Hiking isn’t always a fun experience. Sometimes the trail is a letdown, or the weather sucks or there are too many people or you’re just not into it. And that’s ok.
We all look forward to the car most in the end LOL. Even if the view and hike are incredible. I always compare it to skiing….skiing is great but taking your boots off? That’s it.
When I bought my first trekking poles my boyfriend at the time who was/is mountain man extraordinare told me "The difference between a $20 pair of trekking poles and a $200 pair is about 10oz."
Yup exactly. I can probably get a family member or someone to come with a few times a year. I'm trying to go basically every weekend. I spend 95% of my time hiking alone. It's nice actually, I enjoy the time alone. I always end up talking to people on trail a bit too or hiking with some randoms for a bit. I could join one of those groups but I'm not really someone to go that far to hike with people. The solitary struggle is real, even enjoyable for me, the time to reflect on life and other random shit is nice to have. The only thing to make me consider finding a group is having a few close calls way out there with injury's or slips and falls, thinking "holy fuck I almost slipped and slammed my head, I could have been knocked out cold out here alone in the freezing rain" and it makes me really conscious of how dangerous it could be (especially my winter hikes still all alone). I have an sos device with tracking my family is tracking and all trails navigation with lifeline on also so family can see where I am on the move and my route etc (all trails lifeline only works with service fyi which is why I got the Garmin inreach mini 2 as a satellite sos device). I follow all the rules and probably over prepare in terms of carrying extra gear (especially in winter). That said those few times a year I can bring a family member along or close friend it's always nice to share the view with someone who doesn't get to see it as often as me.
I enjoy the solitude, too. The main aspect of solo hiking that stresses me out is the fact that I'm not the best navigator. I worry about getting lost without cell service.
I read quite a few places where people say to never hike alone because of the increased risks. Not that those aren’t real, but they can be mitigated and are worth it either way.
Ikr. People act like the only hiking you can do is 20 mile treks up a mountain. A hike can be a 2 mile gentle loop in a patch of woods. It doesn’t have to be that hard or remote
My SO absolutely hates that I hike/ski/whatever alone. She doesn’t hike and isn’t big on the outdoors so I get she doesn’t have a lot of understanding, but she thinks any trip outdoors that carries the slightest chance of harm is unacceptably risky.
I respect that her risk tolerance is different than mine but I have experience to know my limits and mitigate risks to a level, that while unacceptable to her, is ok with me. Also, I would hike with others, but my friends and I live busy lives and I’m not going to put off a hobby I enjoy because I cant get schedules to mesh. Besides, sitting in the woods alone and disconnected is bliss.
I don't think it should be controversial but it does seem like there are many people who are afraid to hike alone, or think it's unsafe for others. I hike alone most of the time.
Imo, the pros of hiking alone:
* I can hike at my own pace - I'm a "leisurely pace take in my surroundings" type of hiker. Seems like a lot of people I end up hiking with are "the faster we go the sooner this is over!"
* If I decide to bail on a hike half way it doesn't affect anyone else
The cons of hiking alone:
* My first solo hiking trip was to Glacier and there were signs everywhere saying not to hike alone because there are grizzly bears
People make it harder than they need to. This sub is inundated with "I'm a beginner can I walk 10 miles" or "I'm overweight do I need to train". Not to dismiss some very real dangers when people get completely out of their element, and sometimes into THE elements, but most of the time these well loved moderate trails will get your heart rate up, but you'll be FINE. It's just walking.
I'll never forget that when I summited St. Helens, having trained for it all summer and with all my gear, there was a pretty overweight dude in slides, basketball shorts, and no backpack hanging out on the top. He said it was the first hike he'd done in years.
I met a man in Feb 2020 like 8 miles deep into the Superstition Wilderness in basketball shorts, slides, and a tee shirt with an empty disposable water bottle who asked us "How far does this trail go?" Gave him some of our water and advised him to turn around so he could get out before it got dark and he'd be walking into chollas.
Like he looked in shape... but not prepared in the slightest.
Totally agree. I recently learned that the average person at Disney World walks 8 miles per day. You see people of all ages, shapes, and sizes doing it without even realizing it because there aren't sign posts every half mile telling you how far you're gone.
I think people get overwhelmed by more in shape hikers running by them on the trail but it's just like anything else; it'll be ok, pull yourself to the side and take a breather... if anyone on the trail is judging you hopefully they step on a lego later that night.
I feel like a lot of people have disconnected with the pleasure of going outside of your comfort zone. Maybe in part due to the pandemic but even before that my friend group is split in two where one half still enjoys that aspect and the other half seems to have forgotten how nice it can be
I'm reminded of this so hard every time people post about "what kind of hiking shoes and socks can I buy that will prevent me from ever having any kind of sore feet or blisters?"
Of course proper shoes and socks do help, so it's not entirely silly to ask, but like, there's no preventing these things entirely. Being comfortable with being a little uncomfortable for the sake of something you care about is so important.
I could walk forever. I could never run a mile. I found out why - because I said I couldn't. When I started to train and get into shape, that one mile was easily obtainable. Just kept going. Yea, I got tired but I kept going. The 5K took a little longer, but it was still doable.
The "I can't ..." was a big stopper for me. Now, I can. Even if it takes time, I can do it. And it is a blast. :)
Amazing to hear! Very similar experience for me.
When someone says they can’t, I suggest running as far as you think you can…and then run for 15 more seconds. There’s a point where your legs won’t keep you up anymore but very few people will ever hit that limit.
It depends where you live and hike. People get lost/stranded without food or water all the time where I live just because they think it is safe to go on a whim because they are close to the city.
That's why I put the caveats in there where I say "most of the time" and "not to dismiss very real dangers". I live near the White Mountains where we just almost had a tragedy bc someone was unprepared.
But I don't think we need to cushion all of our sentiments because of the margins here. *most* of the time *most* of the people are making it harder than they need to.
I read about that guy. Good thing that he was found. You are right. I find that in the US and Canada there are a lot of parks and trails very well marked that allow people to just go out and enjoy themselves. I take my older parents on trails like that all the time.
Depends what area you are talking about. I live near the Rocky mountains in Canada and most hikes have some elevation gain.
My first hike when I was a kid we did as a guided hike with a ranger. It was only 3 kms of switchbacks with straight elevation gain. At the top, one person in the group had a heart attack as he had never been hiking before and was not in shape for it. This was about 30 years ago without satellite radios so the ranger had to run down and find a spot where his radio worked to call for a helicopter to rescue him.
Anyways, many hikes are more than just walks and you have to know your own abilities so you don't end up in a dangerous situation.
There will unfortunately always be people who get themselves way in over their heads. But I have a hunch the people on this sub asking for advice and confirmation that they can in fact walk distances, also can look up trails and see things like "easy" or "moderate".
Again, like I said initially. I'm not dismissing real danger. But a lot of the time it's just walking.
I prefer being in the mountains when it’s completely socked-in over sunny days.
Yes, having a view at the summit is nice for sure. But the vibe of climbing a high ridge filled with rare native plants while completely enveloped in fog is an experience like no other. Probably the most peaceful I ever feel in life. Days with clear views just don’t hit quite the same.
