Rewind is a series where I share about my past trips and experiences. Like watching an old video on a VHS tape, it gives the photos and memories stuck in limbo a chance to see the light of day once again. (edit: Whether I want them to or not)
Something I’ve observed in conversations I’ve had with friends and acquaintances in recent years is how my “outdoorsy-ness” is often over-emphasized. This has led to me being given entirely too much credit in regards to my knowledge of camping and the outdoors (in my opinion.) Some people severely overestimate my competence and mistake my passion for nature as qualified expertise. I feel like have been given an alter ego of sorts. It seems like people project a persona onto me and this “Super Andrea” has sometimes made me feel like I need to live up to other people’s expectations.
I am here today to set the record straight, and let the world know how entirely human I actually am. Yes kids, this is a poop story.
It was the summer of 2017. My mom and I had planned a mother-daughter vacation to the Northwoods of Wisconsin. We were having an absolutely lovely weekend. The weather was sunny and warm, and we had seen and done everything we had wanted to do. We hiked the dough boy trail at Copper Falls State Park, we had seen the Apostle Islands by boat, and had witnessed an abundance of wildlife. By all rights everything was perfect.
My mom and I had wanted to check out another part of Copper Falls and see some trails with less foot traffic. It was an easy day hike, a four-mile loop and waterfall views. We had snacks, water, and there was plenty of shade. Nothing in the world could have ruined our afternoon. Nothing at all.
As we were departing for the trail head, a thought briefly flickered in the back of my mind, and I gazed momentarily at the bathrooms located near the trail head parking lot. However, I immediately dismissed this thought as foolish. Ha! I can hold it! There are more important things in life, like waterfalls and hiking trails! I can’t be bothered by mundane bodily functions! Worst case scenario, I’ll just go in the woods.
To give a little bit of context on this situation, I used to be an avid coffee drinker. On this particular morning, I had too many cups of strong camp coffee with breakfast and my vice was about to catch up with me.
We had made it to our destination. The Bad River was beautiful, the old pine groves were breath taking, and the falls roared. However, the minute I walked down to the river I knew I was in trouble. Big trouble. My scheme to just “go in the woods” was foiled by the excessive cups of morning joe I had greedily guzzled not a few hours before. There was no way around it, I needed to get back to the trail head, fast.
“We’re almost there!” My mom would say these not so encouraging words every five minutes or so on that hurried walk back to the trail’s parking lot. I knew in my heart that we were not almost there but maybe if I just walked a little faster, we could make it. Then it happened. Right in the middle of the trail. Much to my own horror, the big job happened right in my pants.
The worst part was my mom couldn’t stop laughing, and neither could I.
We made it back to the parking lot, and I scurried for the bathrooms. My mom graciously fetched me some clean clothes and baby wipes from the back seat of our car. The ordeal was over in a matter of minutes, and we went back to our campsite at the park.
Weirdly enough this mishap has become one of my favorite memories from that trip. It was ridiculous, but it that experience has taught me a lot about listening to myself and understanding my limits. I can’t imagine that literally pooping your pants is something that happens to most mature and competent adults, and definitely not a rugged outdoors-person. It did happen to me though. I’m not an expert, I’m just someone who really likes spending time outside.
For the rest of the trip, every time either one of us brought up the “situation” our conversation ended in fits of uncontrollable laughter. I guess the trip had been too perfect up until that point, every highest high has its lowest low too.
Links to plan your own mis-adventure:
Apostle Islands: https://www.nps.gov/apis/index.htm
Copper Falls: https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/copperfalls/
Bayfield, Wisconsin: https://www.bayfield.org/
Field Day 