BOSS, going home to nature, poop with a view

 A view that’s far better than that from a “modern” bathroom.

I recently completed a Boulder Outdoor Survival School (BOSS) 28-Day Field Expedition course in southern Utah. It was the hardest thing I've ever done, and it was unforgettably life changing. Still feeling overwhelmed and rather jarring transitioning back to the front country. Kind of surreal. And, absolutely exhilarated! The physical effects (e.g., losing more than 10% of my pre-course weight) are just temporary, of course. The changes I see out of my eyes and mind’s eye, though, will be more permanent.

There’s so much to reflect on and so much to write about, including my BOSS-specific training leading up to the course. However, such experiences, aside from being unique to the person, cannot really be faithfully conveyed. They have to be lived and savored in person. So, I’ll just describe what I’d experienced as accurately as possible. The reader will have to get whatever they get out of it.

What to write about first? I think it should be, as in the title of this piece, “poop with a view.” Why? The answer relates to a recurring question during the 28-Day course, for me and for the other students: Why am I here? Indeed, why am I paying to be here? 😆 Everyone has their personal reasons. For me, the key one is to reconnect with nature, the importance of which is more than personal. The disconnect of modern society from nature is the underlying cause of the world’s most pressing problems, including the existential one of the climate crisis. As Henry Beston, in the forward to the 1949 edition of his book, The Outermost House, lyrically wrote, “Nature is a part of our humanity, and without some awareness and experience of that divine mystery man ceases to be man. When the Pleiades and the wind in the grass are no longer a part of the human spirit, a part of very flesh and bone, man becomes, as it were, a kind of cosmic outlaw, having neither the completeness and integrity of the animal nor the birthright of a true humanity.” (I’d rephrase, however, his first sentence to “Our humanity is a part of nature” and I’d not differentiate so distinctly between animal and humanity.) So, reconnecting with nature is a universal need; being part of nature is a birthright. Though perhaps not something that comes to mind for most people as part of “divine mystery,” poop with a view--a basic human biologic need carried out in its original setting—I’d argue is actually a fitting archetype of a birthright.

For BOSS, nature is home--going out to nature is akin to going home. “Modern” society, however, typically takes something natural and corrupts it to a cultural “norm.” Which begs the question, what is “normal”? For example, related to the current subject, squatting is actually a natural human position, for resting and functioning (in general, not just to poop). In East Asian cultures, squatting is often used. In the West, however, not so much; most adults can’t keep their heels flat on the ground when squatting, because of cultural habits (e.g., sitting too much). So, what does one do with a cultural “norm”—sitting on a toilet--that’s not natural? Well, add a “modern” adaptation to the toilet (e.g., toilet stool that elevates the knees above the pelvis). Back to nature, so to speak. 😆

For “modern” society, going out to nature is more like going to visit it, i.e., going to use it as a resource, in this case, a resource to be enjoyed and appreciated, not exploited or extracted. But, still, nature is regarded as a resource, a relationship betrayed by nomenclature, e.g., the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Also revealing is the word “Conservation.” For whom? Nature certainly doesn’t need humans to conserve it. Or preserve it or save it. Nature will be fine, no matter what we humans do—it has time. We don’t. But, nature is on our side, if we reclaim our birthright.

Now, before enjoying the view, to properly poop ("number 2") in the wilderness, one has to prepare so as to leave no trace or, better, as taught by BOSS, leave a positive impact. There are many sources to consult for the proper way to dig and use a "cathole" (e.g., Appalachian Trail Conservancy, National Park Service, REI). Even a book, How to Shit in the Woods. And this Guardian background article on the overall poop problem in the wilderness.

What BOSS teaches about wilderness hygiene is generally similar, with a few important differences: (1) 300 instead of 200 ft. from water sources, established campsites, and trails; (2) natural wipes instead of toilet paper (type depends on location and preference); (3) water bottle and biodegradable soap instead of hand sanitizer; and (4) digging stick instead of trowel. Then, afterward, stir back into the cathole the dug-up soil to increase the surface area exposed to soil bacteria, and restore the site to as-before such that one would be comfortable sitting directly on it. And, finally, flagging the site as used with some kind of marker is a courtesy to others. Depending on the specific situation, options include pre-digging catholes and trenching for multiple uses. Appreciating the view while pooping is a good time to reflect on reciprocity, respect, and gratitude for what nature has provided.

Cathole for #2 in the wilderness (6-8 in. deep; 4-6 in. wide). #2 kit includes digging stick and leather gloves, water bottle and biodegradable soap, bandana (not shown), and conifer needle "wipes" (direction matters!). In this “Solo” phase of the course, I was entirely by myself for several days, so pre-digging and trenching for double use were possible options. 

Cathole used once and "flushed." Future second use of trench marked by the two sticks.

Second use of trench cathole "flushed" and site restored to as-before and marked with two crossing sticks.

What about environmental impact? Let’s go down the rabbit hole just a bit on catholes. How does the carbon footprint of poop in a cathole compare with that of poop in a toilet? Here’s Google Gemini's overview:

The avoided carbon footprint per flush is not a lot, compared with that of other personal actions, e.g., those in this “Carbon Tracker” app (prototype). But, every individual action matters. That’s where it begins. If we then take the integral of all the individual actions to the limit, we get collective action--what Leah Stokes calls “The Carbon Wave,” the title of her new book. The “Carbon Tracker” app, which is an ongoing project I’m involved in with some former NASA colleagues, aims to provide the individual taking an action with an immediate account of the avoided carbon footprint of that action. The app prototype will be included in a Kickstarter campaign page currently being drafted. (If you’re interested in this project, drop a comment with your contact information. We’ll get back to you when the campaign page is up. Thanks!) Assuming catholes are used correctly, the main caveat, of course, is that their use doesn’t scale, thus, the need for waste treatment facilities. But, the need for the latter is a consequence of the density of “modern” society.

This is a running blog, or at least it began purely as such. Over the years, however, I’ve broadened the topics that I cover on this platform. But, always, there is a tie-in to running. Sometimes, I’d had to think hard to come up with a connection. This time, the connection is actually pretty straightforward. In a race, when you need to go and do a #2 on a course, the obvious lesson from reconnecting with nature is, squat, don’t sit, on a porta potty. Of course, it won’t be poop with a view, but it will be faster and save you many seconds in getting back on the course (!) 😊