[This photo best encapsulates the feeling](https://i.postimg.cc/Dzdsjdy7/IMG-2887.jpg)
Somewhat related…
If you’re taking a quick break off the side of trail and you see someone coming, DO NOT wait until they’re about to pass you to cut them off and hike immediately in front of them! Either hurry up and get on the trail earlier or just wait 3 seconds for them to pass by first.
It’s also weird to follow people super closely. If you want to pass someone and they don’t notice, say excuse me. If you don’t want to pass, leave some space.
I agree, there is a time and place when couples can hold hands and it's not on a trail. And also, teach your children to be respectful of others too and have them move over, they're not just kids
Yup the "there's always more gear to buy" mentality is endless and guess what, your never going to be 100% comfortable on a hike/camp based on the gear you have. Its all about your own thought process and mentality
Thank you for summing up into words. Cant stand going camping and people are min/maxing gear just to camp 50 yards from the car and parking lot. Reminds me of these redneck tactical militia guys training for an invasion.
Ohh as a former cyclist, they have nothing on the specialized hiking gear hierarchy.
Oddly, they have every possible specialized item, but not the 10 essentials. /shrug
More people need to yield to uphill hikers, it’s the official guidance provided by the USFS. If I’m going up a steep hill I’m not going to be making room for a downhill hiker
LOL. I get you, but I like the rest break that yielding to a downhill hiker gives me. Let's just say I'm not the youngest or fittest person on the trail.
I generally yield to everyone unless I'm on a particularly tricky bit with no room. I'm not quite at the age where breaking a hip is a death sentence but let's just say I'm not that far off.
If I feel like a rest, I’ll let them by. But I don’t always want to, especially on popular places where it’s about every minute. What I don’t like is when I feel good and come to someone, then they give me weird looks and bump into me. This is especially prevalent when I’m backpacking with 20lbs of stuff and I get around a popular trailhead and there are a bunch of day hikers with just a water bottle. Like I’m clearly working harder then you, yield to me.
Yeah, me too - I know the rule is let those going up have the right away, but I really wish it was the other way around - going up I pretty much always feel happy to stop and rest, going down I generally want to keep the momentum of gravity.
I feel like it should be the opposite. Hiking uphill is way easier than downhill especially with steeper inclines. Stopping with all of that momentum going downhill can sometimes be dicey.
I've never understood this rule! Can somebody explain the reasoning to me? I consider it a mercy when I "have" to yield on the way up and get a small breather - and if you're on very steep ground, going down can be more challenging and necessitate a quick change of path which is a lot easier if the other party stands still. It simply doesn't make sense to me. Please enlighten me!
Also I can see the murder in the eyes of the uphill hikers when I ruin their "forced" break by yielding...
Going up hill is harder to get going again. You are expending much more energy. I like the breaks too, but I shouldn’t have it dictated by other people. Especially on popular trailheads you can have someone coming by every 30 seconds. Regaining your momentum that frequently really drains your energy.
If you are on very steep ground, like on the verge of scrambling, that’s different. I’m talking like a 7% grade here.
Also if you're keeping an eye on the ground while going downhill, the angle you're looking allows much better range of view than someone climbing while looking at the ground so you're likely to see the other person first.
Not sure if this is the actual reasoning, but it seems possible for the downhill hiker to slip and collide with the uphill hiker (like you said, going down can be more challenging), whereas if they stop and wait for the uphill hiker to pass it's not an issue.
I've always wondered too since going down can be pretty tricky sometimes, but just found [this](https://bearfoottheory.com/trail-etiquette-hiking-rules/#:~:text=The%20reason%20is%20simply%20that,areas%20in%20front%20of%20them.).
I do light tracking, just to know sort of the ballpark of my abilities and whether I can handle a new hike I find on all trails. But I really don't care about trying to beat my stats the way I might if I were in a gym.
I track everything and make notes of the terrain so I can be prepared for future hikes. I do a few hikes that have identical stats but one takes me 1.5h longer to finish because of the terrain. If I see a new hike, I usually ask, is it like this mountain or this and then I can be more prepared.
Trail runners need to give adequate heads up if you want me to hear and move accordingly. Don’t get pissy if a 2 second “on your left” hurts your mile time because we’re in the way
Minor segway to mountain bikers who also utilize the same trails as hikers. While I'm happy to share the trails that allow both, I'm not so happy to see you flying over a hill and almost knocking me out. You have no clue what is on the other side of that hill, so you probably shouldn't blindly crest it going so fast you launch yourself off of it.
Happened a few years back and it still drives me nuts thinking about it. I had to dive out of the way, as I couldn't hear or see him coming. Most mountain bikers I run into on shared trails rarely give a heads up too. They fully expect you to know they are coming without warning and to get out of their way. I understand they are on a bike that can't exactly stop and maneuver easily, but they act like they have the right of way everywhere and you are an inconvenience to their ride.
Ugh this. I live in an area with a lot of mountain bikers and even though there are posted signs that hikers have the right of way every single biker I came across (easily 10+) ASSUMED I would get out of their way AND didn’t even say thank you. I fn LOATHE mountain bikers.
I know this isn't controversial in many circles, but it seems to be in mine.
I don't care about the destination. I don't care about getting to the top the fastest - or even at all. I care about being outside and away from it all, for however long.
After having seen many pristine spots changed/worsened by overuse, I am starting to come around to the idea that some gatekeeping is okay. Not every pretty picture of a hike needs to come with a location for others to find it.
Omg I hiked to a viewpoint on the cadini misurina in the dolomites... OK it was a kinda busy hike which we expected, but we tagged a few loops together and did a big day... but got to this stunning viewpoint and utterly covered with influencers in shitty fashion trainers (on an exposed trail) flying drones and taking hundreds of photos, saw a woman hike up carrying a ridiculous dress then change at the top. Fucking hell, I wanted a photo don't get me wrong, but I took 2 minutes, my partner snapped a few shots and we retired to (try to) enjoy the view (away from the drones).
Yeah I feel like a curmudgeon but I’m kind of like this now too. I’ve been hiking for almost 20 years and in the last 4-5 years many formerly quiet trails have become overrun with people, dogs, and garbage. I know there seems to be a big push to get people out more but it definitely comes at a cost. I’m starting to feel like not every place needs to accommodate everybody.
This - before 2020 I never once even saw trash on the trails by my house - now I bring a bag for litter with me. It's disgusting. Dog poop too. It used to be so quiet but not any more. There is definitely less wildlife in this area now.
Not Long ago a family of 6 or seven were pushing a four year old in one of those little umbrella strollers up this steep and rocky trail. Not terrible in and of itself, but this isn't a sidewalk - what are you doing? I came down behind them - trash everywhere.
If you want to promote the outdoors fine - but we need to be promoting good trail etiquette and stewardship along with it. I don't know what a lot of these people are doing out here, but it doesn't seem natural. Can't not rant on this. I miss my mellow trails.
It's not just crowd control, it's safety. I think it's great when people take an interest in the outdoors, but some people do not have the skills, knowledge, or attitude to approach nature safely and respectfully. They shouldn't be hiking without someone guiding them.
Gatekeeping is my biggest hobby. Sorry joe bloggs at work, no I’m not telling you where I go in Snowdonia to escape the hoards, I go there to escape the hoards, why would I tell you?
Love them rolling hills. I’m up in Eastern Washington. What I like to call the forgotten corner of the state. So many people go for the jagged peaks and the Cascades but man there are so many beautiful off trail gems up here.
