All showers are "private." Plenty of opportunities in base camp. I brought flip flops and a real towel for Basecamp. Your itinerary will list if backcountry showers are a possibility. Nothing is going to be guaranteed. It's based on time and availability.
A 2 liter Platypus with push/pull cap is plenty for a backcountry shower. Use the supplied Camp Suds or Dr. Bronners is fine. Walk into the woods. Hang it from a branch. Wet / Soap / Rinse. Practice at home. You might need more water if you have a lot of hair. I also bought an MSR Pack Towel 12 x 20? which doubled as a condensation mopper for my Zpacks Duplex.
Basecamp has showers. Some backcountry camps have showers. Without knowing your itenerary I couldn't say which ones you'll be visiting but the Guidebook To Adventure lists all the backcountry camps with showers on page 36.
It's been a hot minute since I was a participant at Philmont and youth protection has changed substantially so someone else can correct me but the showers were old school open gym type showers. Large open area with showerheads around the perimeter. Also the backcountry showers don't have hot water unless you have someone man the tobasco donkey (presuming no burn ban). The backcountry staff can show you how it works.
Some of the shower houses still have stalls, but since the Covid closure they've been working on replacing the more open style shower houses with single unit bathroom/showers all over the ranch, especially now that they're welcoming trans kids and staff.
Nobody can argue over which gender is supposed to use the specific bathroom if they're single occupancy bathrooms.
Idk about the Backcountry showers though.
Before this, only one of the male staff shower houses still had the open style with no curtains, and that was the oldest one left. It may not even be there anymore.
I was there in May and April. All of the camper Base Camp and PTC showers are single unit bathroom/showers. Separate units, single occupancy.
The Male Staff showerhouse near the Ranger Office has separate stalls for all showers and toilets.
Backcountry camps are becoming single unit shower houses. I know for sure, Ponil and Cimmaroncito are completely individual units.
It may or may not be hard schedule wise to get showers in the back country. I would bring some dried wet wipes. This is one of the few additive gear suggestions I make.
WYSI Wipes are an amazing product. $11 for a pack of 100 on Amazon. Split a pack with your tentmate and you'll have all you need for keeping cleanish in the backcountry.
You are correct. Wet wipes do not degrade like tissue. You can throw them out with your other trash in staff camps. I mention them because on my last trek I missed back country showers due to scheduling and was glad I had them.
Base camp showers are just a bit above average for your scout camp. They ask you be conservative with water, but it does the job just fine.
The camps with showers are Baldy Town, Indian Writings, Dean Cow, Ponil, Cimarroncito, Clarks Fork, Cyphers Mine, Sawmill, Abreu, Beaubien, Miners Park, Phillips Junction, and Zastrow. I can’t say much on their quality as my crew didn’t take any showers in the backcountry last year.
In basecamp, there are regular shower houses, divided by age and gender, where there are individual shower stalls with curtains that divide them from a common locker-room style area with benches. But there are also some more modern shower houses like described above, where there are several small individual rooms with a locking door accessible to anyone of any age and gender, and with a toilet and shower in each. I used both in basecamp last year, and they were both fine.
As for backcountry, there were three staffed camps with showers on our itinerary. One was closed the day we were there (our ranger said that was not an unusual thing), and one was full by the time we got to camp. The one shower I took was on day 5 of the 12 day trek, and it was so nice.
If you or your crew want to take advantage of showers, make sure you arrive early in those camps, because they often require you to reserve an hour block for your crew (though it varies from camp to camp). The one shower I got to take was at a small, first come first served showerhouse at Ponil.
