These are the TMI conversations that need to be had for newbies that are learning. Thank you!

You are the only one that had the chutzpah to talk about your menstrual routine. Good on ya.

You are an amazing woman, I’m 70 and did my very 1st thru hike.. the TMB when I was 65. It was awesome and I’ve hiking ever since. Thanks for this info. Good advice for camping too.

Another thing. When I thru-hiked the AT back in '08 I used a menstrual cup and LOVED it! It was SO much easier (and far cheaper as I used it for the rest of my menstruating life) than using pads or tampons, although I did occasionally use a panty liner if my flow was really heavy just in case. But all I had to do was wash my hands, empty out the cup, rinse the cup and myself clean with water using my water bladder hose, put it back in place, and I was on my way again. No muss, no fuss, and NO garbage to stow or pack out! When I was done each month I'd give it a thorough washing with Bronner's soap and water and then dried and stowed it in the clean cotton bag it came with in my toiletry zip lock until the next month. It was thoroughly hygienic and worked beautifully. As I said, no waste to pack out, and the plants that received my rinse water gift got some excellent nutrition/fertilizer! While I never felt I needed to boil it out there (a thorough washing with soap and water kept it perfectly clean and sanitary), why would it gross anyone out to wash it and then boil it in some water in their pot for a couple of minutes just to totally kill any possible living thing still clinging to it? Something I've never understood is how phobic people are about their own bodily fluids and wastes. It's funny to me that people eat meat, especially non-organic (that has blood in it and is full of all sorts of hormones, antibiotics and pesticides) without a second thought and they eat food that has been fertilized with all sorts of animal poo and even human sewage sludge (which is full of their prescription drugs and all sorts of toxic stuff that people put down their drains) yet they are grossed out by their own blood and/or poo. We've been brainwashed by marketing to believe so many things that aren't true about so many things... Anyway, whatever. And finally, I'm in the medical profession and though I follow all the protocols for legal reasons, I wash with soap and water too because hand sanitizer aint all its cracked up to be. Studies show that plain soap and water is actually far more effective at keeping hands free of pathogens than hand sanitizer because it actually sanitizes AND rinses off stuff while hand sanitizer attempts to just kill stuff and leaves it sitting there on your hands. Pathogens that are particularly tough to kill (clostridium spores & other spores in particular), are often NOT killed/destroyed by hand sanitizer and then can then be ingested and lead to an infection. Soap with kill/neutralize pretty much the same stuff the hand sanitizer will, but the water you use to rinse it off with will carry off whatever is still there and viable, leaving your hands clean and free of spores or pathogens that survived the soap...another reason NOT to wash/bathe directly in a water source. JUST DON'T DO IT! While I agree that often just plain water (and sometimes a little sand to use as a scrub) can do a great job of cleaning off the sweat and dirt of the day and even your pots, keeping one's hands, butt, nethers, menstrual cups, etc. clean and sanitary on the trail is most effective with a few drops of concentrated bronner's (or other biodegradable) soap and water. I always carry a small plastic squirt bottle of the stuff and even used a drop on my toothbrush instead of packing toothpaste which is NOT biodegradable at all in comparison (I prefer the peppermint Bronner's as it tastes minty vs soapy). The only thing is, do not be fooled by the "biodegradable" part and use it directly in a water source. Find a patch of grass or dirt to let it fall on when you're rinsing it off as it is actually a pollutant in water, while soil flora breaks it down pretty quickly.

One toiletry item that you left out that I can't go hiking without is a high SPF lip balm. I guess you could use the skin lotion for your lips too, but I prefer lip balm.

Important safety tip I learned from a friend's experience... If you're going to use leaves as toilet paper, first learn how to identify poison ivy.

You are REALLY good at this! Making videos so concise and to the point while including all options subject to personal preference is difficult for most of us. But it seems to come naturally to you. Thanks for all your answers and guidance and keep up the good times. The memories are wonderful treasures when you finally get past the age where overnight hiking and camping is no longer possible.

Great job on a sensetive subject.