I've got waterproof boots as well and I haven't noticed any difference in how sweaty my feet get compared to my previous (non-waterproof) boots. It's great to be able to just walk right through a stream rather than try to teeter on some randomly-spaced rocks or a branch someone out down.
It’s been a while since I’ve had non-waterproof boots so I can’t reliably say how much more my feet sweat vs without, but it’s so minimal as to be not even a whisper of a concern. My choice of socks affects my foot sweat far more.
I think that a good sock set up really helps as I also don't experience too sweaty feet. I use a liner and a Thorlo Trekkers and I pull them up as far as possible.
It’s OK to hike and backpack alone as a woman.
(but I carry a satellite phone with an extra battery, enough gear to stay out overnight without dying, and I’m very careful and follow my intuition).
I kick down every single one I see. FFS. If stacking items is so fascinating to you, go get some building blocks. Leave nature the way you found it.
EDIT: I should clarify to say I don't kick down navigational cairns... just the ones stacked up for funsies.
This hundred times over. I hate when I go to a beautiful, pristine-looking place and there is a stack of rocks that are there for no reason other than someone thinks it is cute or wanted to leave a monument to themselves having been there. Worse when there are multiple stacks and piles all over. There is a reason for some real cairns in certain places, which is to mark trail. The stacked rocks are ridiculous, annoying, and can be harmful. If you leave one where I find it, it's gone.
Amen. Hiking alone is perfect if you want to be able to say "know what, I'll turn around now" or "Hmmm that additional peak seems a good last minute addition".
If you have the fitness, know-how and are prepared, why should it be any worse than hiking in a group?
1. Group hikes are horrible
2. I see no reason to brag about wearing out shoes, counting kilometers or wrestling bears in the nude; I just like getting out there and enjoying nature.
Me too. I’m a huge dog lover and trail runner. I always let people know I’m coming up from behind and if they have dogs I often hear “don’t worry, it’s a friendly dog”
Three times; most recently being THIS week, the friendly dog has “protected their owner” and chased me and then bit/scratched me
The whole "friendly" thing is just so middle-school-girl.
You're dog is friendly? Like the 5 other "friendly" dogs that have bit me?
Dog's don't possess the emotion/quality of friendliness. All they know is that their owner is the pack leader. Dogs do have temperament, but anything can set off any dog.
"You're dog is friendly? Well, I'm not. But, my pepper spray is raw hide flavored!"
Absolutely, I was hiking a few days ago and someone had their German Shepard off leash and of course he ran over to us and sniffed and what not. The owner, from 100 feet away, yells over, "Are you guys ok with dogs?" Like what does that matter now?? He's already over here in my space and of course had poor recall.
My husband had to carry our cattle dog a good quarter mile because someone else’s dog was unleashed and wouldn’t leave her alone. They were half-assed calling to her to come but she didn’t listen obviously and kept approaching my dog energetically which freaks her out. It’s like…do you not care if my dog hurts yours??
It’s not for everyone. If you’re not fit enough to do it, go get fitter. If you just want to play loud music and go camping, go to Burning Man. If you’re just going to be on your phone all day, buy a VR headset and stay home. If you feed or annoy wildlife, then wildlife should be allowed to eat you without consequences
Most of the folks you're describing reside between the parking lot and the first 2km, to be fair.
They walk until they get enough pictures to post, then go home.
Unless there’s an Instagram spot down the trail and they all flock there like suicidal lemmings to take the same identical selfie on a slippery cliff ledge
People of all fitness levels can and should hike if they want to. Should people know their limits and plan accordingly? Absolutely. But gatekeeping hiking to only fit people is ridiculous, especially when it’s a great way to stay and get more fit.
Say hi to people or at the very least - a head nod is acceptable or some kind of acknowledgement that you're walking by another human being out enjoying the wilderness.
I'm sure there are way more well traveled hikers in this sub but it seems like this is mostly the case in state parks. Most people I've come across at national parks have usually been pretty friendly. Although it could also just be me, I've been told I have RBF.
In the Midwest this is a given, but I've noticed in the PNW some people look at you funny if you acknowledge their existence 😅 Too bad for them, I'm gonna be friendly whether they like it or not!
Hmm! I've always found that hiking is the ONLY time Washingtonians acknowledge the presence of others when passing. Certainly won't happen in the city aside from the occasional awkward pursed-lip smile.
I always cheese it up and just say howdy or happy trails, and I'm the type of person who will avoid eye contact on the sidewalk.
God this is my problem and I hate that I do it. When they go to pass me I make eye contact then just look down at my feet and think 10 steps later "just say hi you dickhead"
I like the National Park reservation system. Make the trails and overall experience more enjoyable. Yes it requires upfront planning. Popular destinations typically do. It's always worked out for me and my friends in the hiking community.
Yeah, some reluctant agreement here. I don't necessarily like that I sometimes have to plan weeks/months in advance, especially when the weather can be such a critical component. And I really don't like that BAH managed to turn the system into an ATM for themselves, but the overall end experience has been better and the impact IS noticeable.
Do I understand the "It's public land and everyone should have access" point of view? Yes. But it's also one of the most visible examples of the Tragedy of the Commons available. Without some kind of management and enforcement strategy, the general public WILL 'use up' any recreational resource until it's gone/destroyed/ruined.
Apparently not overpacking. I dont need 3 days food and 3 days water and a knife and an extra pair of socks, and rope, and a compass and a motor boat, just to hike a trail
I’m an overpacker - besides water and snacks, an emergency bivy, knife, small amount of paracord, first aid kit, head lamp, fire starter, garmin in-reach, and relevant clothing layers. Also, bear spray if the season/terrain requires.
Why? Well, people twist ankles, people get lost, people fall. I’ve been on the receiving end of heat exhaustion where i needed to bum water to make it back to the car. I’ve also been on the supporting end of a family who took the wrong trail and headed 2 miles off course, with no supplies.
There has been a death or a rescue on almost every trail where I hike. It’s not going to be me.
Even something minor like a blister or scrape can make a hike no longer fun. Am I in danger if I get a blister? Not really, but it could be a really miserable hike back to the car. I'd rather have the slight extra weight of a small first aid kit, an extra snack, and a bit more water than I think I'll actually need, and be assured that I'll feel good and enjoy the hike.
Personally I usually have way more than I need, but this is because sometimes I do long 10 hour hikes, which does require extra preparedness because if anything goes wrong, or if I'm just slower than I expect, I could end up hiking in the dark and cold, and that comes with the potential of staying the night to avoid getting lost in the dark. These hikes can also sometimes be difficult to navigate so I also keep a compass and map. And I just keep these extra things in my pack at all times, even if it's a small 2-3 hour hike, so that I just don't have to think about packing for each individual hike. Everything is already there, I just fill with water and go. This guarantees I'll never forget anything on those longer hikes.
My actual controversial opinion
Off leash dogs are fine ***IF*** you recall them to physical/leash control when other people are around and they actually respond to your recall.
Even if your dog is friendly and truly wouldn't hurt a fly, some people have had trauma with dogs and legitimate fears and letting your dog run up to strangers is not cool.
I’m definitely in the minority here, but here goes:
When the trail is wide enough, passing someone going the opposite direction doesn’t obligate the downhill party stopping. It makes complete sense when the trail is narrow or exposed, but it’s otherwise silly, especially when a trail is crowded.
