{"id":14842,"date":"2023-08-03T18:47:36","date_gmt":"2023-08-03T16:47:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fernwehmotive.de\/?p=14842"},"modified":"2025-10-03T20:45:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T18:45:12","slug":"shit-in-natur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fernwehmotive.de\/en\/shit-in-natur\/","title":{"rendered":"Shit happens! A Small Guide for the \"Big Business\" in Nature"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jeder kennt es, jeder kann es und jeder macht es in der Regel einmal am Tag. Es ist also etwas ganz nat\u00fcrliches. Doch in der Natur, f\u00e4llt es uns pl\u00f6tzlich schwer. Es f\u00e4ngt mit der Suche nach einem stillen \u00d6rtchen an, geht mit einer unbequemen Hockstellung und gar fehlendem Klopapier weiter und endet meist mit einer deutlich erkennbaren Hinterlassenschaft in der Natur. Shit happens! Damit ihr das n\u00e4chste Mal in der Natur euer gro\u00dfes Gesch\u00e4ft wie ein Profi abwickeln k\u00f6nnt, hab ich euch einen kleinen Guide geschrieben. Viel Spa\u00df beim Lesen und nachmachen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unassigned, unpaid advertising. The article contains affiliate links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Main Goals when doing the \"Big Business\" in Nature<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your big business should remain hidden and it should secretly provide the desired relief. Other hikers should not notice anything; they should not see or smell any of it; nor should they step into it or get sick from it. Nature itself, i.e. the forest, the meadow, or the lake, should also not be affected. Because, unlike the hiker, who quickly disappears from the minefield, nature has to live with your piles. Usually one month. In cold areas longer. In ice forever. See also the rotting table<\/a> from the Austrian Alpine Club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fair play to nature! Here's how it works<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything centers around four main points:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Minimize pollution of water bodies by additional nutrient input.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Maximize decomposition rate<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Minimize social disturbance<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Minimize insect or wildlife contact.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    By following these four points, you will help nature and avoid disease transmission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Usually, the decomposition process of human feces takes about one month. That of paper tissues is one to five years.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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    How do you shit in Nature without shitting on Nature?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There are basically two strategies to avoid shitting on nature:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Variant 1: Bury your poop in a 15 to 20 cm deep hole, called a cat hole.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Variant 2: Pack it up, take it with you, and dispose of it after the tour.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I'll get to the details in a minute...<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Find out if there are regulations for handling feces in the area where you are touring. In some high altitude, (sub)arctic, sensitive, or heavily used areas it is advisable or even required that you pack your shit and take it back with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    A Calculation Example<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    On a summer day, there are 20 tents in Kvalvika Bay, a beautiful bay in Lofotodden National Park, Lofoten. With one or two people per tent, that's about 30 overnight guests and up to 30 piles per day. Let's assume optimistically that the toilet paper is collected in the garbage bag and the number of overnight guests is only half as high at the beginning and end of the season (June and August) as in July. Then there are still about 1,845 (half-decomposed) piles at the end of the Friluftsliv season. If each pile weighs about 400 grams, that's almost a ton of droppings at the end of the season. That's about the weight that two to three Icelandic horses weigh. Nature has to cope with that first. In the cold north, it's not so easy; the decomposition time is much longer than in Central Europe. The remains will probably not disappear completely into the sea until the snow melts next spring.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    Three buckets of poop were collected by two girls from Lofotodden National Park. The \"yield\" of 1.5 weeks of the summer season in the Kvalvika.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    By the way: due to the many toilets in the bay, the water from the streams is no longer drinkable without prior treatment. Signs warn visitors accordingly about germs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    Cat Hole - Bury your Poop in the Cat Hole<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The strategy behind the cat hole is simple: give nature a chance to clean itself by placing your business thoughtfully. Cover your pile afterwards to minimize any negative impact. Cats know and do this instinctively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How good is your instinct? Take the Quiz: What is the best place for a cat hole?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The answer<\/a> at the end of the article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Picture 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    Picture 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    Picture 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    Picture 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Step by Step to Number Two with the Cat Hole<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    1. Find a suitable place:\n