Hey Dixie, I just stumbled onto your channel. You have to have the most realistic down to earth advice. Thank you. Keep doing what ur doing.

Hey Dixie, I just got back from three months in England, Scotland and Ireland. I am usually one of the stinkiest backpackers. I can look at a piece of synthetic fabric and it will begin to reek. This trip my main base layers were: merino smart wool: 2 boxer briefs, 2-ts and 2 long sleeve 't's' (most of this stuff Icebreaker brand). And of course smart wool socks and liners. I also switched to Gold Bond powder for deodorant (my son said all the soldiers on long deployments swore by it). And this guy who has always stunk after 8 hours of doing not much, did not stink (mostly) for the whole trip. I often wore the same base layer for 2-3 days. It would pick up some body smell, but if I could air it out or let it 'rest' (clumped in my bag) it took took careful sniffs to tell it from a completely fresh item. Usually it had a slight lanolin scent. I also bought a Patagonia Nano Puff jacket for the trip. It got stinky even while the layers between it and me didn't; also it stayed stinky until I washed it. I'm going to replace it with a zip up merino wool sweater first chance I get. I also had a pair of Sealskinz waterproof socks. Absolutely brilliant gear. I wore them about a dozen days, aired them inside-out at night, never washed them, still haven't washed them--they are fresh enough. I got the tall ones, but this was over kill.They never got hot, my feet never got cold. I will never wear another synthetic base layer again. I've even tried the new silver treated stuff--stinks as fast as anything. When I was traveling in Japan two years ago after the first month I could not get the stink out of my clothes or my body. Now? I probably haven't smelled this consistently swee....acceptable since I was a baby. Give it a shot I think you'll be amazed.

Thanks Dix for being so “ down to earth” and keeping it real! Appreciated...Pete

Thank you Dixie! Again, you have excellent advice for some not so fun things to deal with on trail. :) Thank you for your hard work on getting all these videos out! So appreciate your positive perspective! Well done!

This is awesome. Thank you for all these tips! I love hearing from other hiker women! I'm going to watch all your videos. Quarantine watchlist.

You’re so amazing and detailed! Thank you so much and I look forward to more videos!

Thank you for putting this together. I'm brand new to camping and a little obsessive about cleanliness. These tips help a lot.

As mostly a day hiker I always wondered about the hygiene subject as I think of doing more...so thanks for sharing....very helpful

Excellent! same routine here. Oh, a little trick I discovered on PCT for shaving is-- the men's Fusion razors have a good design where you can hold the head without the handle. So I just pop the handle off and use the head. It works great.

I really appreciate you going into such detailed yet modest descriptions. This is a very helpful video. Where is the location shown at the very end of the movie with all the flowers? It's beautiful.

Tour de force video, very informative, and updated from your AT video on the same topic, thanks, Dixie. So I've been "playing along at home" here since your AT video, and use baking soda and corn starch mixed one to one on all "problem areas," i.e. scent cells, with great success, i.e. days and days of neutral, "go to church," foot/body smell. Learned via internet; quite amazing. Practice is the key.

Dixie you are awesome and I love how you just stay so candid and down to earth. I always wondered about your feet. A few times when you would show your feet I was like "ohhhh" that's gotta hurt lol. Thanks for answering the how to about your feet.

What I've found out by accident is if you leave open the wipes bag they all eventually dehydrate and basically become an ultralight handful of napkins. I just have to pour a splash of water on one to rehydrate it back to normal. That could be another simple way to save an ounce or a few by drying them before a hike.

Well done video, thanks! I'd especially love to know where you were hiking in the last few seconds of the video amid all the beautiful crimson wildflowers.

Thank you for a clear and instructive video. This will help me plan for long trip.

I could listen to you say “oil” and “boil” ALL day! Great videos - keep it up!

I use a Pstyle when I hike and love it. It's in its own case with a clip and hangs from my pack so I don't have to take the pack off. I love that I don't have to expose myself or squat to pee. It's ridiculously easy when you're wearing shorts especially and you use the edge of the pstyle to gently scrape off the excess.

