[pct-l] Switchback's Trail Etiquette

[Gary Minetti]

At last year's Kick Off  a 8.5 x 11 sheet of laminated paper was duct taped - blue duct tape - to the cinder block wall in the men's bathroom.  I really liked what it said and took a picture.   I hope Switchback, who I did not have the opportunity to meet, won't mind my posting his words, which summarize nicely how not to be an a__ on the trail.  They read as follows:

TRAIL ETIQUETTE

Switchback the Trail Pirate offers the following words of wisdom.

Be a good ambassador for the hiking community.

Respect other people and their property.
Say "thank you" and "please".
Offer to pay for services/help - don't expect Trail Angel Support, but appreciate it.
Leave things better than you found them.
"Take only pictures and leave only footprints".
Try to have the "Leave No Trace" philosophy.
Don't think the world revolves around your trail problems.
Try to have a "stealth" persona.  Don't be noisy and seek attention.
Pick up trash along the trail and in camp.
Be supportive of other hikers and encourage them.  Be a good role model.
Shut gates and don't bother domestic animals.  Respect property everywhere.
Trail graffiti and vandalizing trail registers are not things responsible hikers do.
Don't tolerate bad conduct on the trail or in town.
Politely remind people their conduct may be out of line.

We want to be welcome everywhere along the trail.  
We want to have a great reputation in the trail community - people look up to us as the best of the best.  

Watch your thoughts, they become your WORDS
Watch your words, they become your ACTIONS
Watch your actions, they become your HABITS
Watch your habits, they become your CHARACTER
Watch your character, it is your DESTINY

Thanks, Switchback.
Gman
Class of 2012



On Feb 6, 2013, at 10:12 PM, Paul Mitchell wrote:

> So, I was thinking that with ever increasing numbers hitting the trail at
> Campo that it might be a good idea for us to assemble something of a little
> guide pamphlet on how to not be an ass on the PCT.
> 
> 
> 
> Examples of points might include:
> 
> 
> 
> * Don't wash your feet and socks in the fire-water tanks we use as water
> sources. (Yes, someone has seen another PCT hiker do that)
> 
> * Remember that in towns you're an ambassador for the entire PCT community,
> being rude to a hotel owner gives us all a bad name.
> 
> * Don't scratch big messages for hiker-friends in the sand, it's nice for
> the intended recipient but a wilderness-disrupting eye-sore for many others
> (ahem, personally guilty of this one).  Likewise, don't hike with your
> trekking poles hanging beside you scratching long lines on either side of
> the sandy trail.
> 
> 
> 
> I haven't been on the trail in a few years and I know there were some
> examples of things I was baffled to see other hikers doing that I now can't
> quite recall, but if everyone here chips in on their points, perhaps we can
> put a definitive list together.
> 
> 
> 
> Perhaps it can be a little more positively framed than my examples too, a
> bit more humorous & focused on positive reinforcement.  Once it's assembled
> we could have it printed and available at kick-off.
> 
> 
> 
> Thoughts?
> 
> 
> 
> - Potential178
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> 
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
> All content is copyrighted by the respective authors. 
> Reproduction is prohibited without express permission.