World Expedition - Index

World Expedition - booklet - Index

If you wish to drink tea or a local drink at a teahouse or
café along the way, you do so at your own risk. In many
remote areas and developing countries we strongly
recommend that you use your own cup to reduce the risk
of contamination.
During treks please use the toilet facilities provided. In camp
and at lunchtime a communal toilet tent will be erected and
hand-washing facilities provided. This will be constructed in
a way that suits rapid breakdown and minimal impact on the
surrounding environment.
For unscheduled toilet stops along the trail we recommend
that you carry in your daypack a small plastic trowel or a
tent peg for digging, and a small cigarette lighter for burning
paper. Toilet holes should be dug at least 100 meters from
any watercourse, a minimum of 15cm deep in the soil and
on the lower side of the trail. Provided there is no risk of
starting a fire, all paper should be burnt. Toilet paper takes
a long time to break down and can be very unsightly.
Ensure that all flames and embers are completely
extinguished before filling in the hole. Where digging is
impractical (ice or very stony soil) cover with rocks or leaf
litter if available. Never burn sanitary pads, tampons or
condoms. Place them in small plastic bags and place these
in the camp rubbish bin at the end of the day.
washing
Please only bring fully biodegradable phosphorous-free
cleaning agents (soap, shampoo, conditioner and
toothpaste). These may be a little more expensive and
harder to find but the nutrients in some detergents can
cause algal blooms and smoother the gills of aquatic
species such as fish, severely limiting their ability to breath
and resulting in death.
Never wash anything (bodies or clothes) with cleaning agents
directly in river or lake water. Get a bowl from your leader
and carry the water at least 50 metres away from the waters
edge. This gives the soil a better chance at filtering out
impurities before it re-enters the stream.
Please do not do as the locals do when washing. They may
not be using manufactured soaps, and are probably unaware
of the implications of using western style cleaners in free
water. Our staff are educated on these implications but we
do not desire to influence local communities and custom;
the best we can do is to ensure that our travellers and staff
are not contributing to problems, and explain our cautious
approach to the locals when they ask.
Always wash your hands well before eating and after going
to the toilet. Whether out on the trails or in the cities it is
a good idea to carry some antiseptic wipes or gel for ease
of hand washing.
On trek please avoid using showers from teahouses as this
contributes to the rapid disappearance of forests unless you
know that the shower is electrically or solar generated. We
provide a bowl of warm water that is heated using kerosene
at the beginning of each day. This is ideal for a sponge
wash at the start of the day. Your leader will give advice
when it is clear that shower water is heated by kerosene.
On a longer or more remote trip, remember you are all part
of a team experiencing the same conditions.
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