Excellent,candid video. All hikers should watch this video. Thanks,Dixie. Hey, first to thumbs up for this one.

Really informative! Thank you!

I have a tip for night, which I learned from another female hiker & have much appreciated over the years, especially on cold or rainy nights. I use a wide mouth pee bottle so I don't have to get out of the tent. She used nalgene bottles, but the lightest bottle I have found is a small kroger marshallow puff jar (1.6oz). It holds enough liquid to get me through the night and has a wide bottom for stability (how nice of them to think of that). I've used this method for the past 5 or so years and have never had any issues of spilage. I keep it just outside the tent once I've used it and rinse it out, away from the water source once a day. My husband & I just got our PCT permits for 3/21/18 & can't wait. Thanks for all of your videos and the well put realism particularly on topics most women are shy about.

hahaha, love it when you pronounce ramem,raymen...thanks for sharing your knowledge on the trail...peace to you and yours Dixie...see ya next week

Thank you for a candid and helpful video!

Thanks for that informative video Dixie! Just to expand on why you shouldn't use soap or detergent in or near a water source. The teeny water critters that skate on the surface of the water do so by utilising the surface tension. Soaps and detergents break down that surface tension. So if you use soaps/detergent in a water source you're causing the teeny critters to drown and starving the larger animals that eat those critters.

Great video, thanks for all the tips!

Wood ash can be used for anything baking soda can be used for and more. I love that stuff.

As a older male, it really was helpful for me to listen to the section on menstruation on the trail as a reminder of the challenges that women have to deal with on the trail. Also, I am finding Dixie's videos to be very thorough - Great job.

Thanks Dixie. Enjoy every video. And watch them while treadmilling. ;-). Feel like I was there with y'all.

Wonderful presentation, very nicely presented...well done! But where did you get that most excellent tee shirt??! We have really enjoyed your videos, Dixie!

Excellent! Finally a video that gets into the nitty gritty.

i followed your vids the whole way through. awesome job. you looks like sweet dee from "its always sunny in philadelphia" in this video

You're so concise and informative. Awesome videos and tasteful too :)....You should come check out the trails in Aspen, CO (Stunning!) ....Thanks for the videos

corn starch or arrowroot powder is really great for a more all-purpose powder that is also scentless and a little more comfortable on your skin than talc. Also divacups and other similar models are really great for periods, just gotta dump it out in a cathole and rinse and you don't have to carry used pads/tamps--plus less garbage!

Love your videos so much Dixie!! You should have a meet up one day! Hope you’re doing well!

Great video with some great points.

a friend of mine walked around india for a year solo around 2000 when she was 39 , she has amazing stories , wonderful presentation thank you

Thanks!! This was very informative. I was wondering what your hygiene routine was like especially because you have such beautiful long hair!

"A butt,with deodorant on it"😂😂😂

Sticks and rocks?? 😬 YIKES..Lol Also, I'm planning on thru hiking the AT next year and there's no way I'm not bringing Dr. Bronners. The weight and the effort is definitely worth it for me to have the greatest experience on the trail. I roadtripped around the US for about nine months in 2016, often slept in my car and hiked local trails along the way. Going days without a shower is definitely manageable, but having some sort of soap with me helped me feel like a totally different person after days of sweat and grime along the way. Two squirts of that stuff for your dirty laundry or smelly armpits and it makes the experience a thousand times better in my opinion..lol Great and informative video as always!! ❤️

Great video, thanks Dixie!!! Any facial care? Washing, moisturizer, sunscreen, etc.

Great video, personality, and sense of humor! How you can sit in that position for almost 25 minutes without moving or tipping over is beyond me. haha

Thank you for being so open!! So helpful! My question is, what about going potty through some of those passes in the sierras where there’s lots of snow and you seemed to be with lots of people? Was it hard to find a spot or get privacy?

I love your philosophies!

Thank you for honesty!

