The Art of the Bush Wee

Some of my female friends find bushwalking a bit uncomfortable because they are not familiar with weeing outside so I thought I'd write this article to provide a helpful guide as to how its done.

Bush Wee etiquette, how to politely do a bush wee:

• If you are travelling with a group of hikers drop back to the end of the group and let the last hiker or guide know that you are stopping for a bushwee. That guide or other hiker will let anyone coming from that direction know to stop and wait. Or if they are very polite they will stay with you where you go off the path and let people from both directions know or act as lookout to let you know when people are coming. It is important to let someone know where you are going if you can.

Where should you do a bush wee?

• Off the path, behind a tree, rock or bush where you are politely screened from other hikers. Sometimes around a bend if that is all that is available. Find a good view to look at if you can as well.

What other things are there to consider when bush weeing?

1. Wind direction: make sure your wee will get blown away from you

2. Slope direction: pee downslope so that your wee runs downhill away from you

3. Ants and other insects: inspect the ground beforehand to make sure you are not weeing on an ants nest

4. make sure the vegetation where you are peeing is short so it is not brushing against you and helping ticks and others across

5. Avoid weeing near drinking sources such as streams and rivers, so you don't make yourself or others sick. Also avoid peeing in camping areas or on logs that are nice places to sit along the trail.

6. The view: try and find a nice view from where you are peeing from to really enjoy the experience.

What should I wipe up with?

There are several options, here they are:

1. Leaves, pick soft ones, ferns are good. Only do this if you are confident about being able to identify any harmful or stinging plants such as stinging tree leaves. Wipe from forward to back.

2. Wet wipes, bring ziplocks to put the wetwipes in afterwards to carry them out.

3. Hiking bidet: this is a portable bidet that you can use to wash yourself clean with and is available from most hiking stores.

How do you actually bush wee?

1. Identify a good spot that is not visible from the track where your wee will do downhill and downwind, with no ants nests. If you think you need a bit of support squatting, it is a good idea to have a tree nearby. If you are going to use leaves to wipe, then gather them beforehand and hold them in your hand. Or have wet wipes or a hiking bidet ready to go.

2. Pull your pants and undies down, hold your shirt up.

3. Crouch down asian style so that your thighs are resting on your calf muscles. Your bottom should be about 30cm or a foot off the ground so you don't get too much splashback. Release your wee gently to avoid splashback. Try and keep your bottom away from your shoes so that you don't get wee on them, if you can crouch over a log this is good for that.

4. If possible have a good view from where you are hiking so that you can really enjoy it, I see guys do this all the time, try and enjoy the view while you go.

5. Stay there for a bit so that most of the wee drips away.

6. Wipe yourself from the front to the back and discard the leaves of the ground or if using wet wipes, put them in a ziplock to carry back. If using a bidet use it to rinse with water and drip dry or wipe with leaves.

7. Pull your underwear and pants up and wash your hands with hand sanitiser.

Please, enjoy it!

Weeing in the bush, you are very close to nature and can acknowledge that we are humans are animals that are part of, not seperate from nature, so enjoy it! It is always a feeling of relief to let go and nature has the most spectacular locations for it. Spend a bit of time finding a good location where you won't feel rushed or hurried, everyone needs to go so you will catch up with the group because everyone needs to stop for a wee too.