Martha Stewart, an American icon, teaches us a lot about etiquette for hosting a dinner party, but she doesn’t talk about what to do in the mountains. Believe it or not, when we go hiking, there are some rules we should follow.

Is this article difficult to understand? Go to the adapted version!

If you grew up in this environment, it probably seems like second nature to you. For those of you who are just beginning to explore the great outdoors, here are some of the basics to make sure you start your next hike on the right foot.

Yield to uphill traffic.

People going up the mountain have the right-of-way. Why? It takes more effort to go up than it does to go down. Having to stop for other hikers breaks the rhythm and momentum of the uphill hiker. Of course, it’s true that sometimes the hiker going uphill will stop and step aside because it’s a good moment for them to catch their breath. If they decide to do this, that’s fine, but it’s their choice. Don’t be a downhill bully!

Clear the path when taking a break.

It happens to all of us; we want to drink some water, fish out the suntan lotion, take a photo, or eat a snack while on our hike. When you decide to take a break, move to the side of the path. Choose a place that isn’t going to cause a bottleneck, or even worse, cause people to walk precariously around you because you’re taking up the entire path. 

Keep the noise down.

Your phone rings and you want to make sure everything is okay. The rest of the world, however, does not need to hear your conversation! Also keep this in mind when talking to the other members of your hiking group. No one expects you to whisper, but there’s no reason to shout either. These rules also apply to music. It doesn’t happen often, but from time to time, you come across someone who is listening to music on a boombox. Even if you are the world’s best DJ, respect the wildlife and the other hikers on the mountain. Save the music for the car ride home.

If you have to poop, be sure to scoop.

When nature calls and you need to go number 2, walk at least 200 ft (70 adult steps) away from the path and any nearby water source. Dig a hole 6 – 8 inches deep and cover everything up when you’re done. Depending on where you are, there might be a pack out rule. If this is the case, you need to use a bag to place your “deposit” and dispose of it properly at the end of your hike. Tampons and used toilet paper should also be packed out.

Be a responsible pet owner.

In some areas, pets aren’t allowed and this rule needs to be respected. Animals often graze in the area, and they could be frightened by your dog. Your dog also risks being attacked if there are herding dogs. If dogs are allowed, but your dog has a tendency to trample on strangers or be aggressive, it needs to be on a leash for everyone’s safety.

Also, it’s important to clean up after pets. In the city or the mountains, no one likes to step in dog poop. And most importantly, remember to take the sack of poop with you instead of leaving it on the side of the trail.

Horses, hikers, then bikers.

When looking at who has priority on a path, horses take the lead! They are easily spooked and need to be given a wide berth when sharing a trail with hikers. After horses, hikers have priority over bikers. On flat trails, this is easy to implement. On steep trails, it’s a little bit more complicated. Many times it’s easier for a hiker to step aside and allow the biker to pass, rather than make a biker come to a complete stop or swerve around the hiker while going down a narrow path. Both hikers and bikers need to stay vigilant! Bikers should warn hikers when they are headed down the trail. They should also indicate how many people are in their group so that hikers are ready to step aside, if necessary.

Take out the trash.

Trash belongs in a trash bin and not on the mountain. This includes trash you find from someone else! Pick up all of the trash you find and leave the outdoors better than you found it.

Stay on the path.

When there are a lot of switchbacks, sometimes there is a path that cuts straight through the middle. Even though it’s tempting, it’s important to stay on the main trail. Shortcuts not only kill vegetation, they also create major erosion problems. Let’s keep our trails in good condition for future hikers to enjoy!

Food is for humans, not for wildlife.

Many hikers still believe that leaving behind apple cores or banana peels is okay because they are biodegradable. Researchers are now saying that it’s best to pack it out. These types of foods are not regular meals for animals, and it may do more harm than good, feeding them something that is not usually in their diet.

Be friendly.

