A lot of non-hiking friends would often ask me how does women hikers maintain cleanliness or hygiene when doing multi-day hikes. So, here’s the big reveal 😂, let’s answer some FAQs:
📍 How do you bath?
Well, we don’t. Usually 😅
Remember when you were young and you didn’t like to bath or d kaya your mom is tinatamad so she just soaks a towel and scrubs you off? Gawain din ng lady mountaineers yan. Thing is, one has to deal with a wet towel which can get smelly but what I usually do is hang it outside at night for it to dry or d kaya sa backpack kinabukasan if maulan sa gabi.
Wet wipes are also our best friend, scented and for some with alcohol. I survived almost 10 days w/o bathing on my EBC hike this year because of them but they’re non-biodegradable so I limit using it and if sa bundok sa atin, I make sure to pack it in again.
If we’re lucky, we can at least soak or wash our hair at a creek, waterfalls or a river but on non-tropical nountains, we don’t take a bath at all 😊
📍 How do you poop?
Most hikers bring a “poop kit” which may contain but not limited to the ffg: small shovel ( 6″), wet wipes or toilet paper and this activity has to be done 200 meters away from water source, campsites and, trails.
Mode of pooping can sometimes involve squatting, it’s back to basic or err back to the way peeps poop before toilet bowls were introduced in the Philippines. Madalas though, camp site areas has a dug out, with a tarp, woven talahib or blue sack covering the surrounds, if lucky like in Mt. Apo may toilet bowl. Ang dangers lang ng dug out is the possibility that you can fall into it bec old na ung flooring or stepping on the hole.
Sa ibang bansa, they pack out their poop using WAG bags, some may something na sa loob to deodorize it. May mga PAMB’s or park management who require hikers to present their poop after the hike and had to be disposed off right. Sa Pinas, I don’t think this is being done by hikers.
Minsan one can poop sa open space too, just make sure your jacket isn’t tied on your waist 😅, and the hole is at least 6″ deep, covered after with soil and the toilet paper you used packed inside a plastic bag or resealable plastic bag or you can also use several widest leaf nearby pero may pros and cons kasi pag leaves baka mastambahan mo ung may poison at magkarushes ka or butt can get itchy due to trichomes on some leaf if you are not familiar with plants.
📍What if Aunt Flo visits?
Well, wala ka magagawa. It’s messy but wet wipes are a huge help and of course sanitary pads/napkins. Some take contraceptive pills which can be free and which I think are sold over the counter. Another option is a medicine called Norethisterone taken 3 days prior the scheduled monthly flow to delay it for 17 days (please note that this is being done during vacays where swimming is involved too) but as with medicine lagi itong may side effects and is a prescription drug.
Another safest option also are natural remedies pero as with natural remedies out there sometimes they work sometimes they don’t but I accidentally discovered vinegar delays Aunt Flo after eating unripe mangoes.
Ako personally just let Aunt Flo visit even during hikes what with dangers of ovarian cysts and whatnots. It’s a personal choice 😊.
😍😍😍😍
These uncomfortable things are what makes hiking a hobby not for every woman. You gotta be cut above the rest to be able to do it or should I say have a stronger stomach to survive without modern comforts like a bidet or a shower. Hindi para sa lahat and you have to be made out of a stronger fiber to be one.
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Got some womanly tips when hiking? Share it below on the comment box.
ven going places 