New Post has been published on http://vitchelo.com/hiking/hiking-etiquette-4-trail-rules-you-need-to-live-by/
Hiking Etiquette: 4 Trail Rules You Need To Live By
If you are going to be traveling into Colorado in order to do some hiking on the trails, there is a certain etiquette that you must follow whether you are just visiting or if you are local.
Recently, along with my boyfriend, we followed a 3.6 mile hike from Maroon Bells to Crater Lake Trail which is located just outside of Aspen Colorado. It is a fairly easy route to take, mostly a dirt path that goes through an Aspen Grove that is relatively small, with peaks that are all around you which can be seen when you get to open spaces. This is a fantastic way for anyone to spend Sunday morning, especially on a long weekend in this proverbial ski town, beautiful scenery in all directions.
It would have been much better if our fellow hikers at actually follow the basic trail rules. Some of them came from outside of town, which should be expected because of it being a prime location during what is called peak leaf peeping season, that just squeezed by others instead of allowing the uphill hikers to pass by as they stood still. Even trail runners came too close, enough to feel their breath on my neck, causing me to step to the side, something that should've been done or even announcing their presence a little bit sooner. Although this lack of proper hiking conduct didn't entirely make the experience horrible-how could it actually do that with the scenery as mentioned above?-I was definitely affronted by this experience.
In order to do my part in helping to keep the trails happy for everyone, I asked Jeff Goldin person basic trail etiquette tips, an expert out of Colorado Mountain Club. Here's what he said:
The first rule that should be followed is avoiding getting off of the trail because of the possibility of upsetting or damaging the Alpine tundra or plants that could take years to recover it trampled.
If you are an appeal hiker, trying to maintain your momentum, obviously you have the right-of-way. If there are bikers, they should yield to the Trail hikers, and both hikers and bikers need to give equestrians right-of-way. These simple guidelines will allow you to communicate clearly with other people on the trail to ensure a very friendly encounter. An example of this would be uphill hikers being very happy to take a much-needed break!
Another rule that should be followed is staying on the right side, especially on wider trails, allowing users to go by on the left, just like when dealing with motor vehicles. If there are large groups, they should hike in a single file, so as not to take up the entire pathway. You need to step aside, let faster hikers get through, a common etiquette that is almost always abided by.
There is a simple rule, one called the Leave No Trace rule that will ensure that the wilderness will be in a pristine state for everyone. You need to take all of your trash with you, including dog waste and Summit signs, and be sure to not remove or vandalize the outdoor environment in any way.
Finally, you need to make sure if you are letting your dog off the leash that it is legal in those areas, mostly because you may have to abide by a leash law. You need to know the rules of the area you are in and follow them to the tee. Even if you have a location that allows off leash hiking, it is always a good idea to keep your dog least in crowded areas.
Now that you have read all of these rules: Happy Hiking!
This article originally appeared on 5280.com.
