Afternoon crew,
I plan on bringing my kids to experience the BWCA for the first time. My daughter has brought up a great point with tampon disposal. Do they decompose, or toss in the garbage? What is the proper way to tackle this..

Appreciate the help.

bring a ziplock bag with a fabric softener sheet inside. wrap up the tampon or pad and store it in the baggy and with your trash. this should NEVER be disposed of in the latrine or buried in the woods or left laying in the woods or burned or left in the firepit.

it's not really a hassle, just be prepared.

Agreed, in the trash not the throne. You might consider bringing several of the snack sized ziplocs if she would rather not reuse the same bag over again. And have a paper bag handy to put the used Ziploc in for carrying it to the garbage -- it gives a bit of privacy if she's uncomfortable about that aspect (this is easy to reuse).

Also, it's nice to have some way to freshen up -- have flushable wipes or paper towels available that she can wet and use if needed. Dispose of these in the trash too. I make up a little kit with all the essentials in a bag then everything is ready to grab on the way to the throne

prettypaddle: "Agreed, in the trash not the throne. You might consider bringing several of the snack sized ziplocs if she would rather not reuse the same bag over again. And have a paper bag handy to put the used Ziploc in for carrying it to the garbage -- it gives a bit of privacy if she's uncomfortable about that aspect (this is easy to reuse).


Also, it's nice to have some way to freshen up -- have flushable wipes or paper towels available that she can wet and use if needed. Dispose of these in the trash too. I make up a little kit with all the essentials in a bag then everything is ready to grab on the way to the throne"

Great idea/suggestions!

When my daughters get to that age I plan on just using ziplock bags and the smallest bear vault as a garbage can.

Thanks team.

You have to pack them out.

You have to pack them out! I’ve purchased small black mylar bags like these and include them in the toilet bag with the feminine products on all my co-ed/family trips. They are oder proof and discreet in the trash.

Much like everyone else, I pack a small make-up bag full of snack size ziplocks with a small pack of wipes to freshen up with. Trash goes into the small ziplocks and into the make-up bag. This make-up bag goes in the larger toiletry bag overnight and is hung with our food bag. It's never been too much of an issue, but worth being prepared, especially if it's the first time dealing with it in the wilderness.

I highly recommend trying a menstrual cup, my daughter and i both love them for the BW!

If you are using tampons try dog poo bags, which are thin, light, opaque and often biodegradable. Then a single larger zipper bag to collect them in.

Either way a camping bidet bottle is fantastic for cleaning up! Or a soft irrigation bottle if you can find one for a lighter option. If you bring wet wipes remind your daughter to pack them out with the tampons.

Wow ! ?
Talk about over thinking !
Throw them in the Thunder Box.
Maybe someone will dig them up in 1000 years.

Stumpy: "Wow ! ?
Talk about over thinking !
Throw them in the Thunder Box.
Maybe someone will dig them up in 1000 years."

Common Stumpy. your statement surprises me coming from someone who professes to have spent so much time with Bill Rom.
Not a thousand years, us rangers dug an old one up accidentally in 2023 when digging a new latrine hole. There are limited places to dig new latrine holes in most areas due to geology. We tend to hide old latrine holes well and accidentally cut into the edge of an old one. Latrine holes are shaped like a bell to hold more human waste in the bottom then narrow at the top to support the thunder box above.
Because we cut into the old one, we had to pack out all the man made trash that people threw into that hole. It was a good sized bag, about the size of a two or three basketballs and we were on Long Island Lake.

On busy and popular campsites there may be as many as 10-15 old latrine holes nearby, the reason most do not notice them is because we disguise the old ones well.

Make the switch the the underwear. Even on my heaviest days they work tremendously. I've also noticed since stopping the use of tampons I have less severe cramping and my period is shorter. I know, tmi. Just thought I'd throw it out there.

Stumpy: "Wow ! ?
Talk about over thinking !
Throw them in the Thunder Box.
Maybe someone will dig them up in 1000 years."

This is the same kind of mentality that leads to people leaving garbage all over the campsite. "I don't want to bother with packing it out, so I'll just let someone else deal with it". Shame on anyone who thinks that way.

NEIowapaddler: "

Stumpy: "Wow ! ?
Talk about over thinking !
Throw them in the Thunder Box.
Maybe someone will dig them up in 1000 years."

This is the same kind of mentality that leads to people leaving garbage all over the campsite. "I don't want to bother with packing it out, so I'll just let someone else deal with it". Shame on anyone who thinks that way. "

It's also the mentality of someone who is not affected by menstrual cycles, so blithely dismisses the issue in an uninformed manner ("it doesn't affect me, so throw the stuff in the latrine.") I applaud the OP who asked the original question...a very serious and astute question about a topic most don't want to talk about, yet very applicable to BWCA tripping.

Mike

Not surprised by any replies

LindenTree: "

Stumpy: "Wow ! ?
Talk about over thinking !
Throw them in the Thunder Box.
Maybe someone will dig them up in 1000 years."

Common Stumpy. your statement surprises me coming from someone who professes to have spent so much time with Bill Rom.
Not a thousand years, us rangers dug an old one up accidentally in 2023 when digging a new latrine hole. There are limited places to dig new latrine holes in most areas due to geology. We tend to hide old latrine holes well and accidentally cut into the edge of an old one. Latrine holes are shaped like a bell to hold more human waste in the bottom then narrow at the top to support the thunder box above.
Because we cut into the old one, we had to pack out all the man made trash that people threw into that hole. It was a good sized bag, about the size of a two or three basketballs and we were on Long Island Lake.

On busy and popular campsites there may be as many as 10-15 old latrine holes nearby, the reason most do not notice them is because we disguise the old ones well."

LindenTree.... Advise well taken.
I tend to travel in far, where it's not so visited.

Stumpy: "

LindenTree: "

Stumpy: "Wow ! ? Talk about over thinking ! Throw them in the Thunder Box. Maybe someone will dig them up in 1000 years."

Common Stumpy. your statement surprises me coming from someone who professes to have spent so much time with Bill Rom."

LindenTree.... Advice well taken.
I tend to travel in far, where it's not so visited."

All the more reason to pack out trash, right?

I have tried so hard not to respond to this question, but after recent developments in the thread, I guess I will have to assuage my guilt, if possible, and ‘fess up.

Back in the day, when I had this situation, I had no idea that it was a problem putting the tampons in the latrine. I didn’t see the difference between those and other human waste, and while I did make the concession to use a brand of biodegradable tampons with no strings, I disposed of them just like toilet paper, in the latrine. This would have been in years approximately 1973-95, and probably infrequently, as I did try to plan trips to not coincide with the situation if possible. I do not remember any advice being given back in those days that I must carry out the material, or any FS rules to that effect. I have always been somewhat of a rule-follower, so if I had realized a problem with this, I would have done differently.

Perhaps this was ignorance, or perhaps innocence. But I do NOT consider myself of the mentality that “leaves garbage all over the campsite”. I have cleaned up more campsites than many of you, I suspect, and I never once left a campsite in poorer condition than I found it. Unless, I guess, you inspected some small items in the latrine.

Spartan2: "I have tried so hard not to respond to this question, but after recent developments in the thread, I guess I will have to assuage my guilt, if possible, and ‘fess up.


Back in the day, when I had this situation, I had no idea that it was a problem putting the tampons in the latrine. I didn’t see the difference between those and other human waste, and while I did make the concession to use a brand of biodegradable tampons with no strings, I disposed of them just like toilet paper, in the latrine. This would have been in years approximately 1973-95, and probably infrequently, as I did try to plan trips to not coincide with the situation if possible. I do not remember any advice being given back in those days that I must carry out the material, or any FS rules to that effect. I have always been somewhat of a rule-follower, so if I had realized a problem with this, I would have done differently.


Perhaps this was ignorance, or perhaps innocence. But I do NOT consider myself of the mentality that “leaves garbage all over the campsite”. I have cleaned up more campsites than many of you, I suspect, and I never once left a campsite in poorer condition than I found it. Unless, I guess, you inspected some small items in the latrine.
"

I believe the saying "when you know better, do better" applies here. You did what you thought was appropriate at the time. I'll never condemn someone for unknowingly doing the wrong thing. Flagrantly violating the rules of what you should pack out with you on the other hand...

Good advice so far on packing out tampons & etc. I’ve used waxed bags or dog poop bags (arm & hammer brand has odor control) placed inside ziplock bags for modesty. You can purchase odor blocking/locking bags if you feel a ziplock isn’t tough enough for the job. Depends on how long of a trip you are taking.

Make sure to have a good hand washing set up.

After they became available, I switched to a silicone diva cup or menstruation cup & it has been a game changer. There is a learning curve on them, but once I got the hang of it, I never went back. No waste, no further purchases unless you replace it & I’ve had them for years now. Always have a spare in my emergency kit in case it starts unexpectedly & if anything happens to the one in use if that is the situation. I wished these things were available when I was younger/playing sports in high school, they are a game changer.

Knowing what I know now, If I was on a first time canoe trip, it would be a diva cup &/or period undies.

LindenTree: "

Stumpy: "Wow ! ?
Talk about over thinking !
Throw them in the Thunder Box.
Maybe someone will dig them up in 1000 years."

Common Stumpy. your statement surprises me coming from someone who professes to have spent so much time with Bill Rom."

Let's just say... Bill doesn't follow LNT

If she gets painful cramps in the real world make sure to bring her preferred medication. Also, a large size hot-hands acts as a backcountry heating pad for comfort. It has to be packed out, but it can provide some much needed comfort during the trip.

Great question about shark week! For my first trip in 2021, I got a menstrual disc and that was not my favorite thing as it would leak and was pretty uncomfortable. It seemed to dislodge quite a bit which led to a mess. I wear pantiliners to catch leaks and have used those period underwear for the heaviest days just in case. Upgraded to a flex cup and that thing is way nicer. I have way less issues with it as it seems to stay put pretty well. I use a squeeze bottle that’s soft as a make-shift bidet and that really helps cut down on wipes or camp tp use. And I pack out the natural wipes I use, never put them in the latrine. I’ve wrapped a ziploc with duct tape once for privacy but it all goes in an ziploc inside the camp trash bag.