What to do with the big business?
In the Berchtesgaden National Park, toilets are only available in huts, restaurants and mountain huts with a bar. But what to do if you can't make it to the nearest toilet? To ensure that future hikers can still enjoy having a snack at crossroads and children can have fun romping around the alpine and mountain huts, here are a few tips that will also benefit the protected nature in the national park.
Leave no traces!
You should therefore be aware of the following when going on a longer tour:
- Human waste takes around a month to decompose. So that other hikers don't have to turn up their noses, please dig a hole for your natural toilet. You can do this with branches, stones or even your hiking boots. Then cover your droppings generously with earth, leaves, branches or stones. Please do not leave them in the open!
- Keep your distance from the paths - especially when doing the big business, of course. Even when you're doing your small business, other walkers will thank you if you do it a few steps away from the path.
- Even if it may seem particularly appealing to some, please do not urinate in bodies of water! These are heavily contaminated by human excrement. Keeping a distance of at least 15 meters helps to keep the water clean.
- Handkerchiefs, wet wipes, panty liners, sanitary towels and diapers have no place in nature. These materials take between five and 800 years to decompose. They can be sealed in a plastic bag and disposed of properly at home.
- Of course, you can't do without toilet paper ... But this also takes around six weeks to decompose. What's more, water and wind spread the used scraps across the landscape. Please use plain toilet paper and don't leave it lying around!
Many thanks for taking part. 😉
Press release (only in german):
"Where to put the big business when hiking?"
Help to protect the sensitive mountain nature!
In a national park, the protection of nature is the primary goal. And for this to work, we need your help! Please adhere to the following rules to protect chamois, marmots and co:
- Take garbage back home with you
- Do not pick plants
- Keep dogs on a lead in the national park
- Stay on the paths - please do not walk cross-country or take shortcuts
- Do not disturb wild animals
- Do not camp or bivouac
- Do not light campfires
- Do not make noise
- Air mattresses, rubber boats and other flotation devices are prohibited
- Drones are not allowed to fly in the national park
- Cyclists must show consideration for hikers
Thank you for your understanding and for taking part!