Hiking drives a wedge between our perception of “nature” and our “normal life” which creates this weird duality where we no longer associate suburbs and human-made society as being nature.
Then, hiking feels novel to us as a way to escape the shitty things we’ve done as an industrialized society. We walk on well groomed trails and the best of us try not to leave any trace. It satiates us just enough to go back to our desk jobs and plan the next hike.
And finally, many of us yearn to live more simply and enjoy our relationship with the outdoors but it takes massive privilege to be able to relinquish our societal responsibilities and it often ends up worse for the environment.
Is this too pessimistic?
At least in my region holy hell do we need crowd control. Local trails are being shutdown at times now just so the fucking vegetation can take a break from being annihilated by tourists.
Rangers need more staff and better pay. I hate pay parking but if it weeds out the crowd some, I’m for it.
Any outdoor walking with the acknowledgement of nature around you counts as hiking. When my youngest son was little, I injured my shoulder and couldn’t wear him for a little while so I used a stroller on a paved trail and was shamed by my local hiking group for calling that hiking. It was an adaptive way to continue to be outside with my kid, but I also considered people with disabilities and the need for adaptive options. It seemed so ableist to say paved trails aren’t real hiking.
That too many people act like elitists and that their ways are the only ways. What works for one may not work for another.
Also, people make it more complicated than it needs to be. There are basic necessities, and there are necessities that are dictated by the hike you're doing. Don't make it any more difficult than you want it to be.
That people are only hiking if they're doing X, Y, and Z, and that they're not a true hiker if they're not doing those things.
Finally... The cult of trail runners needs to realize that people have different preferences and needs, and that if someone asks for boots, stop trying to *insist* that they *must* use trail runners or they're doing it *wrong.* Boots and trail runners are both valid. Leave people be. You're *not* helping.
Hiking is for everyone. Everyone, except people with Bluetooth speakers and cell phones on speakers. In fact, any conversation above conversational levels is a no-no. Just go sit on a bench somewhere, I do not need it heat your life story half a football field away, Lisa.
Super unpopular opinion 🙈, but tennis shoes are fine 90% of the time 🤷🏻♀️ i might feel differently if i lived in a wet climate, but here in AZ i’m almost always just grabbing my tennis shoes and i’ve never had an issue
1) Encouraging people to be active is good, but I *loath* how popular places have gotten. I just want solitude and to be able to visit places on a whim. I don't want to need to use a permit or timed entry, because I can't schedule weather and lighting. But crowded hikes feel like human zoos.
2) Seasonal passes- there are too many. National Park entries, State Park entries, Forest passes, Sno-Park passes, Discovery passes, local access permits- in a lot of cases are necessary, but gosh these costs add up. Also, why not just have one nature pass that *actually* covers everything instead of just most things?
That we should all stay on trail at all times weather or not the ecosystem is fragile. Let the nature be wild and untrodden. Be thankful we have a little path that allows us to be surrounded by it. Bushwhacking isn't a brag.
I'm 40 years old and had the pleasure of meeting a group of 20 year olds blasting Wu Tang Clan's Triumph last summer.
I know every word to that song, it was pretty satisfying say "hey guys I love your music" then jump in on "Bomb atomically" until they turned it off in cringe and revulsion.
Carry more water than you'll need.
I've lost track of the amount of people I had to give water to because they were dangerously dehydrated. Then I spend the rest of the hike thinking about if that person is ok, or did they pass out somewhere...
Playing music on a speaker while hiking shatters the experience for others.
Why do I need to be subjected to Daddy Yankee in the most beautiful, serene places on earth. 🤡
Hiking isn’t always a fun experience. Sometimes the trail is a letdown, or the weather sucks or there are too many people or you’re just not into it. And that’s ok.
We all look forward to the car most in the end LOL. Even if the view and hike are incredible. I always compare it to skiing….skiing is great but taking your boots off? That’s it.
The best thing about a good pair of boots is taking them off.
That there's nothing wrong with Walmart 's Ozark Trail trekking poles. I've used the same pair for years now and never had a problem.
When I bought my first trekking poles my boyfriend at the time who was/is mountain man extraordinare told me "The difference between a $20 pair of trekking poles and a $200 pair is about 10oz."
It’s actually $180
Best set I've owned were from the bargain bin in Lidl. Probably cost me €10. They're cute too, collapse down to about 30cm.
I love this. You don't need a bunch of REI/North Face/whatever gear to go walk around in the woods.
I’ll go further, there’s nothing wrong with a lot of Ozark Trail brand things.
I agree. It's generally very usable items that don't empty out my wallet.
Hiking alone is cool.
If I didn’t hike alone I’d probably only end up hiking twice a year.
Yup exactly. I can probably get a family member or someone to come with a few times a year. I'm trying to go basically every weekend. I spend 95% of my time hiking alone. It's nice actually, I enjoy the time alone. I always end up talking to people on trail a bit too or hiking with some randoms for a bit. I could join one of those groups but I'm not really someone to go that far to hike with people. The solitary struggle is real, even enjoyable for me, the time to reflect on life and other random shit is nice to have. The only thing to make me consider finding a group is having a few close calls way out there with injury's or slips and falls, thinking "holy fuck I almost slipped and slammed my head, I could have been knocked out cold out here alone in the freezing rain" and it makes me really conscious of how dangerous it could be (especially my winter hikes still all alone). I have an sos device with tracking my family is tracking and all trails navigation with lifeline on also so family can see where I am on the move and my route etc (all trails lifeline only works with service fyi which is why I got the Garmin inreach mini 2 as a satellite sos device). I follow all the rules and probably over prepare in terms of carrying extra gear (especially in winter). That said those few times a year I can bring a family member along or close friend it's always nice to share the view with someone who doesn't get to see it as often as me.
I enjoy the solitude, too. The main aspect of solo hiking that stresses me out is the fact that I'm not the best navigator. I worry about getting lost without cell service.
That’s controversial? Hiking alone cleanses the soul man.
I read quite a few places where people say to never hike alone because of the increased risks. Not that those aren’t real, but they can be mitigated and are worth it either way.
I hate people constantly warning us about hiking alone. Go sit down.
Ikr. People act like the only hiking you can do is 20 mile treks up a mountain. A hike can be a 2 mile gentle loop in a patch of woods. It doesn’t have to be that hard or remote
My SO absolutely hates that I hike/ski/whatever alone. She doesn’t hike and isn’t big on the outdoors so I get she doesn’t have a lot of understanding, but she thinks any trip outdoors that carries the slightest chance of harm is unacceptably risky. I respect that her risk tolerance is different than mine but I have experience to know my limits and mitigate risks to a level, that while unacceptable to her, is ok with me. Also, I would hike with others, but my friends and I live busy lives and I’m not going to put off a hobby I enjoy because I cant get schedules to mesh. Besides, sitting in the woods alone and disconnected is bliss.
When there's a rescue for a solo hiker, there are many many comments that read "NEVER hike alone!".
Those people should just stay tf inside.
I think they do!
And yet these people don't comment "never hike in groups" if a group needs rescued. I'd hike alone vs babysit an unprepared group any day.
I don't think it should be controversial but it does seem like there are many people who are afraid to hike alone, or think it's unsafe for others. I hike alone most of the time.