When I was on the AT, I NEEDED soap. I don’t want to eat out of a dirty pot. I HAVE to wash my hands after I poop. Purell doesn’t cut it for me. And the peppermint dr bronners can also be toothpaste! I also have to wash my feet at the end of every day (downstream of course)

Oh yeah! Hair conditioner helps with chafing. It’s smooth and allows less friction. If you shower wash with conditioner in places you have issues with chaffing. Rinse but don’t scrub away.

this is great information!

Dr. Bronner’s bar soap and a washcloth works for me. Also pocket size singles Wet Ones which also work in winter and when a washcloth and bar is not desirable.

Great tips. Baking soda can be used as a deodorant too and to clean your petrels so to speak. We have big problems here where you know what the previous explorers had for breakfast. It's so bad. Thank you, it's nice to see compassion for the surroundings.

I use a urinary diversion device and love it. The brand is called Freshette. No need to take off the pack as you said. BUT... practice before going out on the trail!

Cool video Dixie! 😁

I have the p-style and I love it! I made a terry cloth lined storage sleeve with a loop and it clips on the outside of my pack. So easy! It also eliminates the pee rag/shaking issues just in the way it's designed.

Thanks, super informative!

I know this is an old video, but just wanted to say this is so helpful. You answered so many questions for me. A note on Baby Powder; here in Canada Talc has a lot of restrictions. Baby Powder is now just made from finely milled cornstarch...sometimes with additives like aloe etc. I find it works way better than the old Talc-based powders. Especially great for preventing chafing. Worth looking into if you haven't seen or tried it.

Deficating to the sunrise... Downright magnificent

Great video, you crack me up!

Excellent video!

I just love you to pieces! Straight up woman!

My hiker trash LPT: you can refill travel-sized toothpaste tubes - I always did that from huge tubes in hiker boxes :D just create a sort of vacuum btwn the two bottles and squeeze!

Feet. Ah those feet... Being a scout since 73 - I've found that vaseline or cold cream (type Nivea) and nothing but pure wool socks help keeping your feet fresh and fit for fight. Apply generous amounts of vaseline or similar on your feet and in between your toes and put on wool socks (thin or thick ones - today they make them as liners). It feels like standing in butter but your feet absorbs most of it and the socks are not sticky or oily when you take them off. Your feet will thank you.

The Pstyle is wonderful, used it hiking Canada.

you're gettin pretty good at this stuff! keep it up!

Thanks for the information. You are awesome.

you are beautiful even when there is dirt on your face! I'm a witness. love your outlook and your videos. don't ever stop hiking.

Hi Dixie. Great info. I️ would like you to address SPF sunscreen and lip care. I️ hiked for years with an open top visor to shield my face. Not my scalp. I️ recently had basal cell removed from scalp and above my lip. 🙁. Thanks!

Hello Dixie, thank you for sharing. You handled the delicate restroom topics quite well. If you temporarily run out of tissue, do not use poison oak or poison ivy. So, know your plants. As always, take care, be safe and have fun. 🤗

Good tips! I prefer pantyliners to turning my undies inside out. They're lightweight and give a fresh start. I used the privacy of my tent to deal with sanitary pads. They sell rolls of bags for baby diapers which I believe are cheaper than dog poop bags.

Ma’am, this was great! Thanks.

I'm listening to your precious advices, but can't stop myself thinking how much it would hurt me to be sitted the way you do for so long.

I really dig your southern Alabama accent!! It's really awesome that you share such intimate and taboo subjects such as personal bodily functions that not a lot of people would really share. I am not trying to be vulgar but when you said you hated body hair.. do you recommend shaving your pubic hair (male or female) to prevent chafing and also for hygienic purposes? Anyway, thanks for the great info and stay safe out there and please keep the great videos coming.

Sunscreen!! I am 64 and still hiking. You will thank yourself later for regularly protecting your skin. Also, a good sun hat

When I had braces and had to change rubber bands, I purchased a very tiny signal mirror. Serves double purpose if you are really wandering...hopefully never need the signal function. Many compasses have the mirror sighting piece, that could work.

