i generally have speed when hiking but never hesitate to let someone pass--to be aware of someone behind me and not let them pass by stepping aside or asking if they would like to pass would be weird to me, intentionally being a 'jerk'. I have often come up on people (often a group 2-3 people, talking) where they are not aware of me so I try to kick a rock or step heavily a bit, clank the poles vs saying something--ie just to have them be aware of someone without having to say 'excuse me' or make them stop.
Coming back from Jeff Park this fall there was a couple I hiked behind for a while (2-3 minutes?) and when they heard/saw the lead woman said 'oh its just too narrow to pass here'...which.. unless it is a cliff/dangerous slab of rock/etc, for me it is never too narrow, I can stand on some steep slope for 10 seconds, but especially in light of injuring my foot I can appreciate not everyone is comfortable with that. The woman was friendly, maybe a little 'too talkative' after I passed she asked me many questions that kind of kept me from hiking fast on, but I also hadn't talked to anyone in 48~hrs so I was a bit talkative in response to her questions. Overall I don't really worry or think about it much...I give a little nod or eye contact acknowledgment when I see people but I dont always say hi or anything, and I take no offense if someone does the same to me. If I said hi and got nothing, it just seems 'off' but I don't take it personally, the 'hi's' I offer on the trail to strangers are no really heartfelt with deep intention, but a social formality, no? If I see an ice ax or i dunno, something that makes a person seem like they're climbing or a thru hiker I'll chat about that--i'm out hiking so normally flow into conversation as it goes vs using my brain to analyze social situations out there.
Hike your own hike
Re: Hike your own hike
Feel Free to Feel Free
Re: Hike your own hike
Just start talking like the Swedish Chef and make wild gesticulations. Maybe a chefs knife in hand, too.
http://youtu.be/9OfsABOGw3c
http://youtu.be/9OfsABOGw3c
"Why are you always chasing women?"
"I'll tell you as soon as I catch one!"
"I'll tell you as soon as I catch one!"
Re: Hike your own hike
When I get into the hiking 'zone' I can pick up some speed. People typically hear my huffing and puffing and let me pass, but those who don't get a friendly, "Hi there, on your left", which inspires them to let me pass. Just like when jogging or riding a bicycle. It works pretty well. Sometimes they want to say hi. If that's the case, I will say hi, but keep moving.
I usually say hi to people, but don't engage in conversation. That could be more of a safety "I see you seeing me out here alone hiking as a female" thing. I think it's ok to do or not do what you prefer. Sometimes I just want solitude, ya know?
I usually say hi to people, but don't engage in conversation. That could be more of a safety "I see you seeing me out here alone hiking as a female" thing. I think it's ok to do or not do what you prefer. Sometimes I just want solitude, ya know?
oh-beer-ah
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Re: Hike your own hike
I know for me it depends on where you're at. I'll say hi to most people I see on busy gorge trails but I'm not going to stop unless they ask me specific questions. In more remote areas I find that most people are more friendly and are more apt to ask questions. I don't want to push folks but if I'm catching someone at a quick pace and I'm not planning to take a break soon, I'll pass at the first safe place. If someone is behind me I just move out of the way. It makes everyones hikes more pleasant. Nobody likes a lurker
How can someone not be happy in the woods? It's my happy placeretired jerry wrote:some people are not happy so I don't worry about it
Re: Hike your own hike
I never get irritated at people lost in their own thoughts on the trail, though I do like to exchange pleasantries. 9 out of 10 times it's basically, "Great day to be out here, huh?!" (no matter the weather, of course), and it'll only go beyond that if the other person takes it there.
But I'll definitely tend towards irritability when not offered the opportunity to pass someone who clearly knows I'm there. To avoid that eventuality, I've learned to just ask "May I play through?", if coughing or kicking stones or clanking my poles doesn't avert that need. (Totally agree with the "leapfrog" comment earlier, too! If I do pass someone, I make every possible effort to not stop to take a picture just a few hundred yards down the trail. )
But I'll definitely tend towards irritability when not offered the opportunity to pass someone who clearly knows I'm there. To avoid that eventuality, I've learned to just ask "May I play through?", if coughing or kicking stones or clanking my poles doesn't avert that need. (Totally agree with the "leapfrog" comment earlier, too! If I do pass someone, I make every possible effort to not stop to take a picture just a few hundred yards down the trail. )
PortlandHiker's own version of Godwin's Law?raftingdog wrote:2nd admendment
Karl
Back on the trail, again...
Back on the trail, again...
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Re: Hike your own hike
At the risk of the other hikers being on PH.....I really don't mean to offend them or cast a shadow, that would be completely blowing the encounter out of proportion. There was no way to pass the first go around. We caught up to them when they stopped at a very narrow bridge(Single file only) . They had their dogs with them, and were trying to coax the dog back across the bridge for a picture. I stood for a second, realized they didn't see or hear me, gave a friendly "Hi There" and told them to go ahead and get their picture. It was then that I expected them to say....hey go ahead if you'd like....but after the picture they just continued ahead of us over the bridge and up the trail. It's really no big deal, it just struck us as unusual based on other encounters we've had. I'm sure they are great people, but I guess it seems as there are more and more people sharing fewer and fewer trails and that can lead to people needing to be sensitive to others out there. Everyone is there for their own reason.
- BurnsideBob
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Re: Hike your own hike
Tednottodd:
Don’t downplay your experience. What you experienced was not OK. We don’t have well defined rules for trail use like we do for automobile road use, so there is always a level of uncertainty and, therefore, anxiety, about proper behavior. Everyone has uncomfortable moments and can relate to your experience and feelings.
