How To “Finish The Paperwork”
Kathy Imbriani June 16, 2008
Most seasoned hikers know well how to “answer the call of nature” while in the woods. I once had a co-worker tell me that she was asked about her ability to successfully accomplish this task in a job interview. So, you have the technique down. You always carry one of those little pocket packs of tissue with you. But, what if you experience an unexpected message from Mother Nature and the tissue is back at camp or wet from a sudden rain shower? Here are a few suggestions for “finishing the paperwork”:
1. Bigleaf Aster – also known as “Lumberjack’s toilet paper”. It has large, heart-shaped leaves and grows low to the ground so that it is easily reachable.
2. Sphagnum moss – Not so readily available, but it is soft and absorbent.
3. Smooth stones and smooth barkless sticks – Find sticks with about a ½ inch diameter.
4. Mullein – Fuzzy, absorbent leaves with emollient qualities.
5. Purple flowering raspberry – Big soft leaves and it grows all summer.
6. Magnolia macrophylla – Common in the southeast and semi-deciduous in the south, so it’s available year round.
7. Red mulberry – Large, smooth leaves and widespread in North America
8. Sycamore – Large, smooth leaves
9. If you’re no botanist, grass will do.
10. Ferns, or even better Brackens
11. Paw Paw trees – Native to eastern North America. Were often planted near outhouses because of their superior qualities.
12. Basswood – Native to eastern North America with large, smooth leaves. You can even use the inner layers to make rope, as the Native Americans did, just in case you have some additional troubles.
13. Wild grape
14. Alder – big, soft leaves and widespread
15. Lamb’s ears – member of the mint family. Soft leaves, but small
And, yes, there is a book on this subject, believe it or not.
And a book on how not to do it:
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