Going Number 2 is something that reminds us that we are all human. We don’t think about it much, it is just a part of life. Personally, I prefer my poops to be had in the comfort of my own bathroom. A place I feel safe to perform my biological duties. A big concern I had before coming on this course was my bathroom time. It’s a bit of a different experience to go Number 2 in the woods rather than on a porcelain Jon! We call them “parties” in the backcountry. You take your trowel, dig your hole, do your business, cover it up, and mark it in a way that ensures a fellow camper won’t accidentally stumble upon your party! Our first parties were had at a place called Strawberry Lake, and left quite the impact on my mindset.
In order to be environmentally conscious, it is important to do the deed at least 200 yards away from any water source. Our first backpacking trip to Strawberry Lake landed us at an established campsite directly next to the lake. The surrounding topography was shaped like a bowl, with multiple mountains funneling down into the lake. This made it extremely difficult to ‘party’ in a sustainable way, as rain runoff would quickly drain any human waste from the mountain sides down into the water. Our first morning at the site was spent discussing this fact and whether it was environmentally ethical for us to stay there, now that we were consciously aware of our impact. It was with long deliberation that we ultimately decided to stay another night, ensuring to party as far away from the lake as possible. My mind was totally jumbled after this conversation, as I began to feel the weight of my impact on the environment and a larger responsibility to become more aware of this impact and mitigate it in any way that I can. Our human waste forces us to face the fact that everything we do, every decision we make, has an impact on the world around us. A sacrifice like trekking up the side of a mountain and having to party in brush up to your neck while mosquitos swarm you, truly is a small price to pay if it means helping to conserve a beautiful water source and ecosystem, even just a little bit.
People are faced with choices everyday that impact the planet, whether they know it or not. Before Strawberry Lake, I don’t think I was aware about just how much our presence was affecting the nature around us. The rubber from the soles of our shoes, the sunscreen we wear in the water, spitting our toothpaste on the ground. ALL of it leaves a trace. It is first, crucial to become aware of this fact. Educating yourself and remaining conscious of your actions in daily life is one of the most important steps towards becoming an environmentally aware member of the world. The next step is to pick the most sustainable route whenever the choice arrives. As I have learned in the backcountry, swallow the toothpaste, dig the sump in the ground for the grey water to absorb and decompose into the soil better, opt for the vegan meal if you get the chance, have your party at respectable distance. Little sacrifices here and there do make all the difference, especially if everyone is on board. The lessons I learned don’t end in the backcountry. I will carry them with me for life and encourage those around me to do the same. We all have the ability to make a positive impact. Two things for sure act as reminders of our humanity: the responsibility to care for the world around us, and the natural occurrence of party time!
