Ladies, it’s no secret that you may face some different challenges in the wilderness than your male counterparts. Let’s take a look at a few facts versus fiction, and maybe wipe out some woodland urban legends when it comes to women in the wild. Yes, it’s time to talk about period camping.
No discussion of camping while having your period would be complete without talking about bears. It has been a long held belief that bears are attracted to the scent of menstrual blood. However, there is no evidence to support this. Researchers have analyzed numerous grizzly bear attacks and have found no links.
Scientists went even further with black bears, using both blood samples and live volunteers. In either case, the bears were completely uninterested. In fact, the only bear to show a preference for menstrual blood is the polar bear, and you’re not likely to run into one of those while camping out at a national park or other non-arctic environment.
Some hiking tips:
- Stay hydrated, this will help with head cramps on the trail
- Bring biodegradable baby wipes. They help keep you feeling clean (any time of the month), and since they are compostable, they can be buried with waste.
- Zip seal sandwich bags are a must. Store used tampons or sanitary napkins in a double layer of bags. You can stow these in a plastic grocery bag for added privacy if you wish. Adding dry tea bags or crumbled aspirin to your zip seal bag is another way to combat odors. Keep these bags well sealed, and bring them out with you for proper disposal after you leave.
- If you have used a diva cup, there’s no reason to leave it home when camping as it means less waste and odor. If you’ve never used one, however, a weekend getaway in the woods is probably not the best time for a trial run. Test it out at home first to decide if it’s right for you.
- Bring a sleeping pad. Back and body aches are common during menstruation. Bring a sleeping pad or even double up on your normal one for added comfort.
- Wearing darker clothing like black or navy blue can help disguise any leaks. Rinse clothing with cold water if needed.
Wrapping up our post on period camping and hiking, we thought you’d like Girl Gone Wild: The Outdoor Guide for Women!
Featured Image from Nathan Dumlao/Unsplash
