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Seems like most subscribe to the notion that the uphill hiker has right of way, which is backwards from the way it seems it should be to me as others have pointed out. When I'm going uphill, whatever "momentum" I appear to have is pure illusion. The microsecond I stop exerting myself is the instant I stop moving. I may or may not need a break at any given point, but I'm much more likely to be wanting an excuse to stop when going uphill. Going downhill, on the other hand, it takes effort to stop.
Generally, I'm happy to stop and let someone pass in either direction. At the rate in which oncoming hikers and I generally are closing on each other, I usually pick a spot to stop near the point at which we'll intersect. Invariably, the oncoming hiker stops to let me pass somewhere long before I reach that point, often waiting a full 20 or 30 seconds for me to reach them to pass.
I don't care so much either way when someone is coming toward you. I have a bigger problem with someone in front of you who is going slower than you (travelling in the same direction), and knows you are approaching and still won't let you by.
2A: Don't ask anybody about their sexual orientation; don't tell anybody yours.
Who the hell cares about sexual orientation in the woods? It's about the last damned thing that I think about after a long day of hiking.
Here's our take on what works for us:
http://www.longtrailpodcast.com/ltett.shtml
"Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet."
-Thich Nhat Hahn
http://www.cranberrymountainlodge.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1838232611
In shelters the rule should be quiet once one person is asleep and quiet until everyone is awake, but it reality it's the opposite.
"Hike your own hike" - but realize that there is a bit of an art - not just a black & white rule - as in most human relations. The individual who started this thread is obviously researching these ins + outs a few years in advance - but many folks will hop on the trail for a thru-hike with much less knowledge about any of the thru-hiking experience - or any outdoors experience for that matter. I've met folks that have been hiking the trail for 2 months - that are amazed that "nobody ever told me that" and were embarrassed that they had been "leaving a trace" for several hundred miles without realizing it. We all know how annoying a trail "know it all" can be - as well as a "clueless newbie" - but if you are one of those experienced hikers - and you find an opportunity to mention something of worth to someone who looks like they need a hint and are open to a small suggestion - help them out - without preaching. They may not be disregarding these things - they may have never known them. The more the experienced hikers are doing this - the more prone they are to forgetting how much the inexperienced would'nt know.
the less like me you act, the better
the more like johnney thunder you act, the bettter.
i am the poster child for bad ediquit
johnney is the poster child for good trail ediquitte
matthewski
People should realize that back in the woods, it is a different world. Most of the naggy BS that applies to society, all the boring little pointless rules, don't apply in the woods. I am not talking about leaving garbage behind or any of that, but people need to be less uptight. I was in NH one night on my thru, in a shelter, and it was pouring rain. I was in my clean, dry camp clothes and had to pee. No big deal, no one had showed up for hours, so I just pee off the front of the shelter. Right then, some people show up and seem to have an issue. I was like, I am not going to get my dry clothes soaking wet. I like to be plain, practical, and efficient, and never really cared for most of the social BS we feel we have to put up with in society.
peeing off shelters is horrid. the wafting amonia at other times long after the ofending peeer is gone a peeeing elsewhere,..causes us norms to cast evil curses at you. so dont wonder to long why your luck stinks.
matthewski
the only thing worse than a ledge peeer is a second story old guy bottle peeer.with hikers sleeping below in a loft with floors that have space between the boards, your right to pee in a bottle exspires. get the heck out from over my head with your tinkel noise. i know you aint mixin gatoraid!lol.
matthewski
Hike your own hike, and keep your attitude to yourself....Golden Rule