1. Go It Alone
You might have a number of reasons to go the bathroom when there are no facilities available. Whether you are hiking or camping or driving down a barren road with no stops in sight, take some precautions when dropping your drawers in the open. First make sure that you have some privacy. Many men take for granted that they can just turn their backs, unzip their flies and urinate anywhere. Most people prefer to not even watch the back of a man urinating, so at least move to a more private location if other people are around. Women and men who need to move their bowels should look in every direction before squatting. Sometimes you may think you're well off the walking trail or back off far enough from the road, but if you look behind, you'll see an opening to a big picnic area or another highway.
2. Be Ready for Anything
Hikers and campers who know ahead of time that they will not have any indoor plumbing on a hike or during their stay should plan ahead. Purchase biodegradable toilet paper that you can leave in the wilderness without worrying about littering. This product is readily available at most camping and hiking stores or online. Carry a small foldable shovel to dig a hole to bury your droppings. Bury the paper along with your bodily fluids and solids. If you are relatively close to a campsite or trail, dig a deeper hole to avoid smelling up the area. Cover your refilled hole with leaves and create a natural compost. Carry a waterless hand sanitizer to clean up afterwards.
3. Check Your Seat
Learn to recognize harmful plants and bushes when you know you will need to drop your drawers in the great outdoors. A case of poison ivy spreading across your bottom and genitals will put a real damper on your walking. Poison oak, ragweed, primrose and sumac all can put a damper on your comfort. Watch for bugs and snakes. Besides messing up your clothes that are sitting around your ankles, you could get a sudden bite that can also cause extreme discomfort as well as severe allergic reactions. If you realize too late that you just sat in a thicket of poison ivy, with its leaves of three, use some of your precious water to rinse off as soon as you can. Better yet, remove all your clothes and jump in the nearest lake or river. If your clothes were exposed to the plants' oils, wash them out as well.
