How To Poop in a WAG Bag: The Wilderness Hygiene Guide You Never Knew You Needed
When you embark on a thru-hike, there are a lot of things to consider: gear, food, water, safety, and the list goes on. But the one thing that’s often overlooked, albeit crucial, is what to do when nature calls in, well, nature. And no, I’m not talking about hiding behind a bush and hoping no one’s watching.
In certain areas, you’ll be encouraged — sometimes even required — to use something many thru-hikers haven’t had to encounter before: a WAG bag.
Why Are WAG Bags Necessary?
WAG bags (Waste Alleviation and Gelling) are essentially portable toilets with NASA-developed gelling agents that trap, deodorize, and break down waste. These gelling agents are similar to the ones used in baby diapers.
WAG bags allow hikers to pack out their fecal matter when the local environment can’t handle traditional methods of human waste disposal, such as digging a cathole. They’re vital in protecting fragile ecosystems, especially in high-traffic wilderness areas and delicate environments where improper disposal could damage the land for decades.
So, why can’t you just dig a cathole? In certain terrain, such as tundra or desert, the ground isn’t conducive to breaking down waste quickly. In other areas, the volume of traffic makes it impossible for the land to keep up with decomposition.
A Closer Look at Environmental Impacts of Human Waste
When we’re traveling through wilderness, it’s easy to overlook the long-term effects of human waste. However, improper disposal can have significant environmental consequences. Human waste left behind in nature doesn’t just magically disappear — it can contaminate water sources, introduce harmful pathogens, and disrupt the delicate balance of local ecosystems.
Water contamination is one of the most serious risks. When waste isn’t properly disposed of, rain and runoff can carry it into streams, rivers, and lakes, where it spreads harmful bacteria like E. coli. This not only affects wildlife but can also pose health risks to other hikers relying on these water sources. You don’t need a firsthand experience of norovirus on a thru-hike to make you think twice about where you’re burying your waste.
Furthermore, in environments like alpine zones, deserts, and fragile wilderness areas, the soil lacks the nutrients and microorganisms necessary to break down waste quickly. This means that a single poop can linger for years, disturbing plant life and attracting animals that wouldn’t typically frequent those areas. High-traffic wilderness zones can become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of waste, damaging the land for future generations of hikers.
Where WAG Bags Are Required on Trail
These are places where you’ll likely find regulations requiring portable toilet kits. It’s imperative, as responsible hikers, to not skimp on your wilderness hygiene when recreating in these areas.
Pooping in a bag and carrying it around for the rest of your hike might not be your dream scenario, but it’s a small price to pay for the sutainability of these beloved hiking destinations.
Mount Whitney Zone (John Muir Trail / Pacific Crest Trail)
The Sierra is one of the most iconic sections of the PCT, but it’s also incredibly fragile. The high elevation and rocky, granite terrain (see: lack of dirt) mean that human waste doesn’t decompose here as it would in lower-elevation forests. Waste kits are required to protect this pristine alpine environment due to hundreds of people recreating in the Whitney Zone each day throughout peak season. Inyo National Forest even distributes waste kits with permits and has designated disposal areas at trailheads to get rid of your WAG bags after a hike.
Zion National Park
The arid, desert environment of Zion’s sandstone slot canyons can’t break down waste effectively, especially given the close proximity to (or in) water many of these backpacking trips are. On any overnight backcountry trips, the National Park Service requires a minimum of one waste disposal kit per person, as the park’s delicate ecosystem means Leave No Trace principles are strictly enforced. Pack it out!
Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona Trail)
Although it’s not explicitly required, the NPS also encourages hikers in the Grand Canyon to follow the same protocol to prevent contaminating water sources and reduce impact on the land. They encourage users to utilize the many restrooms located along trail. While digging a proper cathole is permitted (six inches deep, four to six inches wide, always 200 feet away from water, trail, and campsites), a toilet kit is still the preferable, low-impact option.