Just a FYI I use my umbrella as a shield to kinda hide behind . Good video without the ugly talk .One of the reasons I love your videos! So thank you.

i found something interesting and super compact to use while hiking, compressible towles, each one is about the size of a candy mint. yes they take a bit of water to re hydrate but are very useful for using the restroom and cleaning.

One observation about backpacking (this has been documented by the AT Conference and of course the medical profession) is that outbreaks of GI type infections occur often when hikers group up and share food (usually food like GORP from plastic bags. I have never been sick on hikes, I think in part because I don't take food from other hikers unless it is in original package and I don't share food (as GORP), which I am happy to do, unless I pour it in their hand. Never let another hiker reach into your food bag. I call it STRANGER DANGER.

Hey Dixie, I like using an empty coffee bag for my lady waste. It’s not see thoughts and the coffee smell help with some of the odors. Have you tried or heard of this idea? Thanks for everything. 💕

Like you I carry one spare pair of underwear. Two pairs of Darn Tough socks and three pair of Coolmax liner socks. For nighttime I use a pair of Down socks. Super light and takes no room in the pack. With regard to bathroom duties I buy a large container of Bleach wipes and then put them in a ziplock bag. I carry 4-5 per day. You can use them to clean hands and follow the toilet paper routine Never had any harsh rashes on parts of my body and dont have to take alcohol with me . When possible and hot enough I rinse off in a stream with my shorts on. Clean and refreshing..... I also pack a pair of disposable rubber gloves for cleaning wounds and other duties related to infection. Hope this helps.

Wisy wipes I think its called is dry small pill sized TP that you put a tad of water on and it like grows really large. They have several sizes all the way up to a puck size that grows to a towel size. Its huge in the emergency preparedness group but thought it could help here as its way, way, WAY smaller and lighter then TP but can be a wet towel or even dry out to be a dry towel. And its really, REALLY strong. Soooo much stronger then TP! So multi functional too!

I also find a sleeping bag liner very useful and maybe a tad refreshing. It Might not fall under hygiene but when you are stinky after a long day of hiking and can't clean up it's nice to have the sleeping bag liner. So much easier to clean the liner then your down sleeping bag if it gets smelly. Can just throw it in with the other items when you get to a town and do laundry. Nothing better then a fresh smelling liner to make you feel cozy in your sleeping bag even if you don't feel so clean.

Very informative!

I heard that Loksak has bags that seal in ALL smells ( from whatever ). Might be worth a try! And I LOVE the baby wipes..a little more weight but there's a lot of love in those little guys!

Ahahah yeah, I also "shake it off" very often. Thanks for the informative video! Now the big question: where did you get that super cool shirt? I am in love with it

No Talc Down There! You’re rocking it!

very good info sharing even helps out guy like me. thx. thumbs up

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

The content was great.... the hand gestures and body language was very entertaining.

I’d highly reccomend the Lulu organics hair powder! It comes in a cardboard tube and the travel size lasts forever with regular use and it smells great and is super light! But obvs baby powder will do the trick just fine

Much baby powder is now made from corn starch, rather than talc. I take some baking soda AND some food grade corn starch (without added fragrance) with me. I put a little bit of each on my feet, and into my hiking shoes to help prevent blisters and smells.

Awesome! Thank you for sharing this amazing adventure.

For me, peeing several times a night is pretty routine. I have found a "GoGirl" and a few thick Ziplock (with a zipper) sandwich bags (CLEARLY ID'd with a permanent marker!) work great inside my tent. I just place the full bags outside my tent door until I pour them out them in the morning. I've tried several similar devices and "GoGirl" is the best.

I use baby powder to freshen my scalp/hair as well. However, I use baby powder Cornstarch. That way, it’s not Talc, so I can also use it all over my body also, incl a light dusting of my lady-parts safely 🦋 ps, loved ur video, lots of great info!

Marking the spot where you take a dump with an X seems a little backwards 😂 I would think something special is under there

Very good video!