It is not the pooping that is the problem, it is the density of human pooping that is the problem. All they are talking about in the article are the national parks, and yes, this is a problem in the parks. Human feces is no more or less dangerous than animal feces.
If you want a more in depth look at this, in a format you can take with you consult while in the woods, you might enjoy the book "How to Shit in The Woods" [1].
I summited Mt Whitney last fall, a trail that 1) is notoriously hard to get a permit for and 2) requires all waste to be packed out via Wag Bags.
I was surprised to see a dozen or so wag bags tossed to the side of the trail over the course of my trip. You’d think that visitors would either poop on the ground with no regard for others or pack out their waste, not take all the effort to bring the bag but leave the remnants. It really left a sour taste in my mouth (and smell in my nostrils).
I feel like eventually the Leave no Trace convo will shift to the microplastics hikers have dumped into the environment, especially shoes but also clothes, packs, gear, maybe even waste products
The best option in busier places is a privy/outhouse that gets emptied, sometimes by pack mule or helicopter. Sometimes these have amazing views, like the one near here: 52°16'13.7"N 125°57'22.4"W
I went on a multi-day boating trip down the Orange River between South Africa and Namibia. They told us very explicitly how and where to defecate. Sufficiently far from the river, and we were to take three things: a spade, toilet paper and a lighter. Dig hole, shit in hole, wipe, burn the toilet paper, fill in the hole.
I went hiking in the Fish River canyon "just" upstream from where your river boating excursion took place.
5 days, 90km and zero facilities. Pristine nature despite it being very popular. Same story as yours: non negotiable items in your already overweight pack is a shovel, TP and a lighter/matches. You had to burn the TP and bury your logs.
Only difference is in the canyon you cant really get far away from the river.
I rather enjoyed the burning ritual afterwards. Somehow it felt like it cleansed my soul, after slogging 25km over round loose stones and soft sand carrying 20kg on my back. It was the little things that made that experience beautiful.
Myself and friends use dog poo bags, I'm unsure of their techniques but I tear one open and place on ground to give a decent target, pop used paper on my feces then pickup by the corners to drop it all in another bag. Tie it up then drop it inside a empty large foil crisp packet to help avoid piercing. It can then easily be carried out with any other rubbish
I have a hard time believing wrapping up your poop in 2 factory produced dog bags and then a non biodegradable chip bag that will end up in a landfill is better for the environment than just digging a hole.
Best thing I can imagine, especially if you’re car camping and have the room is to have a post hole digger and then dig a hole 2 foot down in less than a minute, poop in it and then cover it up.
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[ 4.4 ms ] story [ 33.3 ms ] threadhttps://offbeatoregon.com/2501d1006d_biliousPills-686.077.ht...
Lewis and Clark marked their trail with laxatives - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45087815 - Aug 2025 (78 comments)
https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/dispose-of-waste-properly/
Very hard to read around this stuff
Something in our diets?
[1] https://www.amazon.com/How-Shit-Woods-4th-Environmentally/dp...
I was surprised to see a dozen or so wag bags tossed to the side of the trail over the course of my trip. You’d think that visitors would either poop on the ground with no regard for others or pack out their waste, not take all the effort to bring the bag but leave the remnants. It really left a sour taste in my mouth (and smell in my nostrils).
5 days, 90km and zero facilities. Pristine nature despite it being very popular. Same story as yours: non negotiable items in your already overweight pack is a shovel, TP and a lighter/matches. You had to burn the TP and bury your logs.
Only difference is in the canyon you cant really get far away from the river.
I rather enjoyed the burning ritual afterwards. Somehow it felt like it cleansed my soul, after slogging 25km over round loose stones and soft sand carrying 20kg on my back. It was the little things that made that experience beautiful.
Best thing I can imagine, especially if you’re car camping and have the room is to have a post hole digger and then dig a hole 2 foot down in less than a minute, poop in it and then cover it up.