When I started this blog, it was supposed to be about various (mis)adventures in the Rockies. It was never my intention to start a "running monolog" about peeing standing up, yet here I am, writing for the fourth time about just that very topic.
Since my last "peeing standing up" post in November of 2010, I have been merrily using my handy pStyle for peeing standing up in a variety of situations, including outdoors, in the snow, and in nasty stinky outhouses. I have recommended pStyles to a number of friends, and a number of my friends are now merrily peeing standing up with their handy pStyles as well.
But I have to be honest. All is not complete bliss with a pStyle. If you're going to use one of these, you should watch out for the following pitfalls which I have been generous enough to discover for you so that you don't have to experience them yourself.
Pitfall #1: Bearing down too hard. One time, I had waited a little too long to pull off the trail and take care of nature's business. By the time I started peeing I REALLY had to go and I bore down quote hard, which caused my pee to overflow the sides of the pStyle "trough". If you're using a pStyle, no matter how bad you have to go, take it easy and pee slowly and in a civilized manner. None of this "RAAAHHHH! I have to pee so bad!" pushing as if your life depends on it.
Pitfall #2: Inadequate tilt. This sounds like it should go without saying, but make sure that, when you're using your pStyle, you have tilted it down, away from yourself, an adequate amount. One time on a hike I pulled off behind a rock to have a pee but I did not feel that I had complete privacy in my chosen location. I didn't want to pull my pants down too far, so I left them higher than usual as I did my thing. Having my pants up higher, though, caused the pStyle to either be completely level (and not drain), or, it may have even been tilted a little in the wrong direction - towards myself. Regardless of exactly how it happened, the result was the same. Pee in my clothing instead of on the ground where I'd intended to put it.
Pitfall #3: Peeing in public with your "mudstache" on. OK, this isn't really a pitfall, and it wasn't really my experience. This happened to a friend of mine who shall remain nameless *cough*Marg*cough*. When we were hiking the West Coast Trail, a few of us decided to make ourselves facial hair out of the ample mud to be found on that trail. On that trail, it is impossible to pull off into the trees to go pee - the rainforest is simply too thick and treacherous for leaving the trail to hide - so one must find other ways to gain privacy, for example, finding a bend in the trail and hoping no other hikers come upon you while you quickly do your business. My friend had stepped away with her pStyle (and her mudstache), but before she was finished, another group of hikers DID come along and busted her in the act. I'm sure they have a great story to tell about seeing a Canadian woman with a moustache peeing standing up on their West Coast Trail hike.
In the four-and-a-half years since I started using the pStyle, these are the only pitfalls I've discovered. That's a pretty great track record, especially considering how much I use it. Go ahead... pee standing up. Just remember to be careful out there.
See my previous "peeing standing up" posts:
