I’ve been having really weird human encounters on the trail lately. I’ve written about a few of them, but here’s another one to ponder. The topic: passing etiquette.

I was on my way down from a ridge top (2400 feet in 2 miles, so not a trivial hike) when I came up on a group of older guys on their way downward as well.

But here’s the thing: They did not acknowledge my existence or the obvious fact that I wanted to descend more quickly than their pace.

A bit of context: The trail was winding its way through a wide open mountain meadow, with a steep dropoff to my right and so many wildflowers I thought my eyes would never drink it all in on my left. Going slow was okay by me, but not that slow.

No obstructions, no blind corners, so I was not invisible! And I always click my poles or clear my throat to make my presence known. It didn’t work :/

At first, I ran the likely options in my head. Could they be a deaf hiking community? Could they all be using earbuds? Or disabled hearing aids?

But I listened to them talking, and they clearly could hear one another.

Finally, I cleared my throat even more loudly and asked the one in the back to pass him. He acted so surprised and stopped abruptly in the trail. I had to inch my way around him.

I leapfrogged (on the exposed side) until I had passed the whole group.

What the?? Has this ever happened to you?!

A followup on the weird thing that happened to me on a recent hike (posing, posturing females in an alpine lake): Your opinions include entitlement, cluelessness and profound lack of social manners.

Anyway, here’s a combined dose of hiking news to tide you over until September (gulp, hard to think that far ahead).

INSPIRING HIKING WOMEN

E. Ross, Auburn, NY

My destinations this year are the wonderful Adirondacks of New York State, for anywhere from 1 to 10 mile hikes. My goal is to keep on hiking as long as I can with whatever adaptations are necessary to accomplish that.

My tips relate to adaptations. Be ready for the weather, know where you are going and be prepared, but most of all, be flexible enough to change the plan when it is called for. Rigidity is not helpful!

Susan S, Tennessee

I was just in Colorado at the YMCA of the Rockies (next door to Rocky Mt National Park).  I mainly walked there.  The higher elevation was a big factor. I live at 800', and the Y is 8000'. I have a strong desire to hike to the Len Foote Hike Inn in Georgia.  That's on my 'to do' list for next January.

Strive to stay active.  Take very good care of your body.  Several times a week work on strengthening and staying flexible. Do not spend a lot of time sitting.  Reach out for advice in reliable places---such as 'Hiking for Her':).....and Gait Happens.  Gait Happens has helped me so much with an old foot injury.  I highly recommend them!

(My note: I am including a link to Gait Happens for your convenience.) Gait Happens

Thanks to our inspiring hikers! At the end of this newsletter I'll give you a chance to answer 3 new hiking questions, to be shared in upcoming newsletters.

HIKING RESOURCES

The host is Christine Reed, an author, thruhiker, and trailrunner.

This podcast is an extension of the Outdoorsy Women+ Book Club. How fun does that sound?

Book choices for the club include memoir, narrative non-fiction, fiction and stories in all outdoor adventure sports including hiking, running, mountaineering, rock climbing, kayaking, biking, snow sports, and beyond.

Give it a look!

Rugged Outdoors Woman podcast

RESTORING A BELOVED TRAIL

Here is a story of humans coming together to restore a trail (Hanging Lake project in Colorado) that may be a bit too popular.

Trail restoration

INSPIRATION FROM AN UNLIKELY SOURCE

The Princess of Wales.

To be serious about this, she is a vocal advocate for getting back to yourself after a major health event: "Cancer doesn't just affect the body. It changes how you think and feel and profoundly affects every aspect of life.”

Clearly, she's been through some stuff.

To challenge herself and to raise funds for her cause, she completed the Three Peaks Challenge.

And the Princess of Wales actually looks like a soggy hiker (ignore the rookie mistake of the huge ring on her finger, because I leave my hefty bling at home, don't you?).

Princess completes hiking challenge

I had never heard of this Challenge, so I went a bit further and found this article on it.

It includes the author’s opinion of why Princess Kate should be proud of accomplishing it:

Why Princess Kate rocks the trail

NEW PRODUCT (?)

It seems to solve a problem that a pee rag or drip drying or wearing a panty shield pad already solves.

I'm not affiliated with this product in any way, just kinda intrigued by the idea.

Your thoughts?

Wild Wipe

Not sure what a pee rag is? Or how to solve trail hygiene conundrums involving all parts of your body?

Here's what I use to stay clean and less smelly:

All the hiking hygiene conundrums, solved

LONGEST USA TRAILS

There is also a summary table with route lengths, making it easy to see what each trail demands in terms of endurance.

Stash this link for your daydreaming and planning sessions!

Long Trails, USA

Thanks for reading to the end

I invite you to be featured in this newsletter as an inspiration to our hiking community. My 3 questions have changed a bit:

1. What kind of hikes do you like doing the most? (length, destination, terrain, etc.)

2. Where in the world would you go for your next hiking trip if I handed you a heaping bucket of time and money?

3. What nugget of trail wisdom have you learned the hard way and would like to spare the rest of us from experiencing?

Hit reply and I'll save your answers to share in the next newsletter!

Or hit reply and let me know your trail "passing" horror stories.

Or send me photos of your trail time! I love getting them :)

Or don't hit reply, just get out there and put some miles on your boots.

Until September...

Diane a.k.a. Unofficial Miss Manners Hiker

diane@hiking-for-her.com

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Wow!

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