Ridiculously extreme boondocking tips
If you have both unlimited power and water, stop reading -- you don’t need these tips. And if you are still reading, you already know the obvious things -- switch to LED lights, use paper plates ...
Forum Discussion
loggenrock wrote:
PLEASE don't bathe in water sources!!! Even biodegradable soaps contaminate them! Get a folding bucket and scoop some of that refreshing water out of the pond or stream and carry it 200' away to bathe. I wouldn't want to get my drinking water from your bathtub! :) ST
You're right about using a bucket. I spoke with one of my brothers who is a consultant specializing in environmental impact studies. This is what he said:
"we use Campsuds or the same product from REI for all backpacking uses if we are near the stream. I looked up Castile soap - and yes Dr. Bronner's accomplishes the same thing and I like the peppermint odor after not washing for days.
Like all pollution in depends on how much dilution if washing in stream. 100 people washing is different than 2. In general, the backpacking rules are to do all washing away from the stream - so carry a bucket of water 50 feet or more away and pour water on each other. Then you can swim in the stream for a final rinse."
So I think the dilution or quantity of persons bathing in a concentrated area is the issue.
