Poop is also natural, but if everyone pooped along natural hiking trails, it would be a shit show. Established hiking trails tend to have many people walking on them each day, and disposing of waste along them - even organic waste - can have negative impacts on others experiences, as well as change local wildlife’s foraging patterns. Just because it is organic matter doesnt mean it decomposes instantly - that apple core or orange peel could be there for weeks or months after you leave it.
It definitely depends on the location. Some areas are low use and poop-degrading enough that it is still a sustainable solution.
But at the same time, since I’ve moved to Colorado where you are supposed to pack out your poop basically everywhere, I’ve found that it’s really no big deal, and feel like we should just adopt this policy everywhere.
Poop is also natural, but if everyone pooped along natural hiking trails, it would be a shit show. Established hiking trails tend to have many people walking on them each day, and disposing of waste along them - even organic waste - can have negative impacts on others experiences, as well as change local wildlife’s foraging patterns. Just because it is organic matter doesnt mean it decomposes instantly - that apple core or orange peel could be there for weeks or months after you leave it.
Pack it in, pack it out.
**depending on area
Some places you have to pack your poop out. Many places a hole is acceptable for poop.
In terms of apple cores though, it’s not much effort to pack that out. When it come to poop look-up the local rules
It definitely depends on the location. Some areas are low use and poop-degrading enough that it is still a sustainable solution.
But at the same time, since I’ve moved to Colorado where you are supposed to pack out your poop basically everywhere, I’ve found that it’s really no big deal, and feel like we should just adopt this policy everywhere.