Hiking Etiquette

There are three qualities that are essential to a wilderness experience: solitude, silence, and lack of evidence of human encroachment. My gut feeling is that the vast majority of people living in North American society are completely removed from the natural world. They have lived in an artificial environment for their entire lives to the point that when they arrive in the wilderness they have no idea how to behave or how it should be treated. If they have been to an amusement park they know that setting, they are a customer and that park is there to serve their needs and provide amusement. Hiking trails, provincial parks, and wildlife preservation areas, however, should not be governed by this "entertain me" attitude. If we don't respect to the natural areas that we currently have they won't be there for future generations to enjoy. Respect the needs of the place first and foremost and it can't hurt to show some courtesy to your fellow hikers whose attitudes and actions mirror your own!

Solitude

Getting away from the crowds to be alone with your thoughts is certainly one of the main reasons to go hiking. Most of the time, however, there is more than one person with the same idea, so you have to 'play nice' and share - especially in some of the more popular locations.

Here are some things you can do to minimize disturbances caused by your presence:

•	When you stop or take breaks (lunch, snacks) move away from the center of the trail. If there is a destination that is a popular viewpoint, like a waterfall or lookout, spend a few minutes enjoying the view then move off to the side and let others have their turn.

•	Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail. A general rule of thumb is that the person climbing up hill has the right of way.

•	Visit in small groups. Split larger groups into smaller ones of 4 - 6.

•	Unless passing or being passed, try to maintain separation between yourself and other hikers.

Silence

Nothing quite shatters the illusion of solitude like noise from a man made source. By preserving the natural silence you are more likely to see and hear wildlife at close range.

•	Let nature's sound prevail

•	Avoid loud voices and noises

Minimum Impact

As human populations continue to rise (recently passing 6 billion) and natural areas fall prey to developers, those natural areas that are left experience increasing amounts of human visitation. As a result, extra care is required to ensure that the area is left in no worse condition than when we arrived.

•	Know the regulations and special conditions for the area you will visit.

•	Travel and camp on durable surfaces......established trails, campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses, and snow.

•	Pack it in....pack it out. Leave with what you came with and you could even help by picking up someone else's trash.

•	Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts. Leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects where you find them.

•	Walk in single file in the middle of the trail (even if it is muddy) Do not cut across areas that are not part of the trail. Stay on the trail!

Source: www.toddshikingguide.com