[Philmont]: latrine usage

the reasons for not urinating in the latrines are very simple - (i) as stated by another poster, animals (especially of the rodent type - porcupines) will dig around the latrines and gnaw at the wood (ii) salt in urine preserves the feces, just like salt in ham and salted fish preserves those products (iii) components in urine create ammonia which not only is a disinfectant ("antibiotic") but also produces an odor. the key to separating these bodily functions is not waiting until the "last minute".

"poop soup" in a cat hole does not involve urine, which would have the same preservative effect as in a latrine. the soup involves adding gradually and stirring in small amounts of top soil (removed as the hole is dug and containing natural bacteria which speeds decomposition) to the feces until the feces-soil mixture pretty much resembles the soil, then returning the balance of the removed soil to the hole and covering with the sod plug or duff. placing the stir stick vertically in the hole with several inches exposed is to warn others not to dig in that spot - it is "unnatural" for a stick to get buried like that.

in my experience, adults are often reluctant to discuss the "bathroom" issues with youth.

jackson morris
leave no trace trainer
crew 628b2 - 2000
crew 608g1 - 2003
seminole lodge 85 adviser

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Received on Fri Jul 11 09:12:49 2003