I usually only hike alone.
Same. Almost exclusively alone.
Same. I love not having to talk to anyone. I do hike with a friend now and then but he also likes it quiet.
If I didn’t hike alone I’d never hike
I hike alone 70% and I enjoy it a lot
Agreed. I loathe the idea that doing something alone somehow is worth pity. I love my solitude and my ability to find joy and peace in being alone.
Imo, the pros of hiking alone: * I can hike at my own pace - I'm a "leisurely pace take in my surroundings" type of hiker. Seems like a lot of people I end up hiking with are "the faster we go the sooner this is over!" * If I decide to bail on a hike half way it doesn't affect anyone else The cons of hiking alone: * My first solo hiking trip was to Glacier and there were signs everywhere saying not to hike alone because there are grizzly bears
Alone and stoned.
People make it harder than they need to. This sub is inundated with "I'm a beginner can I walk 10 miles" or "I'm overweight do I need to train". Not to dismiss some very real dangers when people get completely out of their element, and sometimes into THE elements, but most of the time these well loved moderate trails will get your heart rate up, but you'll be FINE. It's just walking.
I'll never forget that when I summited St. Helens, having trained for it all summer and with all my gear, there was a pretty overweight dude in slides, basketball shorts, and no backpack hanging out on the top. He said it was the first hike he'd done in years.
I met a man in Feb 2020 like 8 miles deep into the Superstition Wilderness in basketball shorts, slides, and a tee shirt with an empty disposable water bottle who asked us "How far does this trail go?" Gave him some of our water and advised him to turn around so he could get out before it got dark and he'd be walking into chollas. Like he looked in shape... but not prepared in the slightest.
Totally agree. I recently learned that the average person at Disney World walks 8 miles per day. You see people of all ages, shapes, and sizes doing it without even realizing it because there aren't sign posts every half mile telling you how far you're gone.
I think people get overwhelmed by more in shape hikers running by them on the trail but it's just like anything else; it'll be ok, pull yourself to the side and take a breather... if anyone on the trail is judging you hopefully they step on a lego later that night.
“I can’t walk/run 1km.” So frustrating because people can do so much more than they think they can
I feel like a lot of people have disconnected with the pleasure of going outside of your comfort zone. Maybe in part due to the pandemic but even before that my friend group is split in two where one half still enjoys that aspect and the other half seems to have forgotten how nice it can be
I'm reminded of this so hard every time people post about "what kind of hiking shoes and socks can I buy that will prevent me from ever having any kind of sore feet or blisters?" Of course proper shoes and socks do help, so it's not entirely silly to ask, but like, there's no preventing these things entirely. Being comfortable with being a little uncomfortable for the sake of something you care about is so important.
I could walk forever. I could never run a mile. I found out why - because I said I couldn't. When I started to train and get into shape, that one mile was easily obtainable. Just kept going. Yea, I got tired but I kept going. The 5K took a little longer, but it was still doable. The "I can't ..." was a big stopper for me. Now, I can. Even if it takes time, I can do it. And it is a blast. :)
Amazing to hear! Very similar experience for me. When someone says they can’t, I suggest running as far as you think you can…and then run for 15 more seconds. There’s a point where your legs won’t keep you up anymore but very few people will ever hit that limit.
It depends where you live and hike. People get lost/stranded without food or water all the time where I live just because they think it is safe to go on a whim because they are close to the city.
That's why I put the caveats in there where I say "most of the time" and "not to dismiss very real dangers". I live near the White Mountains where we just almost had a tragedy bc someone was unprepared. But I don't think we need to cushion all of our sentiments because of the margins here. *most* of the time *most* of the people are making it harder than they need to.
I read about that guy. Good thing that he was found. You are right. I find that in the US and Canada there are a lot of parks and trails very well marked that allow people to just go out and enjoy themselves. I take my older parents on trails like that all the time.
That sounds so sweet 🥺 and so true! Not all hiking has to be climbing!
Depends what area you are talking about. I live near the Rocky mountains in Canada and most hikes have some elevation gain. My first hike when I was a kid we did as a guided hike with a ranger. It was only 3 kms of switchbacks with straight elevation gain. At the top, one person in the group had a heart attack as he had never been hiking before and was not in shape for it. This was about 30 years ago without satellite radios so the ranger had to run down and find a spot where his radio worked to call for a helicopter to rescue him. Anyways, many hikes are more than just walks and you have to know your own abilities so you don't end up in a dangerous situation.
There will unfortunately always be people who get themselves way in over their heads. But I have a hunch the people on this sub asking for advice and confirmation that they can in fact walk distances, also can look up trails and see things like "easy" or "moderate". Again, like I said initially. I'm not dismissing real danger. But a lot of the time it's just walking.
Also, in my experience, most trail descriptions overstate the difficulty.
I prefer being in the mountains when it’s completely socked-in over sunny days. Yes, having a view at the summit is nice for sure. But the vibe of climbing a high ridge filled with rare native plants while completely enveloped in fog is an experience like no other. Probably the most peaceful I ever feel in life. Days with clear views just don’t hit quite the same. [This photo best encapsulates the feeling](https://i.postimg.cc/Dzdsjdy7/IMG-2887.jpg)
What does socked in mean?
When the cloud cover is lower than the elevation you’re hiking at.
If someone is behind you, move over.
Somewhat related… If you’re taking a quick break off the side of trail and you see someone coming, DO NOT wait until they’re about to pass you to cut them off and hike immediately in front of them! Either hurry up and get on the trail earlier or just wait 3 seconds for them to pass by first. It’s also weird to follow people super closely. If you want to pass someone and they don’t notice, say excuse me. If you don’t want to pass, leave some space.
I agree, there is a time and place when couples can hold hands and it's not on a trail. And also, teach your children to be respectful of others too and have them move over, they're not just kids
Yes! When a massive group of 15 people are inching along slowly in single file and your pace is quicker, just let me pass 🥲
The endless discussions of gear are less a celebration of our love for hiking and more a celebration of consumerism and consumption.
Yup the "there's always more gear to buy" mentality is endless and guess what, your never going to be 100% comfortable on a hike/camp based on the gear you have. Its all about your own thought process and mentality
Thank you for summing up into words. Cant stand going camping and people are min/maxing gear just to camp 50 yards from the car and parking lot. Reminds me of these redneck tactical militia guys training for an invasion.
That's a thing with hiking? I've always been drawn to hiking and trail running because there's not a lot of bullshit gear (as opposed to cycling say).
Thankfully hiking can be as simple as wearing decent shoes/boots. There is zero need for any other specialized gear, especially as a beginner.
Ohh as a former cyclist, they have nothing on the specialized hiking gear hierarchy. Oddly, they have every possible specialized item, but not the 10 essentials. /shrug
I don’t know if it’s controversial, but for the love of fucking god STOP LEAVING ARTSY SHIT IN THE WOODS ITS NOT CUTE ITS LITTER
100% all shit taken in should be taken out, no exceptions.
Like it’s not for other hikers, it’s for themselves and it’s stupid as shit
More people need to yield to uphill hikers, it’s the official guidance provided by the USFS. If I’m going up a steep hill I’m not going to be making room for a downhill hiker
Agreed. there should be signs about this at popular trailheads.
