Q. How do I dispose of tampons when I’m in the wilderness?

A. First of all, glad to hear that you’re not letting your menstrual period get in the way of having a great outdoor experience!

Follow "pack it in, pack it out" guidelines for all trash: take along extra garbage bags (I prefer Ziploc baggies) and put your used tampons or sanitary napkins in there, then carry them with you and dispose of them properly when you’ve returned to civilization. This may sound yucky, but think of it this way: how enjoyable would it be to inadvertently uncover someone else’s used sanitary stuff in the wilderness? Best to take it all with you.

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Q.How do you stay clean after a long day on the trail and no shower or water source in which to bathe

A.The easiest way is to take along a supply of baby wipes. Pack them in; pack them out. I usually ration myself four per day: two for morning, two for night. One is to wipe sunscreen off my face, the other is for "private parts."

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Q.I’ve never gone to the bathroom outdoors before. Can you give me some tips on how to manage this without embarrassing myself?

A.Peeing or shitting outdoors is the hardest thing for most people to do…the first time. But, once you’ve cleared that initial hurdle, it becomes second nature for most.

First of all, remember this important fact: nobody really wants to watch you. No matter how much your campmates may joke and tease, they aren’t interested. Unless, of course, you have chosen to travel with a perverted bunch of people--if so, you’re on your own!

Choose a spot well away from your campsite or the trail, to prevent urine stench from wafting into your tent or outdoor kitchen later. If you’re near a fast-moving river, urinate into it or onto the wet sand where it will be washed away quickly. I must defer to one of the best guides to relieving yourself outdoors, a book called, "How To Shit In The Woods," by Kathleen Meyer. Here is her advice to novices:

"Look for a spot with two rocks, or two logs, or a rock and a log close together. Slide your pants down around your ankles and seat yourself near the front edge of one rock. Then prop up your feet–off the ground–on the other. Here you can sit, relax, avoid all showers, and keep sticker free. The steep incline of a hillside, the side of a boulder, or a tree trunk can also be used as the second rock."

There are "feminine funnels" available to enable women to pee standing up. These are constructed of disposable paper or washable and reusable plastic. The funnel is elongated in shape and fits between your legs so that you can direct your stream of urine. International Sani-Fem Company makes them, and they can be found in most drug and outdoor stores.

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Q. OK, that covers urine. How about solid waste?

A.There are different methods of disposing of solid human waste. And, in some areas, there are restrictions governing the disposal. For example, on a river trip through a popular spot like the Grand Canyon or Canyonlands, you’ll be required to carry along a special bucket or porta-potty to use while on the river, then dispose of properly afterwards in a disposal site. If you’re traveling with an outfitter, he will take care of supplying the equipment and then disposing of your group’s deposits. If traveling alone, the onus is on you.

If you’re climbing high, glaciated mountains, the common practice is to make a common privy by digging a hole in the ice and lining it with a plastic trash bag, then jettisoning full bags into a crevasse.

In the wilderness, the accepted procedure is to carry a small trowel with you so that you can dig a hole. We’re not talking a big hole, just about six or eight inches, where the most effective enzymes for breaking down excrement exist. It’s important to pick a spot where your feces will not become washed into any waterway. The best soils are dry to somewhat moist, preferably with some natural debris covering it (leaves, twigs).

Take a stick with you and stir the excrement to mix it with particles of soil before you bury it. This will speed up the process of decomposition.

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Q.How do I dispose of toilet paper?

A.I prefer to stuff it into a Ziplock and carry it out. Paper (even used t.p.) is too volatile a substance to throw in a fire or bury (only to be unearthed by unsuspecting hikers or curious animals). Best carry it out.

Or, follow a procedure favored by truly die-hard wilderness travelers and use dead leaves, sticks, rocks or other organic material for wiping yourself. Bury these in the hole, too.

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