It’s sometimes hard for people who live in the city to adjust to life on the hiking trail. Peace & quiet and great scenery are two of the big draws for hikers, but to be sure they can enjoy it – and others can continue to – there are some basic rules of etiquette that should be followed on the hiking trail.
First is one of the most basic rules – pack it in, pack it out. This is common sense, but unfortunately you often see signs of people who don’t follow this rule when you’re on the trail. Water bottles, trash and other “disposable” items should always be packed back out when you’re done.
Even something as seemingly degradable as toilet paper should be packed back out with you if at all possible. If you don’t have a container to pack it out in, at the very least bury it to speed its breakdown and avoid cluttering the scenery with it.
One of the draws of hiking for many people is the peace and quiet of the wilderness. Respect for other hikers is important when you’re on the trail – keep your voice down and don’t hike with loud music blasting out of a boombox. Fortunately,...