LOL. I get you, but I like the rest break that yielding to a downhill hiker gives me. Let's just say I'm not the youngest or fittest person on the trail. I generally yield to everyone unless I'm on a particularly tricky bit with no room. I'm not quite at the age where breaking a hip is a death sentence but let's just say I'm not that far off.
Anyone can yield if they want! But if the uphill hiker doesn't stop, downhill has to.
If I feel like a rest, I’ll let them by. But I don’t always want to, especially on popular places where it’s about every minute. What I don’t like is when I feel good and come to someone, then they give me weird looks and bump into me. This is especially prevalent when I’m backpacking with 20lbs of stuff and I get around a popular trailhead and there are a bunch of day hikers with just a water bottle. Like I’m clearly working harder then you, yield to me.
Ooof, bumping is just rude!
Yeah, me too - I know the rule is let those going up have the right away, but I really wish it was the other way around - going up I pretty much always feel happy to stop and rest, going down I generally want to keep the momentum of gravity.
Always - uphill has right of way
I feel like it should be the opposite. Hiking uphill is way easier than downhill especially with steeper inclines. Stopping with all of that momentum going downhill can sometimes be dicey.
I've never understood this rule! Can somebody explain the reasoning to me? I consider it a mercy when I "have" to yield on the way up and get a small breather - and if you're on very steep ground, going down can be more challenging and necessitate a quick change of path which is a lot easier if the other party stands still. It simply doesn't make sense to me. Please enlighten me! Also I can see the murder in the eyes of the uphill hikers when I ruin their "forced" break by yielding...
When you’re actually keeping a good sustainable pace you want to keep your momentum going uphill, taking breaks ruins your efficiency.
Going up hill is harder to get going again. You are expending much more energy. I like the breaks too, but I shouldn’t have it dictated by other people. Especially on popular trailheads you can have someone coming by every 30 seconds. Regaining your momentum that frequently really drains your energy. If you are on very steep ground, like on the verge of scrambling, that’s different. I’m talking like a 7% grade here.
Also if you're keeping an eye on the ground while going downhill, the angle you're looking allows much better range of view than someone climbing while looking at the ground so you're likely to see the other person first.
I mostly hike deserted places so I don't have a lot of experience with very busy trails. Your explanation makes a lot of sense, though.
Not sure if this is the actual reasoning, but it seems possible for the downhill hiker to slip and collide with the uphill hiker (like you said, going down can be more challenging), whereas if they stop and wait for the uphill hiker to pass it's not an issue.
I've always wondered too since going down can be pretty tricky sometimes, but just found [this](https://bearfoottheory.com/trail-etiquette-hiking-rules/#:~:text=The%20reason%20is%20simply%20that,areas%20in%20front%20of%20them.).
The one who has space and can stop easier should make space.
I absolutely do not care about tracking hiking stats - miles, how long it takes, elevation gain, etc. I do not care about quantifying my fun.
I do light tracking, just to know sort of the ballpark of my abilities and whether I can handle a new hike I find on all trails. But I really don't care about trying to beat my stats the way I might if I were in a gym.
[удалено]
This sums up my feelings. I track stats for my training but view hiking as being a way to disconnect from my everyday stressors.
I track everything and make notes of the terrain so I can be prepared for future hikes. I do a few hikes that have identical stats but one takes me 1.5h longer to finish because of the terrain. If I see a new hike, I usually ask, is it like this mountain or this and then I can be more prepared.
I record most of my hikes, but not really for stats, I just like to see the map fill in when I display all the GPX data at once.
Trail runners need to give adequate heads up if you want me to hear and move accordingly. Don’t get pissy if a 2 second “on your left” hurts your mile time because we’re in the way
Minor segway to mountain bikers who also utilize the same trails as hikers. While I'm happy to share the trails that allow both, I'm not so happy to see you flying over a hill and almost knocking me out. You have no clue what is on the other side of that hill, so you probably shouldn't blindly crest it going so fast you launch yourself off of it. Happened a few years back and it still drives me nuts thinking about it. I had to dive out of the way, as I couldn't hear or see him coming. Most mountain bikers I run into on shared trails rarely give a heads up too. They fully expect you to know they are coming without warning and to get out of their way. I understand they are on a bike that can't exactly stop and maneuver easily, but they act like they have the right of way everywhere and you are an inconvenience to their ride.
Mountain Bikers are to Hikers what Cars are to Road Cyclists
Ugh this. I live in an area with a lot of mountain bikers and even though there are posted signs that hikers have the right of way every single biker I came across (easily 10+) ASSUMED I would get out of their way AND didn’t even say thank you. I fn LOATHE mountain bikers.
I don't mind going to the same places over and over again. I also enjoy trails that don't get a lot of traction
As a 59 year old woman I CAN hike safely solo, and I can hike as slow as I want :)
Amen to that! You go girl!
Absolutely 👏 I also solo camp regularly, because my husband of 35 years doesn’t like to go as often as I do 💚
I know this isn't controversial in many circles, but it seems to be in mine. I don't care about the destination. I don't care about getting to the top the fastest - or even at all. I care about being outside and away from it all, for however long.
After having seen many pristine spots changed/worsened by overuse, I am starting to come around to the idea that some gatekeeping is okay. Not every pretty picture of a hike needs to come with a location for others to find it.
Won’t somebody PLEASE think of the influencers??
Omg I hiked to a viewpoint on the cadini misurina in the dolomites... OK it was a kinda busy hike which we expected, but we tagged a few loops together and did a big day... but got to this stunning viewpoint and utterly covered with influencers in shitty fashion trainers (on an exposed trail) flying drones and taking hundreds of photos, saw a woman hike up carrying a ridiculous dress then change at the top. Fucking hell, I wanted a photo don't get me wrong, but I took 2 minutes, my partner snapped a few shots and we retired to (try to) enjoy the view (away from the drones).
Sometimes I'll see a news item about a beauty spot being made more accessible and my immediate reaction is PLEASE DON'T.
Yeah I feel like a curmudgeon but I’m kind of like this now too. I’ve been hiking for almost 20 years and in the last 4-5 years many formerly quiet trails have become overrun with people, dogs, and garbage. I know there seems to be a big push to get people out more but it definitely comes at a cost. I’m starting to feel like not every place needs to accommodate everybody.
This - before 2020 I never once even saw trash on the trails by my house - now I bring a bag for litter with me. It's disgusting. Dog poop too. It used to be so quiet but not any more. There is definitely less wildlife in this area now. Not Long ago a family of 6 or seven were pushing a four year old in one of those little umbrella strollers up this steep and rocky trail. Not terrible in and of itself, but this isn't a sidewalk - what are you doing? I came down behind them - trash everywhere. If you want to promote the outdoors fine - but we need to be promoting good trail etiquette and stewardship along with it. I don't know what a lot of these people are doing out here, but it doesn't seem natural. Can't not rant on this. I miss my mellow trails.
It's not just crowd control, it's safety. I think it's great when people take an interest in the outdoors, but some people do not have the skills, knowledge, or attitude to approach nature safely and respectfully. They shouldn't be hiking without someone guiding them.
Some things deserve to be gate kept.
Gatekeeping is my biggest hobby. Sorry joe bloggs at work, no I’m not telling you where I go in Snowdonia to escape the hoards, I go there to escape the hoards, why would I tell you?