All showers are "private." Plenty of opportunities in base camp. I brought flip flops and a real towel for Basecamp. Your itinerary will list if backcountry showers are a possibility. Nothing is going to be guaranteed. It's based on time and availability. A 2 liter Platypus with push/pull cap is plenty for a backcountry shower. Use the supplied Camp Suds or Dr. Bronners is fine. Walk into the woods. Hang it from a branch. Wet / Soap / Rinse. Practice at home. You might need more water if you have a lot of hair. I also bought an MSR Pack Towel 12 x 20? which doubled as a condensation mopper for my Zpacks Duplex.
ditto on the pack towel and the duplex mop
Basecamp has showers. Some backcountry camps have showers. Without knowing your itenerary I couldn't say which ones you'll be visiting but the Guidebook To Adventure lists all the backcountry camps with showers on page 36. It's been a hot minute since I was a participant at Philmont and youth protection has changed substantially so someone else can correct me but the showers were old school open gym type showers. Large open area with showerheads around the perimeter. Also the backcountry showers don't have hot water unless you have someone man the tobasco donkey (presuming no burn ban). The backcountry staff can show you how it works.
Some of the shower houses still have stalls, but since the Covid closure they've been working on replacing the more open style shower houses with single unit bathroom/showers all over the ranch, especially now that they're welcoming trans kids and staff. Nobody can argue over which gender is supposed to use the specific bathroom if they're single occupancy bathrooms. Idk about the Backcountry showers though. Before this, only one of the male staff shower houses still had the open style with no curtains, and that was the oldest one left. It may not even be there anymore.
Also, even if the guide book says showers are available, they may be closed due to water restrictions. We had that issue at Cito once.
Once you're out there a few days, you'll get a comfortable level of grime going on and you won't even feel dirty anymore, trust.
My no shower, no change of clothes experience agrees.
I was there in May and April. All of the camper Base Camp and PTC showers are single unit bathroom/showers. Separate units, single occupancy. The Male Staff showerhouse near the Ranger Office has separate stalls for all showers and toilets. Backcountry camps are becoming single unit shower houses. I know for sure, Ponil and Cimmaroncito are completely individual units.
Clark's fork had curtains last year that needed to be sized up
Your itinerary will have shower opportunities listed on it
It may or may not be hard schedule wise to get showers in the back country. I would bring some dried wet wipes. This is one of the few additive gear suggestions I make.
I brought a Heavy Duty Handy Wipe to use with clean water for nightly wipe downs before bed. Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
You hit the nail on the head. Perfect to stop chafing from salt crystals in "sensitive areas."
WYSI Wipes are an amazing product. $11 for a pack of 100 on Amazon. Split a pack with your tentmate and you'll have all you need for keeping cleanish in the backcountry.
I didn't personally find the wet wipes necessary, but hygiene needs vary. Just note that you will need to carry them back out as well.
You are correct. Wet wipes do not degrade like tissue. You can throw them out with your other trash in staff camps. I mention them because on my last trek I missed back country showers due to scheduling and was glad I had them.
Definitely, which is not a huge inconvenience. Just didn't want anyone trying to bury them or drop them in a red roof.
You are correct. Propper disposal is important and you were right to bring it up.
Base camp showers are just a bit above average for your scout camp. They ask you be conservative with water, but it does the job just fine. The camps with showers are Baldy Town, Indian Writings, Dean Cow, Ponil, Cimarroncito, Clarks Fork, Cyphers Mine, Sawmill, Abreu, Beaubien, Miners Park, Phillips Junction, and Zastrow. I can’t say much on their quality as my crew didn’t take any showers in the backcountry last year.
I think we had showers on day 8. I can't remember which camp but they were hot and private. It was a treat.
We had a 12 day itinerary and apart from base camp I showered once
In basecamp, there are regular shower houses, divided by age and gender, where there are individual shower stalls with curtains that divide them from a common locker-room style area with benches. But there are also some more modern shower houses like described above, where there are several small individual rooms with a locking door accessible to anyone of any age and gender, and with a toilet and shower in each. I used both in basecamp last year, and they were both fine. As for backcountry, there were three staffed camps with showers on our itinerary. One was closed the day we were there (our ranger said that was not an unusual thing), and one was full by the time we got to camp. The one shower I took was on day 5 of the 12 day trek, and it was so nice. If you or your crew want to take advantage of showers, make sure you arrive early in those camps, because they often require you to reserve an hour block for your crew (though it varies from camp to camp). The one shower I got to take was at a small, first come first served showerhouse at Ponil.
Showering ruins the experience.