From your description, these folks had unleashed dogs. Unleashed dogs add an additional dimension of threat and risk. Dogs being dogs, they might bite if they perceive you as threatening—and passing close to their people on a narrow trail might be threatening. With the dogs unleashed, their people have abdicated control.
The most frightening animal encounter I ever had did not involve bears, mountain lions, or wolves, but unleashed dogs “protecting” their owner on a wilderness trail. I keep more distance from folks if they have dogs, leashed or not.
It was rude and inconsiderate of those people to hold you up so they could pose their photo. They should have heeled their dogs, let you pass, and then set up their photo.
I think you were prudent to hold back from those people. You just don’t know and those people were already demonstrating discourteous behavior.
Don’t downplay your experience. What you experienced was not OK. We don’t have well defined rules for trail use like we do for automobile road use, so there is always a level of uncertainty and, therefore, anxiety, about proper behavior. Everyone has uncomfortable moments and can relate to your experience and feelings.
From your description, these folks had unleashed dogs. Unleashed dogs add an additional dimension of threat and risk. Dogs being dogs, they might bite if they perceive you as threatening—and passing close to their people on a narrow trail might be threatening. With the dogs unleashed, their people have abdicated control.
The most frightening animal encounter I ever had did not involve bears, mountain lions, or wolves, but unleashed dogs “protecting” their owner on a wilderness trail. I keep more distance from folks if they have dogs, leashed or not.
It was rude and inconsiderate of those people to hold you up so they could pose their photo. They should have heeled their dogs, let you pass, and then set up their photo.
I think you were prudent to hold back from those people. You just don’t know and those people were already demonstrating discourteous behavior.
I keep making protein shakes but they always turn out like margaritas.
Re: Hike your own hike
I usually hike at times and in places that are very uncrowded, but in those rare occassions when a human (and/or associated canine companions) appears on the trail ahead or behind me:
Unless the hiker clearly looks totally grumpy (Maybe going for a hike wasn't their idea of fun?), always at least a nod & a smile.
"Hi" / "Hello" / "Howdy" if I get one (or it looks like I'm going to).
Generally no other talking unless asked a question about the trail ahead, where are we, etc. Have had universally bad luck in offering advice or talk when not previously prompted.
Have very, very rarely had anyone block me on the trail once they know I'm behind them (making sounds like a Zombie really helps with this). But going up Dog Mtn once, I got behind a huge group (30+?) that was slowly meandering up the trail - they were simply too big to get out of anyone's way, including their own!
If someone is coming up behind me, I always step out of the way - both as a courtesy and because I'm not keen on being crowded.
Dogs, for the most part, have been either friendly or uninterested but you never know, so, if unleashed, I take it real slow.
Unless the hiker clearly looks totally grumpy (Maybe going for a hike wasn't their idea of fun?), always at least a nod & a smile.
"Hi" / "Hello" / "Howdy" if I get one (or it looks like I'm going to).
Generally no other talking unless asked a question about the trail ahead, where are we, etc. Have had universally bad luck in offering advice or talk when not previously prompted.
Have very, very rarely had anyone block me on the trail once they know I'm behind them (making sounds like a Zombie really helps with this). But going up Dog Mtn once, I got behind a huge group (30+?) that was slowly meandering up the trail - they were simply too big to get out of anyone's way, including their own!
If someone is coming up behind me, I always step out of the way - both as a courtesy and because I'm not keen on being crowded.
Dogs, for the most part, have been either friendly or uninterested but you never know, so, if unleashed, I take it real slow.
Re: Hike your own hike
kepPNW wrote:PortlandHiker's own version of Godwin's Law?raftingdog wrote:2nd admendment
Seems like it, these days!
If there's a "trail code," it's that you let the faster people pass you (when it's safe to do so). Walking your dogs back and forth on a bridge for pictures while others are waiting is rude and oblivious - but that seems to be the norm among most people these days, not just on the trails (can we thank Facebook? I'd like to think so ).tednottodd wrote:Are we breaking some sort of trail code by not engaging others? Is there anything more than a smile and a nod required?
In terms of engagement, I have always assumed that trail etiquette is to be friendly - ie, saying hello or smiling or whatever. You don't have to stop and tell your life story, but it's polite to greet other outdoorspeople. I am always mystified by people outside who aren't friendly or don't respond to greetings, since being outside is supposed to make you HAPPY.
Anyway, this seems like a pretty minor deal. Next time you encounter dog paparazzi on a bridge, I would politely ask them if they can let you pass. People will never learn to be considerate for others if you don't speak up.
#pnw #bestlife #bitingflies #favoriteyellowcap #neverdispleased
Re: Hike your own hike
I can't help but be friendly - possibly annoyingly so - out there, because I'm usually just so happy to be where I am. If someone seems like they want to talk, I'm happy to stop and chat, but I'm happy with a little "hellloooo" too.
Passing usually seems sort of painless - if someone doesn't step aside, a quick "Mind if I jump by?" usually does the trick. I've only sensed weirdness a couple times, and it was always passing a group of younger dudes who (I'm just guessing here) took it as an affront to their manliness or something.
The only thing that really gets me is when someone gives unnecessary or patronizing advice. This doesn't really happen to me, but it happens to my wife with disconcerting frequency.
Passing usually seems sort of painless - if someone doesn't step aside, a quick "Mind if I jump by?" usually does the trick. I've only sensed weirdness a couple times, and it was always passing a group of younger dudes who (I'm just guessing here) took it as an affront to their manliness or something.
The only thing that really gets me is when someone gives unnecessary or patronizing advice. This doesn't really happen to me, but it happens to my wife with disconcerting frequency.