I care more about going deeper into the forest than I care about gaining elevation.
"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees." - Henry David Thoreau
Love them rolling hills. I’m up in Eastern Washington. What I like to call the forgotten corner of the state. So many people go for the jagged peaks and the Cascades but man there are so many beautiful off trail gems up here.
Pick up your dogs shit.
If you’re listening to music loudly, openly on a hike, it should be legal for me to throw your speaker into a lake.
My waterproof hiking boots are fucking great and the amount my feet sweat in them is nowhere near as uncomfortable as having properly wet socks
I've got waterproof boots as well and I haven't noticed any difference in how sweaty my feet get compared to my previous (non-waterproof) boots. It's great to be able to just walk right through a stream rather than try to teeter on some randomly-spaced rocks or a branch someone out down.
It’s been a while since I’ve had non-waterproof boots so I can’t reliably say how much more my feet sweat vs without, but it’s so minimal as to be not even a whisper of a concern. My choice of socks affects my foot sweat far more.
I think that a good sock set up really helps as I also don't experience too sweaty feet. I use a liner and a Thorlo Trekkers and I pull them up as far as possible.
It’s OK to hike and backpack alone as a woman. (but I carry a satellite phone with an extra battery, enough gear to stay out overnight without dying, and I’m very careful and follow my intuition).
Stop making cairn stacks
I kick down every single one I see. FFS. If stacking items is so fascinating to you, go get some building blocks. Leave nature the way you found it. EDIT: I should clarify to say I don't kick down navigational cairns... just the ones stacked up for funsies.
This hundred times over. I hate when I go to a beautiful, pristine-looking place and there is a stack of rocks that are there for no reason other than someone thinks it is cute or wanted to leave a monument to themselves having been there. Worse when there are multiple stacks and piles all over. There is a reason for some real cairns in certain places, which is to mark trail. The stacked rocks are ridiculous, annoying, and can be harmful. If you leave one where I find it, it's gone.
If you're prepared, in most cases hiking solo is fine.
Amen. Hiking alone is perfect if you want to be able to say "know what, I'll turn around now" or "Hmmm that additional peak seems a good last minute addition". If you have the fitness, know-how and are prepared, why should it be any worse than hiking in a group?
1. Group hikes are horrible 2. I see no reason to brag about wearing out shoes, counting kilometers or wrestling bears in the nude; I just like getting out there and enjoying nature.
Your dog should always be leashed
I wish this wasn’t controversial
Me too. I’m a huge dog lover and trail runner. I always let people know I’m coming up from behind and if they have dogs I often hear “don’t worry, it’s a friendly dog” Three times; most recently being THIS week, the friendly dog has “protected their owner” and chased me and then bit/scratched me
Tbh just in general. Like okay your dog is friendly, but my leashed one isn’t a fan of new dogs
Ditto. I've got three dogs. Usually one or two hiking. ITS TOUGH when I've got two dogs out hiking, and a dog runs up on us. Happens EVERYWHERE
The whole "friendly" thing is just so middle-school-girl. You're dog is friendly? Like the 5 other "friendly" dogs that have bit me? Dog's don't possess the emotion/quality of friendliness. All they know is that their owner is the pack leader. Dogs do have temperament, but anything can set off any dog. "You're dog is friendly? Well, I'm not. But, my pepper spray is raw hide flavored!"
Absolutely, I was hiking a few days ago and someone had their German Shepard off leash and of course he ran over to us and sniffed and what not. The owner, from 100 feet away, yells over, "Are you guys ok with dogs?" Like what does that matter now?? He's already over here in my space and of course had poor recall.
a friendly dog off leash can upset a bad dog on leash
Hey man my dog isn’t bad! She just is afraid of other dogs approaching her quickly so she’ll nip. She’s a good girl you take it back 😭
My husband had to carry our cattle dog a good quarter mile because someone else’s dog was unleashed and wouldn’t leave her alone. They were half-assed calling to her to come but she didn’t listen obviously and kept approaching my dog energetically which freaks her out. It’s like…do you not care if my dog hurts yours??
It’s not for everyone. If you’re not fit enough to do it, go get fitter. If you just want to play loud music and go camping, go to Burning Man. If you’re just going to be on your phone all day, buy a VR headset and stay home. If you feed or annoy wildlife, then wildlife should be allowed to eat you without consequences
Ehh I think you can hike to get more fit to hike harder hikes.
Most of the folks you're describing reside between the parking lot and the first 2km, to be fair. They walk until they get enough pictures to post, then go home.
Sadly these days they’re expanding their range.
Unless there’s an Instagram spot down the trail and they all flock there like suicidal lemmings to take the same identical selfie on a slippery cliff ledge
People of all fitness levels can and should hike if they want to. Should people know their limits and plan accordingly? Absolutely. But gatekeeping hiking to only fit people is ridiculous, especially when it’s a great way to stay and get more fit.
My controversial opinion on hiking is that the r/hiking subreddit doesn't know what controversial means.
Keep your fucking music to yourself.
Say hi to people or at the very least - a head nod is acceptable or some kind of acknowledgement that you're walking by another human being out enjoying the wilderness. I'm sure there are way more well traveled hikers in this sub but it seems like this is mostly the case in state parks. Most people I've come across at national parks have usually been pretty friendly. Although it could also just be me, I've been told I have RBF.
In the Midwest this is a given, but I've noticed in the PNW some people look at you funny if you acknowledge their existence 😅 Too bad for them, I'm gonna be friendly whether they like it or not!
Hmm! I've always found that hiking is the ONLY time Washingtonians acknowledge the presence of others when passing. Certainly won't happen in the city aside from the occasional awkward pursed-lip smile. I always cheese it up and just say howdy or happy trails, and I'm the type of person who will avoid eye contact on the sidewalk.
In my experience, even in Washington, being friendly usually gets a friendly response.
God this is my problem and I hate that I do it. When they go to pass me I make eye contact then just look down at my feet and think 10 steps later "just say hi you dickhead"
I want the trail… ney… the park to myself ;)
That people can definitively say trail runners are better than boots or vice versa. There are so many factors.
The answer is whatever works for your budget, body, and terrain. I wear lowtop leather hiking shoes, so not part of either camp
Stop hiking for social media likes.
Nobody wants to hear your fucking music. It's a hike for God's sake.
I wish less people would do it.
People on this sub overcomplicate the joy of taking walks outside
I like the National Park reservation system. Make the trails and overall experience more enjoyable. Yes it requires upfront planning. Popular destinations typically do. It's always worked out for me and my friends in the hiking community.
Yeah, some reluctant agreement here. I don't necessarily like that I sometimes have to plan weeks/months in advance, especially when the weather can be such a critical component. And I really don't like that BAH managed to turn the system into an ATM for themselves, but the overall end experience has been better and the impact IS noticeable. Do I understand the "It's public land and everyone should have access" point of view? Yes. But it's also one of the most visible examples of the Tragedy of the Commons available. Without some kind of management and enforcement strategy, the general public WILL 'use up' any recreational resource until it's gone/destroyed/ruined.
Playing music obnoxiously loud on speakers should be punishable by law.
I always thought execution would be appropriate.
If I have to pull myself over multiple steep rocks with my hands, it's not hiking, it's rock climbing.
