Hiking Etiquette 101

Hiking is one of the most free-spirited activities on the planet. You can set out early in the morning on any given trail and potentially never encounter another soul…some of us desire this solitude on the trail while others look to hiking to disconnect from their usual lives, but not completely eliminate social interaction.  Regardless of your stance, there are some unwritten rules that we should all consider to ensure the hiking experience is as enjoyable as possible.

I put together a list of common trail etiquette considerations we should all acknowledge each and every time we go on a hike. Some of these unwritten rules are obvious while others seem to be broken almost every time Whitney and I go hiking, but if we can all understand that every hiker seeks a different experience then we can guarantee his/her experience goes as expected.

Click here to read all about our hiking adventures!

Please take all of these suggestions into account next time you’re on the trail:

• Interactions with other hikers:
  • Yield to uphill hikers – this is not obvious, but yielding to uphill hikers ensures the person huffing and puffing up the trail doesn’t have to break stride and lose their momentum or get out of their hiking groove. It’s also quicker going down than it is going up, so it helps to make sure uphill hikers reach their destination at a reasonable time.  With all that said, most uphill hikers love the chance to catch their breath, so if they yield to you, by all means…go ahead!
  • Hikers yield to horses, bikers yield to hikers – horses are historically prey animals, so they can be spooked by humans haphazardly walking on the trail and take off running or, even worse, kick at you with their hind legs.  Bikers must yield to hikers because it’s not easy for hikers to get out of the way of cyclists on the trail.
  • Allow faster hikers to pass – we get it…it’s not a race, but Whitney and I like to hike at a faster pace than most because we like to treat our hike as a workout along with the enriched experience of being in nature.  It’s also more dangerous to not allow faster hikers to pass through because you tend to hike faster than you’d like to accommodate the speed of the hiker(s) behind you.
  • Groups hike single file – don’t take up the whole trail – spreading out on the trail increases erosion and leaves a long-lasting impact on wilderness. One of the biggest rules of proper trail etiquette is to leave no trace.
  • Move off trail when taking a break – this one is obvious…there are likely other hikers on the trail, so please move out of their way when resting.
  • Watch your language – don’t get us wrong…we definitely aren’t prudes, but have some bleeping respect for others on the trail; there are kids out here!  We recently heard some girls in their early 20s ranting about the trail talking about how f’ing awesome it was and how the trail f’ing kicked their asses…nobody wants to hear that!
     
• Technology:
  • Use headphones if you want to listen to music – nobody wants to hear “Despacito” blaring from 50 yards away just to encounter you on your way down the trail, refusing to yield to the uphill hikers.
  • Don’t text or post to social media on the trail – hiking is supposed to be an opportunity to unplug…nobody cares to see your portrait on top of the local scenic vista right at the minute you arrive.  We get it, you’re proud of the accomplishment…we are too, but it can wait until you get back off the trail.
     
• Leave No Trace:
  • Pack out what you pack in – food scraps, wrappers, Kleenex…all of it.  Don’t leave it on the trail.  It’s an eyesore and leaving your trash may even cause trail officials to close a trail if the trash cannot be managed. 
  • Relieve yourself 200 feet from trail and water sources – dig a “cat hole” to bury waste in and do not leave toilet paper visible.  Feces decompose very slowly in rocky and alpine areas, so you may even be required to use a “wag bag” and pack out your own waste.  Do NOT leave the wag bag on the trail to pick up on your way out…it won’t kill you to carry it for a few hours!
  • Don’t cut switchbacks – trail maintenance volunteers and officials have to work tirelessly to prevent erosion when hikers cannot stay on the trail.  When trail become overly eroded they are at risk for closure and have a long-lasting impact on the landscape and surrounding areas.  You’re also more prone to injury, tick encounters and interactions with poisonous plants when you go off the trail.
  • Leave existing cairns, don’t create new ones or destroy previous cairns – there are mixed reviews on cairns (called ducks in some areas).  Some people think it violates “leave no trace” principles while others find them very useful for navigating less obvious trails.  We’re a fan of cairns because they help identify the optimal path for summit approaches in rocky or talus terrain where a clear and obvious trail is not possible.  If you see a cairn, leave it as is…there are hikers that depend on them!
  • Don’t feed wildlife – this is our biggest pet peeve on the trail.  That cute little chipmunk is not your friend…feeding the chipmunk a little bit of your trail mix does nothing but hurt him/her because it disrupts their normal foraging process and tricks them into thinking food is always available and human food is their primary food source.  It also causes the population of chipmunks living around trail stopping points to become overwhelming and they get so focused on human food sources that they will dig into your bag and steal your food when you’re not looking (this happened to us on Clouds Rest in Yosemite National Park).  Feeding bears or other large animals is worse because it increases potentially dangerous interactions with those animals.
  • Read more about the LNT Principles here.
     
• Dog Etiquette:
  • Use a leash – not everyone likes dogs – we’re indifferent to dogs, but I really don’t enjoy hiking with your dog for hundreds of yards while he/she runs ahead of you unleashed on the trail.  I also don’t want your dog begging for my snacks when I’m hanging out at a trail stopping point.
  • Pick up poo bags ­– when hiking the Flatirons in Boulder, Colorado, we came across about 10 different dog waste bags in the span of a mile.  What an eyesore! 
  • Try to avoid your dog urinating in water sources – to ensure decent water quality when refilling your water on the trail or around camp.  Dog urine does carry viruses and bacteria just like human urine does, so please take proper precautions to keep our water supply as clean as possible. 

Following these “unwritten rules” will ensure everyone on the trail enjoys their hike to the fullest, but you may want to familiarize yourself with all the dangers on the trail and read this article on why you probably shouldn’t go on a hike.

