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What are your thoughts on who has the Right-of-Way between hikers?

Typically if it moves faster then me I move out of the way. I tend to give way because regardless of rules as it is more important to have some manners and share the space in a way that best makes sense for a given situation. If you want rules in the woods, join the army.

if it is given consideration, there is more basis for downhill to be allowed to flow through... they likely have more momentum (especially if running) and of the two groups, the one who can most appreciate a brief pause would be those bound uphill. Uphill usually will have more control than faster moving downhill. If push comes to shove... downhill can shove harder... might be better to let them pass...

I usually watch what the other hiker is doing as i come up to them. If they seem determined and going strong, I'll gladly break my pace and let them pass. If they hesitate as I approach, they usually just stop and let me pass. But, to be honest, I haven't really hiked enough times on "trails" to really think about this. Hehe, when I read the thread title, i thought to myself, "Stay to the right"

Good poll

I voted other. I depends how civil they are and how handy my umbrella is . If I'm hiking with my umbrella open, most people just get outta my way. ;)

it's not the umbrella bob

joe bartels wrote:it's not the umbrella bob

Are you telling me the answer is Blowin in the Wind.

This should settle it (at least according to the Prescott National Forest):
http://hikearizona.com/phoZOOM.php?ZIP=105114

Nope, sorry, that's off-topic, as it has to do with mtn. bikers and horses! ;)

I've been a hiker and hiking club member since I was 12, and I'm 56 now. I have heard over the years from clubs, classes, mountaineering courses, hiking books, yada yada, that the hiker who's going uphill has the right-of-way. Obviously, many times uphill hikers need a break and just take one when they see hikers running fast downhill. But if I'm going uphill and am in a certain determined going-uphill mood I get into, and I just plain don't want to stop, I do take my uphill right-of-way. I have a big metal-edged pack. I just plow through them. They never fail to get out of my way! And I've never been bumped by anyone! This is mostly coming up out of the Canyon or Supai that I have "run into" this situation, as most places I hike I don't see other people. If I see another backpacker coming down Grant Creek Trail as I'm going up, I'm probably going to stop and talk to him or her, as that would be an unusual occurrence.

All of that stuff goes right out the window the second your first boot hits a popular trail. No one learns the right way to do anything, anymore...they just go out and do it protocols, morays, and safety be-darned...

Jeff MacE wrote:All of that stuff goes right out the window the second your first boot hits a popular trail. No one learns the right way to do anything, anymore...they just go out and do it protocols, morays, and safety be-darned...

Hey, this is just as true on the roads... especially if you happen to dare to be on a bicycle


People are crass, rude, and self centered. I don't count on anything more, that way I'm more often happily surprised than appalled.

dysfunction wrote:

Jeff MacE wrote:All of that stuff goes right out the window the second your first boot hits a popular trail. No one learns the right way to do anything, anymore...they just go out and do it protocols, morays, and safety be-darned...

Hey, this is just as true on the roads... especially if you happen to dare to be on a bicycle


People are crass, rude, and self centered. I don't count on anything more, that way I'm more often happily surprised than appalled.

**Off-topic: I'll say this - it certainly doesn't pay to be a female cyclist in this town, that's for sure! I've heard horror stories of everything from cat calls to actual physical battery. Some might think it harmless to grab a woman's back-end, but that's technically sexual battery and seems to be the cause of a lot of cycle accidents near the UA...

azbackpackr wrote:Nope, sorry, that's off-topic, as it has to do with mtn. bikers and horses! ;)

Yep the topic is "Right-of-Way between hikers?"

Ladies first or if you are bigger than me, you can go first too…. ;)

Anyone with this... You talkin' to me Kokopelli or similar kokopelli has the right of way in my book ;) .

In response to rlrjamy:
Would that be Travis Kokopelli?

Nah, I yield to everybody. I agree with Jeff, though, that in the crowded places where it matters most, few hikers know the convention. My pet peeve in such areas is slow groups that spread themselves all accross the trail and won't let anybody through.

big_load wrote:Nah, I yield to everybody. I agree with Jeff, though, that in the crowded places where it matters most, few hikers know the convention. My pet peeve in such areas is slow groups that spread themselves all accross the trail and won't let anybody through.

Yes, that's very annoying. A lot of times they tend to be the kind of folk that get patently annoyed that they're being passed through, as well.

A lot of people are unaware of their space, what's around them, what's in front or behind them. I think people who spend a lot of time hiking have a greater spacial awareness. So when we get confronted with these people who are so unaware of their surroundings it can be very annoying. As a cyclist I tend to holler "on your left!" but that often just freaks people out. They aren't used to it so don't know what they are supposed to do. I try to slow way down and make noise so they hear me coming and aren't startled. Of course, then there are those who insist on having music things in their ears. They deserve to get run over. ;)

I'm just glad I don't live in a highly populated area. It really is annoying to hike when there are so many people on a trail. Been there, done that.

azbackpackr wrote:As a cyclist I tend to holler "on your left!" but that often just freaks people out.

My problem is that I'm left-handed, so my left is on the other side.

azbackpackr wrote:A lot of people are unaware of their space, what's around them, what's in front or behind them. I think people who spend a lot of time hiking have a greater spacial awareness.

Bingo!