This one can be a bit controversial, but hear me out! Not everyone appreciates a chatty Cathy who stops to tell their entire life story. However, if weather conditions are changing, or if there is important information to know about the upcoming terrain, it’s always a good idea to share information with fellow hikers. Also, if you are lost or need assistance, someone you crossed could tell mountain rescue that they saw you. People are less likely to remember you if you don’t say anything. Of course, if you come across someone who gives you the heebie-jeebies and your instincts are telling you to keep going, obviously that’s what you should do!

In a group? Share the path.

When hiking in a group, we tend to take up the entire trail, and this can make it difficult for hikers who want to move around the group. If the trail is wide enough, it’s possible to walk with two or three people side by side, leaving room for people to easily hike around you. If the path is narrow, groups should walk in a single file line.

Follow the rules of the road.

Some people believe that hikers should use the same rules as drivers. For example, hikers should walk on the right side of the path and pass on the left. If this is true, do you follow the traffic rules for the country you’re currently in? Not everybody drives on the same side of the road! What do you think?

Are there things you would add or change on the list? Leave a comment below!

Until next time, happy trails!

Adapted Version

In parenthesis () there are explanations of words and phrases. These explanations are in italics.

Hiking Etiquette – The Basics

Martha Stewart, an American icon (celebrity), teaches us a lot about etiquette for hosting (inviting people to) a dinner party, but she doesn’t talk about what to do in the mountains. Believe it or not (you may not think it is true), when we go hiking, there are some rules (requirements) we should follow (respect).

If you grew up (were raised) in this environment, it probably seems like second nature (instinct) to you. For those of you who are just beginning to explore the great outdoors (activities outside in nature), here are some of the basics (main ideas) to make sure you start your next hike on the right foot (correctly).

Yield to (stop and wait for) uphill traffic (people moving up the mountain).

People going up the mountain have the right-of-way (priority on the path). Why? It takes more effort to go up than it does to go down. Having to stop for other hikers breaks the rhythm and momentum (progression) of the uphill hiker (person walking up the mountain). Of course, it’s true that sometimes the hiker going uphill will stop and step aside (move to the side of the path) because it’s a good moment for them to catch their breath (to pause and rest). If they decide to do this, that’s fine (okay), but it’s their choice (decision). Don’t be a downhill bully (force other hikers to move to the side of the path when you are going down the mountain and do NOT have priority)!

Clear the path (move to the side of the path) when taking a break.

It happens to all of us (we all do it); we want to drink some water, fish out (find) the suntan lotion, take a photo, or eat a snack (some food) while on our hike. When you decide to take a break (rest), move to the side of the path. Choose a place that isn’t going to cause a bottleneck (not allow/permit people to move easily), or even worse, cause people to walk precariously (dangerously) around you because you’re taking up (in the middle of) the entire path. 

Keep the noise down. (Continue to move and speak quietly)

Your phone rings and you want to make sure (be certain that) everything is okay. The rest of (the other people in) the world, however, does not need to hear your conversation! Also keep this in mind (remember this) when talking to the other members of your hiking group. No one expects (asks) you to whisper (speak very quietly), but there’s no reason (it’s not necessary) to shout (speak loudly) either. These rules also apply to music. It doesn’t happen (occur) often, but from time to time, you come across (see/meet) someone who is listening to music on a boombox. Even if you are the world’s best DJ, respect the wildlife (animals) and the other hikers on the mountain. Save (listen to) the music for the car ride (in the car) home.

If you have to poop (defecate), be sure to scoop (use a shovel).

When nature calls (you need to pee or poop) and you need to go number 2 (defecate/poop), walk at least 200 ft (70 adult steps) away from the path (trail) and any nearby water source (river/lake). Dig a hole (make a small cavity in the earth) 6 – 8 inches deep (depth of 6 -8 inches) and cover everything up (use dirt to hide everything) when you’re done (finished). Depending on where you are, there might be a pack out rule (a rule where everything you take into the forest, you must take out, including human waste). If this is the case, you need to use a bag to place your “deposit (poop)” and dispose of it properly (put it in a trash bin) at the end of your hike. Tampons and used (no longer clean) toilet paper should also be packed out (taken with you).

Be a responsible pet owner (someone who has a domesticated animal).