The One Thing You Need Before Starting Any Adventure

Sponsored by Zappos

As you know, we LOVE being outside. We just returned home from a hiking trip to Colorado. We take a hiking trip each year and in between those trips we spend as much time as possible outside. Since we are in Georgia, we tend to avoid going outside much in the summer months since it’s extremely hot and humid but we hike and/or ski about nine months out of the year.

One of the most common questions we get is what do you wear while hiking, skiing, etc? It’s a complicated answer but rarely ever changes. That’s why we were both so excited when Zappos/Smartwool reached out to us regarding their #StepIntoComfort campaign.

The one thing you need before starting any adventure is the correct clothing. With the rise in the number of people who are interested in outdoor/adventure sports, we often see people on the trails who are not prepared at all for what is to come or what could come. There’s more than just seeing a picture online and driving to the trailhead. You must prepare for changing weather conditions (no, checking the weather app doesn’t count…mountains create their own weather!). Wearing the incorrect clothing can make what would have been an awesome adventure into a nightmare (believe me, we’ve been there!).

Simply put, we dress in layers or bring additional layers with us. Most of our base layer wardrobe is Smartwool. We have numerous socks, pants, tops, and gloves made by Smartwool. There’s nothing worse than being freezing while backpacking, especially when you are trying to fall asleep! For comfort and safety, layers are important. You want your clothing to be breathable, moisture wicking, odor resistant, quick drying, and non-itchy. Smartwool meets all of these requirements, plus more!

We were excited to both receive the Smartwool Mid 250 Zip Top in the mail. We didn’t have them on our trip to Colorado but once they arrived we put them to the test on one of our neighborhood trails. They are so soft and comfortable – and NOT itchy! The fit is fantastic and pretty true to size as well. These tops can be worn a single layer (like we are wearing in the pictures) in cool weather or as a base layer for cold weather (think layering for winter sports!). The Merino 250 is a 100% Merino wool base layer and Smartwool’s warmest weight fabric. One of my favorite features (besides the non-itchiness) is the flatlock seam that helps eliminate chafing.

To complete your base layer, pair either the 250 crew top or zip top with the 250 bottoms  and a pair of socks! Just find the right shoes and pack for you and you are all set (minus food and water but that’s a topic for another day!)!

While the clothing is amazing, you know we love companies who look beyond just creating a product and selling it. We were so happy to learn that they trace the wool to the farm and ensures that every farm takes care of its sheep, workers, and land!

Click here to check out the Smartwool Collection on Zappos!

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Our Top 5 Tips for Visiting National Parks

Top 5 Tips for Visiting National Parks | He and She Eat Clean

We've had a lot of experience visiting our National Parks and we often receive questions regarding tips on hiking trails and where to stay. You can read a lot of our hiking recaps here (I'm really behind on these...like years behind!) but we also wanted to share some of our tips about making the most of your trip.

National Parks are there for us to enjoy but it's also up to us to keep them clean. Have fun on your trip but please educate yourself (and those traveling with you!) on the Leave No Trace Principles!

Our Top 5 Tips for Visiting National Parks

1. Arrive early.

All year, but especially during the busy season, the lines at the entrance station can back up for miles. If you would rather spend your vacation in the park instead of sitting in traffic at an entrance station, we recommend getting there early. Early as in by 9 AM at the latest. If you want to sleep in and leisurely eat breakfast or go out to eat for breakfast be prepared to spend a lot of time in traffic. Not only does traffic back up at the entrance stations but the parking lots also fill up and the trails become crowded.

2. Travel in the off-season.

While this may not be possible for some people, it won't hurt to take your child out of school for a few days or a week. Perfect attendance in school isn't that big of a deal and I bet they will learn a lot while in the park! Now I may have made a lot of people mad, but that's the truth. If your child's school seems to have the same schedule as all the other schools consider taking them out of school for a National Park trip. If you absolutely can't do that, travel at the very beginning or very end of the summer break when some schools may not be out yet or may have started school again. If you don't have children, look up the busiest times at the park you are interested in and do everything you can to avoid those.

3. Pack your own lunch and/or snacks.

We've shared many of our money saving tips before and this is always at the top of the list. Not only will this save you a ton of money but it will also save you a ton of time. Eat breakfast in your room before you leave and pack your lunch to eat on your hike or just at a scenic spot. That way you can spend more time in the park enjoying nature instead of waiting for a table. Use dinner or an off-day to explore the restaurants around.

4. Plan your visit before you arrive but be willing to change plans.

Since many of us plan these trips months (and sometimes years!) in advance it's best to have a general idea of where you want to go and what you want to see. However, there are many unpredictable things that come up like weather, road closures, etc. Be flexible with your schedule! One day while we were in Yosemite National Park we planned on climbing Mount Dana to warm up for Mount Whitney (you can read about Mount Whitney here) but there was a bike race on the highway and traffic was barely moving. We decided to not go into the park that day. At first we were really upset and mad but when we got back to the condo I started looking at books they had there and found a local hike near Mammoth for us to do. It ended up being one of our absolute favorites and it wasn't even in the park!

5. Stay close to the park and take advantage of websites like Airbnb.

I use the word "close" loosely here. We've stayed about an hour away from many National Parks and just drive in each day. A lot of the parks we visit are very remote so there's not much around. If you want to stay inside the park you have to book pretty far in advance and it's really expensive. I've only stayed inside one park, Grand Canyon National Park, when I went with my sister and cousin before I really started hiking. Typically, we book through AirBNB or a similar website.

What additional tips would you add to this list?

Our Top 5 Tips for Visiting National Parks