One of the things I love most about hiking is the escape.
For a few hours, there’s no doom and gloom on the news, no family drama, no Slack notifications, no people fighting about dumb stuff on social media. It’s just you, the trail and whatever nature decides to throw your way that day.
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There’s a certain simplicity to it.
Put on some decent shoes. Bring some water. Get outside. Don’t be a jerk.
Unfortunately, that last part seems to trip some people up.
So in the interest of preserving everyone’s sanity — and keeping our trails enjoyable for the people who come after us — I’ve compiled a few hiking etiquette rules that should be common sense, but apparently aren’t.
Yield to uphill hikers on narrow trails
This is probably the most universally ignored rule on the trail. So if you didn’t know, now you know: Hikers going uphill have the right of way.
They’re working harder, they’re huffing and puffing, they’re desperate to get to cheeseburgers and post-hike beers, and breaking that momentum on a steep climb is genuinely miserable. If you’re leisurely heading down, step aside and let them through.
Keep your music and your podcasts to yourself
Nobody drove two hours, paid a park fee and hiked five miles into the woods to listen to Morgan Wallen blaring from your backpack. In fact, part of the reason people hike is to hear, well… nature.
If you need to listen to your true crime podcast while meandering next to a mountain stream, then be my guest. Just bring headphones.
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Also keep in mind that blasting noise through your AirPods or speakers may drown out some very important other sounds — like approaching wildlife or mad rattlesnakes. But if that’s a risk you’re willing to take, then I won’t stop you.
Pack out what you pack in
I won’t insult your intelligence. I’ll assume you’re aware that littering (granola bar wrappers, water bottles, fishing line, beer cans) is a big no-no. But what you might not know is that natural food scraps — like apple cores and orange peels — should also not be left on the trail or in the woods.
Animals can become dependent on human food, and some of it is outright dangerous for them.
You are responsible for your dog
You’ll have a hard time finding someone who loves dogs more than I do. Most of the time, I won’t even embark on a hike if they don’t allow my dog to come along.
But just because we love our big furry babies does not mean other hikers love their poop on the trail. Or want your dog barreling toward them when they come around the bend. Keep them leashed where required, and ask before letting them greet other hikers or dogs.
Don’t hog the viewpoint or summit
Look, I get it. You need that Instagram photo.
But spending 20 minutes staging content at the only overlook or the most stunning waterfall while a line of hikers waits behind you is not the move.
Don’t be a Grumpy Gus
We’re not writing emails behind a desk, stuck in rush-hour traffic or waiting in line at the DMV. We’re out enjoying nature’s splendor, breathing fresh air into our lungs and feasting our eyeballs on stunning views.
So why are you acting like an a–hole?
If a couple is struggling to take a selfie at the summit, offer to take their photo for them. When you pass a group on the trail, say hello. If another hiker looks like he or she is struggling, stop and make sure that person is OK.
As a member of the Walking Through The Woods For Fun Club, you have a responsibility to be kind to your fellow hiker. So check that bad attitude at the trailhead.
You came out here to get away from it all — the noise, the nonsense, the people who can’t seem to act right. Don’t be the thing someone else is trying to escape from.
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