You may have heard of hiking etiquette. But do you think they are important?
Well, you may learn about dining etiquette for an important dinner; you may also learn what you should and shouldn’t do before meeting your boyfriend’s or girlfriend’s parents.
Why? – Because you want to leave a good impression and don’t want to be embarrassed.
This shows how important good manner is when it comes to our daily lives.
Same thing applies to hiking. In fact, hiking etiquette is the fundamental manner for both experienced hiker or beginner.
Not to be surprised, there are several Dos and Don’ts that you, as a hiker, should be aware of:
1. Dos
1.1 Have A Positive Mindset
Before you want to make sure everything is checked to be a good hiker, I always believe we have to look within us: to have a positive mindset.
You are entering the realm of Mother Nature!
Ask yourself, what comes to your mind and what do you imagine when you think of “hiking”?
Are you feeling excited? Are you feeling motivated?
Because having a positive mindset carries a positive vibe which also influences the hikers surround you.
If you foresee a difficult hike, instead of feeling demotivated or doubting your ability to finish the hike, tell yourself it is a challenge and you will conquer it.
I’m glad that I have a group of enthusiastic hikers which they always like to challenge themselves through challenging hike. – I truly love to hike with them because of the positive energy that they have.
1.2 Be Punctual for Meet Up
Where are you? What is the ETA? – Do you want to keep calling your hiking buddies and ask these questions for the meet up before your hike?
Well, I guess you will be frustrated if you wait for them for like almost 1 hour and yet they haven’t shown up.
Or, how would you feel if you were the person who is late for the meet up? – I guess you may feel sorry for being late.
That’s true. Being punctual for meet up before your hike is crucial because nobody wants to mess up the schedule and mood of each other BEFORE the hike! – In fact, this is one of the hiking etiquette that every hiker MUST observe.
Always plan your transportation before your hike. Get to know how long it takes to reach the meet up point and decide what time you should leave your house.
1.3 Observe “Leave No Trace”
You might hear this very often. Or you saw this message on a board on the trail head.
Basically, it means whatever you bring for a hike, remember to bring them back after your hike. Don’t leave these items on the trails or in the jungle.
Interpretation: Don’t litter.
This is a well-know hiking etiquette which you need to observe whenever you hike, whether you hike locally or in overseas.
Just prepare a small bag to collect your rubbish, snacks packaging and empty bottle for instance, and bring back home with you after your hike.
After all, we enjoy the nature and this is why we love hiking. – You know how frustrated it is to see a lot of rubbish along the trails.
And, because of the this, some reserved forest authorities have this so called “packed-in and packed-out” policy – Which means the items that a hiker brings before the hike should be the same after the hike.
Let’s preserve our nature by just taking this small effort from anyone of us.
1.4 Be Friendly to Hikers
What would you react when you see hikers coming towards you?
Would you ignore them? Or, would you say “good morning” to them?
Or, how would you feel if the hikers smile and say “good morning” to you? Would you feel happier?
That’s right. A smile or a simple “good morning” can immediately enlighten our mood!
Study has shown that a smile can improve a person’s mood and reduce anxiety associated symptoms by releasing dopamine, endorphins and serotonin. Also, when we see a person smiling, we will tend to smile back. – Smiling is contagious.
Or, if someone asks for direction and you know the direction, be generous to offer your help.
You wouldn’t know you may also need their help.
1.5 Priority to Ascending Hikers
Let’s say on a narrow trail, you are descending and you come across a group of hikers ascending, what would you do?
It is always good to step aside and let them ascend.
Why?
Because the vision of ascending is always smaller and narrower than descending, meaning ascending hikers usually notice the descending hikers after the descending hikers notice them.
Also, we don’t want to disturb the momentum and pace built up by the ascending hikers.
1.6 Let Hikers Overtake You
You are exhausted and you pace is getting slower and slower.
You look behind and you see a numbers of hikers approaching you.
Damn, they are fast! I feel like a loser! I’m not as good as them! – You may be hearing this inner voice inside your head and you feel demotivated.
