trowel

[QiWiz]

Okay. Now that 2 others have admitted it, I will too. I carry a QiWiz trowel. I am not as talented as those that can dig a suitable hole with a stick or heel or stake.

All the trowel love in this thread has me in tears. I can dig it!

[Lauriep]

It's hard to imagine digging a proper cathole that will be deep enough to fulfill its functions of preventing the following:

• contaminating water sources
• spreading disease through insects
• attracting animals
• disgusting hikers

and not so wide and shallow that it disturbs more plants and soil than necessary. I used my shoeheels and bootheels on my '87 thru, before Leave No Trace was around. Haven't done it since I learned a better way.

Digging a hole in the Appalachian mountains is sometimes hard work with the best of lightweight hand-carried implements. I don't mind carrying a pack all day, but digging a cathole with trekking poles? There is always some better way to spend my time in the woods.

My personal preference is to carry a snow stake *and* a Qi Wiz (or something similar) for a grand total of 1.5 oz. Then I'm covered no matter what kind of conditions. Carrying two "trowels" is my fun little luxury.

[Gnomad]

I use http://www.dutchwaregear.com/deuce-scoop.html. But I prefer to try to time things to correspond to privies when possible.

[Another Kevin]

This post has been removed by the poster because of an unwitting violation of the site's terms of service.

[Jake2c]

My last extended hike I carried a trowel. In a great burst of brilliance I cut off the handle to make it lighter. I then had to work my butt off digging a hole with no leverage. Hmmm, should have thought that thru. Digging a hole is important, I have run into those spots where people didn't . . . . Not the same subject but I also take along witch hazel wipes for a final swipe. You have to let things dry but you won't get monkey butt.

[scrabbler]

If you're "regular" with your timing in the morning, you can dig your latrine the night before. It really helps to have a properly dug hole ready to go. At least for me, haha.

[Another Kevin]

An apology for making my earlier post. I came here from the 'What's New' page and failed to notice that this was the women's forum.

[Kenai]

Amen. I just made a transaction with Q. We all have to eat. I would rather give back to our community than spend it on E Bay.

[theoilman]

Another +1, +1 for QiWiz. I used to try with the orange plastic shovel, I could never dig an even half way hole, it won't cut roots at all. I love my Ti from QiWiz - it cuts roots, digs easy, less than an ounce! Even it it weighed twice the plastic one I would carry it it works so well!

[Zipper]

When I did my thru, I was surprised at how often there would be a privy where I needed it. So thus no cathole had to be dug. When that wasn't the case, if one goes well off trail and well away from water, there's almost always a small fallen tree with really soft soil at the base easy to dig in. That's what I did. So no need for trowel. I'm very LNT and never leave TP behind (except in a privy unless signs say otherwise). Wouldn't bury it even in a very deep hole. But that is just my preference.

[tiptoe]

I carried a deuce of spades trowel on my recent Damascus to Amicalola section and was glad to have it. It worked as advertised.