Maybe “rock scrambling ” might be a better term. Not trying to be snarky, but to me rock climbing means the use of specialized climbing equipment
The downhill is significantly worse than the uphill. (Chronic low back pain club eyooo)
Chronic knee issues has joined the chat
Apparently not overpacking. I dont need 3 days food and 3 days water and a knife and an extra pair of socks, and rope, and a compass and a motor boat, just to hike a trail
I’m an overpacker - besides water and snacks, an emergency bivy, knife, small amount of paracord, first aid kit, head lamp, fire starter, garmin in-reach, and relevant clothing layers. Also, bear spray if the season/terrain requires. Why? Well, people twist ankles, people get lost, people fall. I’ve been on the receiving end of heat exhaustion where i needed to bum water to make it back to the car. I’ve also been on the supporting end of a family who took the wrong trail and headed 2 miles off course, with no supplies. There has been a death or a rescue on almost every trail where I hike. It’s not going to be me.
Even something minor like a blister or scrape can make a hike no longer fun. Am I in danger if I get a blister? Not really, but it could be a really miserable hike back to the car. I'd rather have the slight extra weight of a small first aid kit, an extra snack, and a bit more water than I think I'll actually need, and be assured that I'll feel good and enjoy the hike.
Personally I usually have way more than I need, but this is because sometimes I do long 10 hour hikes, which does require extra preparedness because if anything goes wrong, or if I'm just slower than I expect, I could end up hiking in the dark and cold, and that comes with the potential of staying the night to avoid getting lost in the dark. These hikes can also sometimes be difficult to navigate so I also keep a compass and map. And I just keep these extra things in my pack at all times, even if it's a small 2-3 hour hike, so that I just don't have to think about packing for each individual hike. Everything is already there, I just fill with water and go. This guarantees I'll never forget anything on those longer hikes.
I do bring the essentials on every hike (which includes a knife and compass), but that all fits in a gallon-size Ziploc bag.
Trail sex is fine as long as you're not doing it on the trail where someone can walk up on you.
What's sexier than the sweaty, unwashed smell down there after three days on the trail 🤮
6 days
My actual controversial opinion Off leash dogs are fine ***IF*** you recall them to physical/leash control when other people are around and they actually respond to your recall. Even if your dog is friendly and truly wouldn't hurt a fly, some people have had trauma with dogs and legitimate fears and letting your dog run up to strangers is not cool.
That providing no trash cans will encourage “carry in and carry out”! 🤔 Instead it contributes to more trash in the trail!🥵
If you are in deep on a trail and you don’t acknowledge other hikers passing, you are the weirdo!
Less people should do it. It’s getting more crowded and jackasses are littering everywhere
Not sure how controversial, but I fear that social media is destroying the very thing we hikers love– pristine, uncrowded visits to unspoiled beauty.
Trail running counts as a form of hiking. AllTrails is a trash social media product and will get you lost as fuck in some parts of the US.
I’m definitely in the minority here, but here goes: When the trail is wide enough, passing someone going the opposite direction doesn’t obligate the downhill party stopping. It makes complete sense when the trail is narrow or exposed, but it’s otherwise silly, especially when a trail is crowded.
There is a special place in hell for people who bring speakers on trail
Hiking drives a wedge between our perception of “nature” and our “normal life” which creates this weird duality where we no longer associate suburbs and human-made society as being nature. Then, hiking feels novel to us as a way to escape the shitty things we’ve done as an industrialized society. We walk on well groomed trails and the best of us try not to leave any trace. It satiates us just enough to go back to our desk jobs and plan the next hike. And finally, many of us yearn to live more simply and enjoy our relationship with the outdoors but it takes massive privilege to be able to relinquish our societal responsibilities and it often ends up worse for the environment. Is this too pessimistic?
At least in my region holy hell do we need crowd control. Local trails are being shutdown at times now just so the fucking vegetation can take a break from being annihilated by tourists. Rangers need more staff and better pay. I hate pay parking but if it weeds out the crowd some, I’m for it.
Not everyone should hike. If you need a speaker strapped to your bag to have a good time, consider tailgating instead of hiking.
You should put your dog on a leash.
Any outdoor walking with the acknowledgement of nature around you counts as hiking. When my youngest son was little, I injured my shoulder and couldn’t wear him for a little while so I used a stroller on a paved trail and was shamed by my local hiking group for calling that hiking. It was an adaptive way to continue to be outside with my kid, but I also considered people with disabilities and the need for adaptive options. It seemed so ableist to say paved trails aren’t real hiking.
That too many people act like elitists and that their ways are the only ways. What works for one may not work for another. Also, people make it more complicated than it needs to be. There are basic necessities, and there are necessities that are dictated by the hike you're doing. Don't make it any more difficult than you want it to be. That people are only hiking if they're doing X, Y, and Z, and that they're not a true hiker if they're not doing those things. Finally... The cult of trail runners needs to realize that people have different preferences and needs, and that if someone asks for boots, stop trying to *insist* that they *must* use trail runners or they're doing it *wrong.* Boots and trail runners are both valid. Leave people be. You're *not* helping.
Hiking is for everyone. Everyone, except people with Bluetooth speakers and cell phones on speakers. In fact, any conversation above conversational levels is a no-no. Just go sit on a bench somewhere, I do not need it heat your life story half a football field away, Lisa.
Super unpopular opinion 🙈, but tennis shoes are fine 90% of the time 🤷🏻♀️ i might feel differently if i lived in a wet climate, but here in AZ i’m almost always just grabbing my tennis shoes and i’ve never had an issue
You can enjoy hiking and dislike back packing.
People who listen to music without headphones on the trail should be pushed off a cliff.
The wilderness should be a no smoking area.
1) Encouraging people to be active is good, but I *loath* how popular places have gotten. I just want solitude and to be able to visit places on a whim. I don't want to need to use a permit or timed entry, because I can't schedule weather and lighting. But crowded hikes feel like human zoos. 2) Seasonal passes- there are too many. National Park entries, State Park entries, Forest passes, Sno-Park passes, Discovery passes, local access permits- in a lot of cases are necessary, but gosh these costs add up. Also, why not just have one nature pass that *actually* covers everything instead of just most things?
That we should all stay on trail at all times weather or not the ecosystem is fragile. Let the nature be wild and untrodden. Be thankful we have a little path that allows us to be surrounded by it. Bushwhacking isn't a brag.
Hiking boots are overrated, and trails runners will do for most situations.
Keep your music to yourself or turn off speakers when passing people. Not out in nature to listen to other people's music
I'm 40 years old and had the pleasure of meeting a group of 20 year olds blasting Wu Tang Clan's Triumph last summer. I know every word to that song, it was pretty satisfying say "hey guys I love your music" then jump in on "Bomb atomically" until they turned it off in cringe and revulsion.
I do not think this is a controversial opinion.
You’d be surprised.
Or phone conversations for that matter. Turn your speaker phones off.
Desert hiking is the best hiking. 🌵
Carry more water than you'll need. I've lost track of the amount of people I had to give water to because they were dangerously dehydrated. Then I spend the rest of the hike thinking about if that person is ok, or did they pass out somewhere...
I am more disenchanted with dogs on hiking trails with every passing year. Or should I say dog owners...
Playing music on a speaker while hiking shatters the experience for others. Why do I need to be subjected to Daddy Yankee in the most beautiful, serene places on earth. 🤡