a village.
The larger bag(s) of the TP mini-rolls and hand wipes will be kept in my overnight bag which is transported from B&B to B&B each day.  Everything else is stored in a larger zip-lock bag so it is easy to pull out of my pack when needed.

The next kit to assemble is the First Aid kit.
Picture
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The Big Walk - Gear

1/26/2022

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It's just about 5 months to go and it is time to make a serious effort on my gear. Since I have not hiked or backpacked of any distance in 35+year i have started started watching YouTube video of what hikers have packed for various lengths of hike to get ideas and manufacturers names for what to consider and pack. Also so much has changed and it appears that what i use to take is really primitive in comparison as the technology for many things has greatly improved or is new.

Then there is the ghost of my mother who would start packing for a vacation over a month in advance so why not start now??

I started with a list of groupings and then started adding everything I could think of but this will be trimmed as I go as I do a test pack:
  • Clothing Kit (trail): rain gear, gloves, extra socks, long/short sleeve shirt, long/short pant, hat, bandana, fleece pull over
  • Electronic Kit (trail): Camera for stills and video, Mobile phone for calls and GPS, mini-tripod, power pack with solar charge
  • Electronic Kit (b&B):  power adapters, power cubes, usb cables, laptop, card reader
  • Food Kit (trail): water bottle(s) collapsible cup, spork, snacks, small thermos for hot water, coffee/tea, cup o'soup, etc.
  • Misc Kit (trail): pack, sit pad, maps, etc, head lamp, reflective harness for road walking, binoculars, walking poles, midge net, multi-tool, COVID mask, etc.
  • First Aid Kit (trail) : emergency contact information, band aids, butterfly bandages, ace bandage, pain pills, anti-chafe, midge repellent, etc.
  • Hygiene Kit (trail): TP, trowel, hand sanitizer, other wipes, etc
  • Town Kit (b&b) : clothing for sleeping, extra clothing for the trail, going to dinner and off-trail shoes, toiletry kit, etc.

Now to start purchasing and refining. 
Then I also have to pack the stuff I need for visiting Mike & Elisa!

As you can see in the picture, some items I have gotten and are in a pile.
Picture
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It was a Grey and Wet Morning Or The Big Walk - Milestone #2

1/11/2022

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as opposed to a "Dark and Stormy Night"
Last weekend, I walked an official 10K race and if you don't know, that's a distance of 6.2 miles.
The race was the River Road Run held up here in Canyon Lake and it consisted of a half-marathon (13.1 miles), the 10K, and a 5K. 

The day started off with packet pickup at 6:30 am while trying to stay warm and dry as it was 45F, foggy and dripping moisture. Being prepared, I was wearing leggings, t-shirt and a fleece pull-over as well as my Gore-Tex rain jacket, a poly socks and my walking boots which are water proof.

The half marathon took off at 8:00 am and since there is no walking category for any of the races, I asked the race director if I could be started after them since I was walking and the 10K did not start until 8:30. He said yes and at 8:15 am, I went through the starting gate and was on my way.

All the races went down River Road and back so we cross the Guadalupe river and wind through old growth oak trees with views of the river PLUS a few hills.

Here is a picture of the 10K course and a few I took of the race.
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    About Laurie

    Laurie lives in central Texas with Erich, a.k.a. "the shop elf", her hubby of 35+ years and Cowboy Boots, the cat; her metals studio including 100+ hammers and 300+ chasing tools; her sewing studio which has a sewing machine, a closet filled with fabric, hundreds of skeins of embroidery floss and perle cotton, silk and other materials, and Mrs. King the dress dummy; two weaving looms, assorted knitting needles, tubs of yarn; lots of books; plus a plethora of geeky tech gadgets, computers, and more.

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