Hiking the Ridge
My Labor Day holiday was spent hiking Heliotrope Ridge with a group of friends. Several of them go hiking every Tuesday and return with funny stories and amazing pictures. Labor Day provided a full day when everyone was off of work, so we could all share the experience of hiking.
Its been a while since I’ve done any extensive hiking, growing up in Colorado I would hike with my parents in the near by foothills or on the Rocky Mountains. I am definitely out of practice. A day later my body still aches. I’ve spent the day venting my frustrations to my friends so I don’t think my blog needs any more.
What I find myself reflecting on is trail etiquette, or the way you treat fellow hikers not in your party. It seems to me that people are much more polite to each other on a hiking trail then they are in other situations. I found my self smiling at perfect strangers, and greeting them with a cheery “Howdy” and even offering them an encouraging word. It is on a hiking trail where everyone is equal no matter how experienced you are, you were at one time the struggling hiker just trying to catch your breath. We don’t seem to treat other people with the same courtesy or politeness anywhere else in our everyday lives. How often do we wave at someone and say hello to them while we are in our car, or give someone the right of way even if you were at the stop sign first? When we are walking down a city street to we greet the person approaching us? Do we even make eye contact with them? Why is it that on a hiking trail we treat people as people should be treated?
September 3, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Hi, just stumbled upon your blog…surprisingly, my blogmate and I were also hiking Heliotrope on Labor Day! I felt compelled to respond. She and I, while on the trails, also often discuss etiquette, especially in terms of passing people on the trail and the “Leave no trace” policy. Even biodegradable things like apple cores, she and I both feel should be packed out…but not everyone agrees. On the whole, however, I’ve also noticed the kindness I receive on trails. People generally appear in a better mood during/after a hike. Especially if they’re on their way down and you’re still trudging up, I love it when fellow hikers offer a friendly “not much further!” or something like that.
October 5, 2009 at 10:27 am
I often go on long hikes, this one seems very peaceful.