Camping, is this bad to do?

Question

Ok me and a friend have been disagreeing about this and it's silly so I just want to see what others think and say!
When you go capming and I mean like real camping "pitch a tent beside the river for a few weeks" how do you keep clean or take a bath? Most people I know would wash in the river when they swim....

Thanks guys, I don't mean a camp site I mean just wilderness, hiking, good ol hillbilly camping just a tent and food no fancy stuff.. I took a bath in the river and my friend freaked said I was mean and cruel and killing the fish and soo we fought about I was just wondering if I was alone on bathing in the river...

Answer 1

well in the summer time when i was a small child before we had indoor plumbing, we would go to the near by creek and swim in it and take a bar of ivory soap (since it floated) soap up and wash our hair, we would throw the soap up creek so when we went under to rinse off, the soap would float back down to use when we came back up.

if that is all you have, do it the water is flowing and so it is going down to the big water body.

heck when i was in the military, i had to use the woods for the restroom, we had to take out trench tool (shovel) dig a small hole and do our business and bury it. it naturally decomposes.

how do you think the folks before plumbing did it. by the way camping the old fashion way is so much fun, and it also helps you appreciate what you have back in the city/town you live.

so my answer is yes camping is a good thing

Answer 2

As a former soldier in the US Army, I can give pointers of "living in the rough". As for taking a bath while camping in a primitive campsite, I recommend using what is called an "Australian shower". It is a rubber bag with a shower head on it. (Can be found at most outdoor outfitter stores) Fill with water, and the sun heats up the water in the bag during the day. I also recommend using a tarpaulin and some poles or long sticks to make a privacy screen around the shower area. (You never know what kind of pervert is gonna be out there.) But when you know how to do it right, primitive camping can be an enjoyable experience.

Answer 3

Pitch your tent 150-200 feet away from the water. If the river is flowing or turbulent, you may bath in the river using biodegradable soap. Otherwise, fill a container with water (enough to refresh you)and bath 300 feet away where you may use shampoo and any soap. With cold weather, just wipe your body with wet towelette sprinkled with isoprophyl alcohol.
In the wilds, if you want to truly protect the environment, bring NO SOAP. Be an Alcoholic.(LOL)
Camping makes you closer to nature and re-energize your spirit.
Go out often!

Answer 4

Camping can be fantastic, especially if you're properly equipped. You need to speak with someone with experience who can help you plan what you'll take along, and obviously, you'll need to be prepared for a variation of weather. You'll hate camping if you hate sitting by a campfire with friends or family, telling stories and having moments you'll remember forever, or looking up at the late night sky, seeing a billion stars and occasional shooting star, and be put to sleep by the sounds of crickets just hanging out with nothing to do. If you hate a hearty breakfast in the forest, perhaps near a gurgling brook, or river, and washing in the public showers usually provided by the campsite, then by all means, don't go camping. Otherwise, camping is really fun and beautiful.

Answer 5

The rustic camping experience is the best, but you want to be very conscientious of your environment, too. They sell environmentally friendly soaps, shampoos, etc for just that purpose. [You bathe in the river/ water source]. They also make shower bags that you can fill with water and hang in a tree to be solar heated during the day. When you are ready, simply take a shower! [yes, they also sell free standing curtains if you are shy, lol]

Answer 6

You shouldn't use soap or shampoo in a river. It's bad for the environment. Heat some water in a pan, and take it away from the river, and do a sponge bath. You can also get a solar shower that you hang from a tree.

Answer 7

OK here we go camping allot so if you want to rough it you cant use soap in a river but that also based on a states regulation but they do sell water bladders that have like a shower attachment that you can yous check out wall-mart or a out doors store its called a solar shower and yes camping is very good for you

Answer 8

Use wet wipes to clean yourself off daily, and every few days take a bath in the river with natural soap.

Answer 9

Get biodegradable soap and you will be fine. You can also get a bucket of water, go a couple 100 feet away from the river, soap and wash off and then go for a swim, or vice versa. Personally that is what I do.

Answer 10

The important thing is to keep chemicals out of the water.Do not use soap in the river,or shampoo and dishwater.You will be affecting the ecological balance.It is however quite natural for living creatures to swim about in rivers.