"The Ethics of Thru-Hiking During the COVID-19 Pandemic"

[Traffic Jam]

We here in Europe are a few weeks ahead in the pandemy. We have a "stay at home" policy, with exceptions like to shop necessary things, go to doctor/hospital, or go for sports or a walk alone or with the people you are living with.
I have been travelling through infectious countries 3 weeks ago and put myself in home-quarantaine for 2 weeks.
Nothing wrong so far.

Now I'm living in a spot a little outside of town where a famous local trail is passing by, right outside my door, straight through my property.
Normally, 10-20 people will pass by on a nice sunny day.
Now in Corona-time, 50-100 people walked the trail every day, numbers growing as weather warms up.

So now I have avoided an infection while abroad, but am exposed to crowds back home.
Would you call this "responsible hikers"?
Most likely, in every hike you will have situations like my own (but you being the hiker, not the resident) where you cannot avoid getting close to other people.

I hiked on Saturday and was shocked at the number of people out. I felt more vulnerable on the trail than I did at the grocery store.

[Slo-go'en]

I hiked on Saturday and was shocked at the number of people out. I felt more vulnerable on the trail than I did at the grocery store.

And of course you were one of them, as was I. I believe short, passing encounters in the outdoors is very low risk.

[Traffic Jam]

And of course you were one of them, as was I. I believe short, passing encounters in the outdoors is very low risk.

I respectfully disagree. Did you see the photos of the vehicles parked all along the road at Mountain Crossings?

per the ATC...

“In a time when social distancing is necessary to minimize the spread and contraction of a dangerous virus, many have escaped to nature seeking isolation and unpopulated spaces. On the A.T., however, what they’ve found are trailhead parking lots exceeding their maximum capacities, shelters full of overnight hikers, day hikers using picnic tables and privies, and group trips continuing as planned. Popular spots along the Trail like Blood Mountain in Georgia, the McAfee Knob area in Virginia, and Annapolis Rocks in Maryland have seen day use reach record-breaking levels. Cars line the highways leading to popular day-hiking spots on the Trail. Hiking the A.T. has become, in other words, the opposite of social distancing. “

I believe it’s only a matter of time before the state and federal government close their respective parks.

[Paleolith54]

I hiked on Saturday and was shocked at the number of people out. I felt more vulnerable on the trail than I did at the grocery store.

If you pay attention to the simplest precautions regarding distance, what you handle, touching your face, and washing your hands I don't see how you can "feel" more vulnerable than in a relatively enclosed space where, much of the time, you can't maintain the recommended distance. Now, I wouldn't argue if you said you observed most of them blithely ignoring the rules; I see that myself, and I'm baffled by it. But I see no science-based reason why you can't stay safe on the trail just because there are lots of people out there.

[Crossbar]

... But I see no science-based reason why you can't stay safe on the trail just because there are lots of people out there.

Wouldn't the 'science-based reason' be just that? Because there are lots of people out there? Just askin.....