The Water Method

I’m almost certain I had heard about the water method before. But I think that maybe I wasn’t ready to listen until now. I finally tried it.

I think I was ready because of the itchy bottom problem I have had since I gave birth. My dermatologist told me I have to stop blaming things on having had a baby, but I like the notion that there are no problems to blame on anyone better.

Enter the water method.

It’s a method of cleaning yourself after you poop.

Joe Frost from my NOLS almuni canyoneering trip taught it to us, and I committed myself to trying it for the duration of this season. Not just that hike, this entire season. I believe in giving things a real chance. Set it up for success and all that. Joe said it might be life changing, and I think he is right.

Because i don’t just do it in the field, I have been doing it at home when it is an option and it has improved my bottom problem dramatically.

It’s like this:

you go.

no, wait, that is not how it starts.

you prep. make your hole. lay out your tools. water and soap. make them easy to access, easier than you think they need to be.

then go.

then reach one hand around from behind you under your legs. put water into your cupped hand. clean your bottom with it. repeat until it’s clean.

yes, you will have poop on your hand, the dirty hand, the one you used to do the act of cleaning. not the hand you poured the water with, that one is still clean.

fill your mouth with drinking water, hold it there. use your clean hand to do this.

get your soap, soap your hands. scrub like you are a surgeon. like. you. are. going. to. be. doing. surgery. dribble water out of your mouth onto your hands to rinse. while this is happening, your bum will dry (this part is more of a fantasy of mine).

your very clean, happy, will not be itching in the future, bum will dry.

Hike on sister, hike on.