Remember, hiking is NOT a competition. – Everyone has his own pace and should be comfortable with this.
It is OK to feel tired and have a need to rest.
At this moment, just move to the side of the trail and let them overtake you. You may take some time to rest and recover before you proceed with your hike.
You may be surprised that some hikers appreciate your “effort” because of your consideration to allow them to proceed.
1.7 Show Thankfulness to Whom Let You Overtake
Or, the other way round.
If you are a fast hiker, remember to be grateful if the hiker in front of you step aside and let you over take him / her.
Don’t forget to smile and say “thank you” to the hiker for his / her consideration.
As mentioned above, this is contagious which it brings positive vibe to both of you.
1.8 Attend “Natural Call”
You are at the PRESENT moment and enjoying every second of your hike. Sunshine, cool weather, soothing sound of the wind……
The Mother Nature returns your call. – A “Nature Call!”
You would most probably think, WTH, there is NO toilet around. And then you panic.
Well, it is unavoidable if this happens. But the good thing is, it is not the end of the world!
First, calm down.
Next, get off the trail to find your “natural toilet”, dig a hole of 6 to 8 inches, settle your “business”, and clean the “door” by using toilet paper. – I hope you have it and it is still OK if you don’t have it.
Finally, bury it. And it’s done! – Yet another hiking etiquette which is always overlooked.
But if you want to pee, of course it is easier, get off the trail to settle it. – Of course you don’t have to dig a hole for that!
I had a female hiking buddy curious on how to pee for a lady in jungle. My male hiking buddy joked and suggested her to have this:
We all LOLLLLLLL (I’m a male though).
Ladies, please don’t get offended, OK?
But, is this useful for ladies? Please let me know.
2. Don’ts
2.1 Blast Music
Came across music out of nowhere when hiking? You couldn’t see the hiker at first but you could hear the music, and the music became louder and louder when the hiker approaching you.
Or, you are the one who like to listen to music while hiking and you literally blast out your favourite music. – Sorry to let you know that: you are a jerk!
You think the music is cool and other hiker will LIKE the music and appreciate your good music TASTE.
Truth is, whilst some may appreciate your so-called “good music taste”, most of them find it irritating. – Because they want to enjoy this peaceful and silent moment while hiking.
Or, if you have the “chance” to meet hikers whom blast out their music that you HATE, you probably have the same feeling.
Just wear earphone / headphone if you want to listen to music while hiking.
2.2 Be Blasphemous
You heard before that ancient people believe in mountain spirits and those spirits are sacred, which they will either protect or destroy us.
No doubt, you could see people worshiping mountain spirits in order to gain protection and blessing.
This may sound superstitious to you. – Actually, I believe this. This hiking etiquette, as well as hiking taboo, is always overlooked by hikers.
Whether you believe this or not, I think we should “respect” the mountain, meaning we should behave ourselves and carry a positive attitude when we enter the mountain.
Don’t shout and curse. – The spirit is able to sense the negative energy and may threaten you.
Don’t call other hiker’s full name. – The spirit is able to recognize the hiker’s name and “seduce” or “follow” the hikers.
FYI, there was an earthquake in Mount Kinabalu in 2015 and it caused landslide and the death of 18 hikers. A few foreign hikers were “accused” of causing this earthquake because they “stripped” and “urinated” on the mountain a few days before the earthquake, which angered the mountain spirit.
Truth or coincidence?
2.3 Flash Headlamp towards Other Hikers
Most of the time, we did this “unintentionally” to the other hikers, especially hiking in the dark.
This happens very often when we turn around and talk to other hikers. We didn’t realize until we see their facial expression.
How to avoid this while hiking in the dark?
Some hikers suggest turning the headlamp to different direction. – Well, you still have the “chance” of flashing other hikers, huh?
Some of the headlamps can change to red light. You can change to red light when you are facing other hikers. – Red light is not as glaring as white light.
I prefer using my hand to block the light when I turn to other hiker’s direction.
2.4 Bring Back Items from Mountain / Trail
Have you come across where you find some unique / beautiful rocks, leaves, flowers, or even money along the trail?
