It’s the feisty third edition of How to Shit in the Woods,
jam-packed with new information for outdoor enthusiasts of every
stripe. Hailed in its first edition as “the most important environmental
book of the decade” by Books of the Southwest, and in its second
as “the real shit” by the late, great, outdoor photographer Galen
Rowell, this bestselling guide is often called the “backpacker’s bible”
and has sold more than 2.5 million copies in eight languages. Author
Kathleen Meyer continues to pioneer the way with her inimitable voice—at
once humorous, irreverent, and direct—examining the latest techniques
for graceful backcountry elimination, and answering a desperate cry from
nature concerning environmental precautions in our ever-shrinking
wilds.
World changes come fast and furious, and in the
backcountry it is no different. The practice of “packing-it-out,”
adopted to protect high use areas and fragile eco-systems, is here to
stay. We are now often urged to haul our poop home. Or with increasing
frequency, the whole business is mandatory. To assist with all this
responsible human waste disposal, Meyer’s new edition features the
latest in product innovations, from classy high-tech to inexpensive
do-it-yourself. She covers the most current solutions to the health
risks of drinking straight from wilderness waterways; presents a raft of
natural substitutes for the purist swearing off toilet tissue; and
offers a wealth of new recommendations for ladies who must make do
without a loo.
This down-to-earth guide has been
employed as a training aid for scout troops, outdoor schools, and
wilderness programs for inner-city youth; for rangers with the U.S.
Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management; as
well as for whitewater rafting guides, backcountry outfitters, and
members of the military.
In rowing hundreds of urbanites down
whitewater rivers, Meyer honed her squatting skills and found she
“wasn’t alone in the klutz department.” Her delightfully shameless
discussion of a once-shameful activity, her erudite examination of its
associated vocabulary, and her unapologetic promotion of its colorful
vernacular make How to Shit in the Woods essential and
vastly entertaining reading for anyone who’s ever paused at the edge of
the forest and pondered: “Where do I go to go?”
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