Trail Courtesy Reminders

[ddgrunning]

Not sure if this is newly posted after the R2R trail running/day-hiking restrictions that are set to go into effect, but just noticed the NPS reminder re trail courtesy practices on the Corridor trails in the Canyon: http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/c ... UMP_777780

Most are generally applicable, regardless of where one is hiking.

[SpiderLegs]

@ddgrunning

Looks pretty new, I've never noticed it before either. The new SUP rules went into effect a couple of days ago, so will be interested to see what the NPS does this weekend.

[DarthStiller]

The advisory to not hike alone doesn't seem like much an etiquette/courtesy question to me. I've never been bothered just because someone is hiking alone.

The "no talking" also seems a little bit elementary school teacher in nature.

Although this doesn't apply to the GC, a reminder of this issue, more in the urban areas viewtopic.php?f=50&t=3020&hilit=etiquette

[Jim]

Gee, if I never hiked alone, I would NEVER hike at all. Who has the right to tell someone not to hike alone? 99.9% of my total, and nearly all of my best hikes have been alone.

[autumnstars]

Must be new... I wonder if the backcountry office will start directing people to this along with that "Hike Smart" info they always tell you to read/watch.

I only wish half the people I meet on any trail would have the slightest clue about #4 - Uphill hikers have the right of way.

I would have to agree that "Don't hike alone" is certainly not a courtesy issue. It might be a safety issue for some, depending on their level of experience, preparedness, and good judgement, but that's a different conversation.

[ddgrunning]

The "no talking" also seems a little bit elementary school teacher in nature.

I don't think "being quiet" is the same as "not talking." My guess is that this is aimed primarily at folks hiking with their ipods and external speakers blaring out their playlists on the trail, or R2R2R hikers cruising through campgrounds in the middle of the night and yakking it up without regard for the camping population.

Also, to yours and JimH's point: agreed that the "it's best not to hike alone" admonition has more to do with safety than courtesy.

[DarthStiller]

@ddgrunning
That's why I put quotes around "no talking". it's the #1 thing that's going to make noise. I've never seen someone hiking with external speakers, but I guess that's more likely to occur in the GC with the tourist element, and with the R2R element now. Granted, I've been annoyed by people who seem to be talking loudly at times, but it normally doesn't last that long as they're usually going the other way. However, I would never think to impose on someone to tell them to be quiet. If they said something more to the point like "don't talk on your cell phone" that I could agree with. although the likelihood of a cell signal there is REALLY remote. but I've seen that on urban trails around Phoenix a few times. once I passed a couple coming the other way and while the wife was talking, the husband apologized to me. I never complained, I just smiled at him as I quickly got out of earshot.

[azbackpackr]

When I hiked to Plateau Point in August, and another time on the Rim Trail this past summer there were teens hollering very loudly, presumably to get an echo from the cliffs. It was sort of annoying but since I was in the middle of tourist mess I figured it was all part of the scene. If I want peace and quiet I'm not going to be anywhere near the Corridor, DUH!

[DarthStiller]

actually, now that you mention it, yelling into the side canyons to hear your echo is a very common thing at the GC. I've done it. That puts into more of an understandable light for me why that's on the list. Still, that is part of the tourist experience there, it's not like everyone hiking at the GC are hardcore hikers who must have silence from all people to enjoy the wilderness experience. Go to a WA for that, not a National Park. The tourist element is part of the experience, IMO. There is a limit on that, which I can see how it quickly gets annoying, but I still think they should lighten up a bit.

[neilends]

At the Scottsdale MSP southern section's most popular trail, Gateway Loop, it was at least a weekly occurrence for me to encounter a "hiker" talking to someone on his (I don't remember any women being this rude) cellphone on speakerphone. I've cut out about half of that trail with a new route so I don't see this as often now.

I've encountered hikers with boom boxes and the volume turned up at Humphreys Peak, and at Madera Canyon south of Tucson. You'd think long trails would Darwinize the hiking population by weeding out such numbskulls, but no. Even numbskulls like to enjoy and appreciate the "outdoors" by "hiking."

[SpiderLegs]

I've encountered hikers with boom boxes and the volume turned up at Humphreys Peak, and at Madera Canyon south of Tucson. You'd think long trails would Darwinize the hiking population by weeding out such numbskulls, but no. Even numbskulls like to enjoy and appreciate the "outdoors" by "hiking."

I've finally gotten to the point to where I don't hold back. Get very vocal about people having to turn down their music. If you ever read in the news about someone getting charged with tossing someone's cell phone over a cliff in the upcoming months, it could be me.

[neilends]

I've encountered hikers with boom boxes and the volume turned up at Humphreys Peak, and at Madera Canyon south of Tucson. You'd think long trails would Darwinize the hiking population by weeding out such numbskulls, but no. Even numbskulls like to enjoy and appreciate the "outdoors" by "hiking."

I've finally gotten to the point to where I don't hold back. Get very vocal about people having to turn down their music. If you ever read in the news about someone getting charged with tossing someone's cell phone over a cliff in the upcoming months, it could be me.

Not a jury in the land who'd convict you for that.

[SpiderLegs]

Any word yet on if the NPS was trying or attempting to enforce the SUP the last week?

[Dschur]

I will be up there the first weekend of Oct.. will check it out....

[Dschur]

Was up at the N. Kaibab waiting for my husband coming from the S. Rim and most R2R people were in little groups of 2-4...except there was one group of 49 that was waiting for their people... they were telling how they have been doing it for 18 yrs.. ice chests full of soda, water and beer.. snacks and everything.. called themselves somebody family reunion... kept saying it to some of the people with sarcasm... I didn't think that would keep you from needing a permit but no one in the 2 hrs I was there came to ask them anything except to move the vans...

[SpiderLegs]

Was up at the N. Kaibab waiting for my husband coming from the S. Rim and most R2R people were in little groups of 2-4...except there was one group of 49 that was waiting for their people... they were telling how they have been doing it for 18 yrs.. ice chests full of soda, water and beer.. snacks and everything.. called themselves somebody family reunion... kept saying it to some of the people with sarcasm... I didn't think that would keep you from needing a permit but no one in the 2 hrs I was there came to ask them anything except to move the vans...

Those are the people that the SUP needs to week out. That group is way to big.

[big_load]

@Dschur 49 people

We get similar groups here on stretches of the Appalachian Trail. It's awful to see two school buses disgorge 100 people in matching pink tshirts to embark on "wilderness experience".