Comments on: There’s such a thing as trail etiquette

By: Ed Abbey's godson

Ed Abbey's godson — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 12:26:46 +0000

In reply to Brian Long. I can't imagine what it must be like to hike with you.

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 16:29:14 +0000

I disagree that a vehicle going up a hill has the right of way over one coming down. A vehicle going up is far easier to back up (down the hill) to get out of the way than one coming down is to back up (up the hill) to get out of the way. This was explained (and demonstrated and experienced) to me early and often in my hiking career. Way smoother and efficient to enable the downhill vehicle to pass.

And, Slim, you left out the most annoying trail behavior of all: a hiker carrying a boombox and playing music loud enough to hear in the next zip code!

By: Purecarver

Purecarver — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 12:33:49 +0000

In the past 40 years, I’ve hiked and biked my way around the majority of the trails around Lake Tahoe: TRT, PCT and others. I have experienced friendly and aware trail users and also rude and selfish trail users. We are a mixed bag of humans coming from all walks of life, so everyone has a different perspective on his and hers trail behaviors. We are out in nature enjoying the sights and sounds but still need to be cognizant of other recreators! There are some simple rules to abide by but sometimes the terrain doesn’t allow for a quick yield or a change of pace. Although zoning out with cell phones and/or earbuds is not an entitlement, but a major Mother Nature Sin!!

By: Steve Redmen

Steve Redmen — Sun, 10 Sep 2023 15:24:01 +0000

My experience shows that other hikers are outraged at me when I give them a heads up before passing them. I’ll holler “COMMING THROUGH, PASSING ON LEFT OR RIGHT.” 80% of the time its useless, as they have earbuds/headphones or the like firmly cutting off all sound around them. In addition to many who are glued to their phone. Like zombies , dead to their surroundings. But not so dead that they will jump with fear as you pass them, even after making an attempt to warn them. Then the anger comes flowing as they yell at you about not owning the road or trail. Sometimes a polite “coming through” evokes anger itself. Causing them to take the whole path. After all, I dont own the road. They do!

By: Wendy Ormont

Wendy Ormont — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 03:01:25 +0000

I agree that this a really annoying article. The author looks at her feet going up and the people descending have a wider view? I would say the people going downhill are also looking at their feet picking their best and safest footholds. Gravity is not on their side and they should be given the right of way to ensure everyone’s safety. By saying people going downhill should not be unsteady, is she saying only young athletic people should be on the trails? She doesn’t like when a faster walker wants to pass by her on the trail yet she wants to preserve her mojo as she streaks uphill? The trails are for everyone according to their abilities as long as they can do so safely.

By: Brian Long

Brian Long — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:21:32 +0000

I love any discussion on trail etiquette. Thanks for this piece. I have often heard the notion that uphill hikers are given the right of way because it takes more effort for them to start and stop again. While that may be occasionally true, it is not strong enough to award them the right of way. Plenty of uphill hikers are more than happy to take a breather to allow downhill traffic or those overtaking to proceed.

In the modern dynamic on the trail, it is more about who cannot have the right of way – which user group would abuse that and cause injury? It is certainly not uphill hikers (or slow uphill cyclists). The downhill biker must have the responsibility to yield because if they were allowed the assumption of primacy it would result in wrecks – lots. No one (hikers included) should be a bully out there. Happy trails!

By: Trail Runner

Trail Runner — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 21:29:57 +0000

This is quite possibly one of the most annoying articles I’ve ever read about hiking. How about just pay attention to your surroundings while you are out hiking and be cool about it. Pay attention and stay out of the way when you are stopped. If someone comes up on you from behind, they didn’t arrive there by teleportation, they are moving faster then you, so be kind and let them pass. If someone is coming at you and they are moving fast, it’s ok to be nice to them and let them pass. We are all just people out enjoying the outdoors. Sometimes you let someone else pass – sometimes they let you pass. Many times you can easily both pass on the trail.

By: Fred

Fred — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 21:26:27 +0000

Cyclists should always have a noisemaker on their bikes. Going downhill, it should ALWAYS be making noise.

The bikes I meet coming down the trail when I’m going up couldn’t stop and yield the right of way unless they hit a large tree. I assume I will have to jump out of the way with little or no notice.

By: Another good post – “Summer is the season of inferior sledding” – Inuit proverb

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 21:44:58 +0000

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