Friday, April 29, 2011

Bird Baths

Bathing poses a problem for a hiker.  The most effective way, hopping in a pond, is challenging when the water has just melted from ice or snow.  If you've got unlimited amount of fuel, you can heat up enough water to take a shower, however, that is also not practical.  So you're limited to what we called as a child "Bird Baths": heating up a pot of water and spashing it on your body. 

The key here is washing where you need to.  The key is to concentrate on areas that sweat and have skin on skin contact.  Arm pits, groin area and between toes are areas where sweat and dirt tend to congregate and begin forming rashes.  Untreated, this can lead to open sores, blistering and pain. 

So, bring a pot for boiling some water (even lukewarm is better than freezing), some biodegradable soap, a washcloth or sponge and a quick dry towel.  Find a somewhat secluded area at least 200 feet from a water source, and give yourself a quick bird bath.  

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