In some areas, pets aren’t allowed (forbidden) and this rule needs to be respected. Animals often graze (eat) in the area, and they could be frightened (scared) by your dog. Your dog also risks (has the possibility of) being attacked if there are herding dogs (dogs that protect other animals). If dogs are allowed (permitted), but your dog has a tendency to (likes to) trample (jump) on strangers (people you don’t know) or be aggressive, it needs to be on a leash (be attached to the owner with a rope) for everyone’s safety.

Also, it’s important to clean up after pets (pick up their poop). In the city or the mountains, no one likes to step in dog poop. And most importantly, remember to take the sack of poop with you instead of leaving it (abandoning the sack) on the side of the trail.

Horses, hikers, then bikers.

When looking at who has priority on a path, horses take the lead (have priority)! They are easily spooked (scared) and need to be given a wide berth (a lot of distance between the horse and other animals or people) when sharing a trail with hikers. After horses, hikers have priority over bikers (people who ride a bike). On flat trails (not much elevation change), this is easy to implement (do). On steep trails (paths that go up or down in elevation quickly), it’s a little more complicated. Many times (often) it’s easier for a hiker to step aside (move to the side) and allow (permit) the biker to pass (go around) rather than make a biker come to a complete stop (stop) or swerve (move quickly) around the hiker while going down a narrow (opposite of wide) path. Both hikers and bikers need to stay vigilant! Bikers should warn (talk about possible danger to) hikers when they are headed (moving) down the trail. They should also indicate how many people are in their group so that hikers are ready to step aside (move to the side), if necessary.

Take out (remove) the trash.

Trash (waste) belongs (needs to be placed) in a trash bin and not on the mountain. This includes trash you find from someone else (not you)! Pick up (take) all of the trash you find and leave the outdoors better than you found it.

Stay (continue) on the path.

When there are a lot of switchbacks (when a path goes from side to side because it is steep), sometimes there is a path that cuts straight (goes) through the middle. Even though it’s tempting (you want to take the short path), it’s important to stay on the main trail. Shortcuts (the path that is not the main path) not only kill vegetation, they also create major erosion problems. Let’s keep (maintain) our trails in good condition (do not destroy) for future hikers to enjoy (appreciate)!

Food is for humans, not for wildlife (animals).

Many hikers still (continue to) believe that leaving behind (not taking with them) apple cores (inside of apples) or banana peels (outside of bananas) is okay because they are biodegradable (disappear naturally). Researchers are now saying that it’s best to pack it out (take it with you). These types of foods are not regular meals (food) for animals, and it may do more harm (negative effect) than good, feeding them something that is not usually in their diet.

Be friendly.

This one can be a bit (a little) controversial, but hear me out (listen to what I want to say)! Not everyone appreciates a chatty Cathy (someone who talks a lot) who stops to tell their entire life story (everything about their life). However, if weather conditions are changing, or if there is important information to know about the upcoming terrain (the next part of the trail), it’s always a good idea to share (give) information with fellow (other) hikers. Also, if you are lost or need assistance (help), someone you crossed could tell mountain rescue that they saw you. People are less likely to (usually do not) remember you if you don’t say anything. Of course, if you come across (meet) someone who gives you the heebie-jeebies (makes you feel really uncomfortable) and your instincts are telling you to keep going (continue walking), obviously that’s what you should do!

In a group? Share the path (Make space for other people to use the path).

When hiking in a group, we tend to (often) take up (use) the entire trail, and this can make it difficult (create problems) for hikers who want to move around the group. If the trail is wide enough (not narrow), it’s possible to walk with two or three people side by side (shoulder to shoulder), leaving room (space) for people to easily hike around you. If the path is narrow, groups should walk in a single file line (one person behind another person).

Follow (Use) the rules of the road (for driving).

Some people believe that hikers should use the same rules as drivers. For example, hikers should walk on the right side of the path and pass (move around) on the left. If this is true, do you follow (respect) the traffic (driving) rules for the country you’re currently in (where you are)? Not everybody drives on the same side of the road! What do you think?

Are there things you would add or change on the list? Leave a comment below!

Until next time, happy trails (go well)!