Camp bathing etiquette

Question

going camping with a bunch of friends. no showers in campground. pay showers down the road. i am willing to pay for a shower lots of others are not. what are the guidelines for bathing in great outdoors streams lakes etc? thanks

Answer 1

Biodegradable soap and a wash cloth are all you need. Castile soap works well too and it's all natural. It can even be used as a shampoo.

Answer 2

Use bio-degradable soap.

Other than that.....just move quickly, the water is usually cold and those mosquito's have more to bite when your bathing!

*smile*

Answer 3

Some suggestions:

1) "Handy Wipes" are a good alternative. Using the wipes to provide a sponge bath before bed and in the morning works well. Just have a hot fire to dispose of the wipes - or pack them out to dispose of them.

2) Use bio-degradable soaps only. Available at your local outfitters or:

www.campmor.com

www.rei.com

3) If you're concerned with weight your local outfitters (or above websites) have very light weight quick drying towels.

4) Campers showers are also a good alternative - use filtered/clean water and let the shower set in the sun as long as you can for a warm shower.

If you do decide to use the pay showers be prepared for some expensive fees and consider taking your own soaps/shampoos to save additional charges.

Have a great time!

Answer 4

If you're in a public forest, park, or wilderness in the US any soap, including misnamed "bio-degradable" is not permitted in any water source. It poisons wildlife and clouds the water which increases the growth of algae.

You may bathe/swim without soap, or you may carry water 100 yards from any water source and use no more than a reasonable amount of soap in that location. You can bring a bucket and a water bottle or pot or large ladle to shower yourself in that location, assuming you have a private and secluded spot. I doubt a camping area would encourage people to slip off into the woods a ways to shower, and I'd worry someone might become lost if you don't set up a shower area.

As for nudity, almost anything goes once your a few miles from civilization, but in a public camping area, you'd better watch it these days with all the busy-bodies and frightened vigilantes around.

Alternatives to bathing involve baby wipes, damp washcloths under your clothes, and changing your clothes often, especially before bed.

Answer 5

even biodegradable soap is bad for living water systems.  I just plunge in whenever i see water.  go in a sports bra and shorts to cover modesty issues if its public.  otherwise find a private spot, take some soap and loads of water bottles, and dunk it on with someone on guard  

Answer 6

Men generally just jump in and wash.  Women might go together, but they generally leave a female "guard" back in camp and tell the men they can't go down that way until Susie gets back.

Answer 7

Fight The Power: Don't Shower. By Day 3 you won't notice the smell.

However if you must wash up. Do not use soap or detergents in streams, creeks, lakes, brooks, etc. etc. Biodegradable soap does not instantly degrade. It still has suds and will cause pollution. Wash up at least 200ft from a water source. Don't over use the concentrated soap.

For more info please consult the Leave No Trace website:

http://www.lnt.org/programs/principles.p...

Failing to observe LNT guidelines is bad practice and may get you fined if camping on public land.