Are you tempted to take those items and bring back HOME?
My suggestion: Do NOT bring back those items!
Because,
- Those items do not belong to us
- Remember “pack-in and pack-out” policy? I think this should be applied here.
- As a respect to the mountain. – We are just “visitors” of the mountain.
Or, just take pictures as many as you want.
2.5 Tailgate Other Hikers Not From Your Team
Ok, you are a fast hiker. You want to hike fast to break your own personal record.
Then you approach a slow hiker. Turns out that that hiker is not aware of your existence and just continue his / her “gracious” pace.
You are not making any signal or sound to grab their attention and continue to tailgate the hiker, hoping that the hiker will eventually know your existence and let you pass over.
You start to feel frustrated and suddenly the hiker turning their back and is SHOCKED that you are just “right” behind them. RIGHT Behind!
The hiker may suddenly feel sorry and embarrass for blocking the trail without realizing your existence and let you overpass immediately.
Actually, you, as a fast hiker, can do something to avoid this embarrassment. The main purpose is to grab their attention and be aware of you before you approach them.
First, slightly put more pressure on your feet to create a soft sound between your hiking shoes and the trail. Or, try to speak something with your hiking buddies if you are hiking with a team.
When the hikers turn around and look at you, try to give him / her a smile.
When you approach him / her, just gently say “would you mind if you let me overtake?”
Finally, when you overtake the hiker, just smile and say “thank you”.
2.6 Do Dangerous Move for Taking Aesthetic Photos or Videos
You look at the stunning photos or videos of those hikers on social media, sitting on the edge of the rock, doing stunts on the edge of the cliff.
You see the number of “likes” and the comments – OMG! I wish I could have those numbers of “likes” and people telling me how AWESOME I am!
YOU want to be like them and are tempted to do those so-called “stunts” to gain as many “likes” as possible!
Think twice before you do the DANGEROUS move!
We all like to take stunning photos or videos. But try to assess the situation first before you attempt to do this. – A small mistake can injure you or even cost your LIFE.
There are quite a number of reported cases in respect of hikers falling to death while posing for photos or taking selfies. – Argh, I really hope those people comply with this hiking etiquette so these won’t happen again.
2.7 Look Down on Your Hiking Buddy
When it comes to hiking, hikers should help and take care of each other, especially the beginners in need of help.
Ok, the beginners are not experienced and their stamina may be not as good as the experienced hikers.
It is OK to hike at a slower pace. – Don’t feel bad and don’t stress on yourself.
For experienced hikers, don’t look down on them for slowing down the group hiking pace. Everybody starts somewhere else.
Take this chance, slow down your pace, explain to the beginners if they have doubts, and to be helpful as much as possible.
Who knows, experienced hikers, sprained their ankles or muscle cramp for instance, may need help from others?
2.8 Leave Your Hiking Group
Unless you are on solo hiking, NEVER ever leave your group while hiking without their notice!
You may think “oh goodness, their pace is too slowwwwww……..”
Or, you may think “I’m too slow, I better don’t drag their pace.”
Then, you think hiking on your own is just fine.
But, these are NOT the reasons to leave your group.
This might create tension and anxiety for the group the moment they realize you are not in the group! They might stop the hike and search for you.
Another way is to further break into smaller groups. – At least you guys can take care of each other.
2.9 Take A Break in the Middle of the Trail
It is ok to take a break to hydrate or to have some snacks while hiking.
But, DON’T do this in the middle of the trail! – The trail is not yours!
Essentially, you are blocking the trail, in case where there are hikers ascending or descending.
Just be mindful on this, step aside from the trail and take your break as long as you want.
Observe Hiking Etiquette: Be A Responsible Hiker
You notice hiking etiquette is not a skill to be learned. In fact, hiking etiquette is common sense and we even apply this in our daily lives as well. So, it is easy to comply with hiking etiquette. After all, it requires hikers to have positive attitude and consideration.
Take care of yourself; take care of others; and most importantly, take care of our Mother Nature.
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