Canyonlands and Arches National Parks (Hayduke Trail)
If you’re sensing a theme, it’s that delicate desert ecosystems have little organic material in the soil to break down waste, hence the need to pack it out. Also, the high volume of visitors in these parks makes WAG bags a required essential to preservation in backcountry areas within Arches and Canyonlands.
How to Use a WAG Bag
Okay, so now that you know where and why you might need one, let’s break down how to actually use a WAG bag. It may be a bit daunting at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s really not that bad (it’s really just a glorified doggy bag…with better technological advancements).
- Choose your spot: Just like with digging a cathole, privacy is still important. Choose a secluded spot at least 200 feet away from water sources, trails, and campsites. It’s respectful of those around you and best practice, just in case.
- Open the bag: WAG bags typically come with two bags — an outer, durable one and an inner, odor-absorbing one. Lay everything out before you start. Some comprehensive toilet kits come with the works, while others you’ll need to supply your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Check your bag before heading out.
- Do your business: Squat, kneel, lean against a rock — it’s your call. Just aim carefully. Some people like to hold the bag open, others prefer to spread it out on the ground. WAG bags often have a powder inside that helps neutralize odors and turn waste into a gel-like substance. This reduces the “ick” factor and makes carrying the bag more bearable.
- Seal it up: After you’re done, carefully close the inner bag, making sure it’s sealed tight. Then, place it inside the exterior bag, and again, seal completely. Most WAG bags are leak proof, but it’s nice peace of mind knowing it’s double-bagged.
- Pack it out: Keep your used waste bags in a designated spot in your pack. You might want to store them in a separate compartment or on the outside of your pack. They’re designed to control odors, but you’ll still want to avoid storing them anywhere near your food. Most WAG bags are multi-use and can accommodate a few nights in the backcountry.
- Dispose of it properly: When you hit a trailhead, be sure to throw out your human waste bag in a properly designated container. Trailheads at Mount Whitney have designated areas to throw them out near pit toilets. In Moab, there are multiple trash facilities in town that you need to take your used WAG bag to. Always follow local regulations for disposal.
Tips for Using WAG Bags On a Thru-Hike
Don’t Skimp
It may be tempting to avoid carrying a WAG bag, especially if it adds a slight weight penalty. For my ultralight friends out there, this isn’t where you want to cut ounces. Following the rules of proper waste disposal is crucial for the preservation of the places we love to hike, and fortunately for most thru-hikers, WAG bags are only required for short stretches of long trails.
Plan Ahead
If you know you’ll be in a zone that requires WAG bags, snag a few during your next resupply or bring a few extra just in case. When I hiked the John Muir Trail in 2022, the rangers notified us that trailheads and backcountry ranger sites would be stocked with WAG bags. I decided to bring my own anyway and I was glad I did, as there were no waste disposal kits to be found when we arrived.
Practice Makes Perfect
If you’re new to using a WAG bag, try bringing one along on an overnight backpacking trip. The footprint of the inner bag is quite large, so it shouldn’t require too much practice (and truthfully, is the same concept as using a cathole). Still, it’s better to get the hang of it when you’re not in the middle of a week-long stint in the Sierra.
Keep It Clean
Just like with any backcountry business, you’ll still want to use (and pack out!) any toilet paper you use. Same goes for hand sanitizer — pack it, use it, and keep hygiene a priority.
The Bigger Picture
While I don’t carry a WAG bag in all environments, it has forced me to give some thought to digging the perfect cathole when I am recreating in a nutrient-rich, soil-filled landscape. Regardless of whether the terrain is deemed “fragile” or not by our land management systems, it’s up to us to minimize our impact as much as we can to ensure healthy wilderness areas remain that way.
By using WAG bags, you’re helping to preserve some of the most pristine and beautiful landscapes on this planet. That’s a legacy worth leaving behind — unlike your waste.
Featured image: Photo via Ariella Nardizzi. Graphic design by Chris Helm.
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Comments 1
Excellent to helpful post!