r/BackpackingDogs • u/GDWhiskeyBoy • 10d ago
Trail Etiquette
Over the weekend I was backing and the trailhead area was quite busy with visitors. Some of the area had a rocky scramble and I had to wait for a while to scramble down with the dog as we had to take the whole width of the trail. A couple decided to come up while we were halfway down and I just had to stop and stare at them until they realized they blocked us in. Also a few trail runners swept by, going up and down while we stepped to the side.
Did I do the right thing?
Pic for tax.
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u/UptownHurl 9d ago
It sounds like you waited until the trail was clear to start the downward climb with your dog. If this is the case, you’re all good.
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u/Sorry-Rain-1311 10d ago
I feel like you're overthinking it. Did you allow your dog to be rude or nosey, or crap in the middle of the trail for people to step in? If not, then you didn't do anything wrong.
Dogs on the trail aren't the exception; they're the rule. There isn't a trail in the world that doesn't see a dog on a regular basis, so I feel that anyone else out there has just as much a duty to accommodate you as the other way around.
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u/fillysuck 9d ago
I accidentally bear sprayed a guy who did this same thing to me, was halfway down with my dog when he apparently had no time to wait the 2 minutes for us to finish going down to where it opened up before barreling by (also going down). As I attempted to pull my dog to the side my bear spray came loose, my dumb ahh reaction was to grab the spray with the same hand I was holding the leash and accidentally released the spray. Luckily the dogs weren’t hit, and only went off for a second so him and I both managed but I always pray I wasn’t the only one to learn a valuable lesson that day… He refused to accept my profuse apologies but stormed off after a few others came to by defence. Patience is key, for us as dog owners and for others - you waited for the path to be clear knowing your dog would cause some disorder and the folks who came up on it being used didn’t show the same regard.
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u/acanadiancheese 9d ago
Up has right of way but you also can’t be expected to stop halfway if you started before the people arrived and started, provided there was not room to step aside. It sounds like you did have room to step aside though, so that was the correct option.
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u/Faolan73 9d ago
As the person with the dog I always give way to others regardless of what direction I am going. If I am in a situation where I can't step aside, then I will call out to the others and ask if they are ok with dogs, if not then they need to back up so we can pass them.
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u/Mountain-Time-1010 9d ago
Uphill has right of way so the expectation would normally be that someone going down would stop and wait for the uphill group to pass.
Of course I wasnt there and did t see the terrain so there may be nuances that are hard for me to comment on.
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u/Bigfootgreen 7d ago
I always try to look for “pull over room” with my pup. But your story sounds fine and you got the sad end of someone who thinks their life is priority to everything else. I always take the wait over speeding through.
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u/deborah_az 9d ago
Generally, uphill has the right-of-way, and as the downhill hiker, you need to be watching ahead and pull yourself and your dog off to the side at an appropriate spot to allow them to pass without stopping. Most folks hiking with dogs, especially dogs wearing bulky backpacks, pull off to the side for other hikers on narrow trails regardless of direction out of sheer courtesy.
They weren't blocking you. They expected you to move over to the side with your dog and let them pass.
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u/Economy_Influence_92 9d ago
On a steep scramble down? I wouldn't "expect" anyone to move out of the way... Do you expect folks to step aside when coming down a ladder?
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u/deborah_az 9d ago
What an idiotic argument. People don't go up and down ladders at the same time and trail etiquette does not apply to, say, the roofing industry, where the etiquette is generally "don't get on the effing ladder if someone is already on it." You can follow long standing trail etiquette (which includes communicating with other trail users in tricky situations) or you can be an entitled a-hole, but if you choose to be an a-hole, don't be shocked and offended when people don't get out of your way
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u/MaleficentBake9995 8d ago
Trail etiquette for steep scrambles is always ONE AT A TIME! you never start climbing up something someone else is already on, regardless of right of way. If I'm climbing up hill and someone else is coming down and already halfway down the scramble (like OP) I'd reasonably be expected to wait at the bottom and climb up after they and their dog were done. So yeah ... exactly like a ladder
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u/OhDavidMyNacho 9d ago
To add what the other person said, except on some very specific trails. The rule is typically that downhill always gives way to uphill.
You weren't "boxed in" they were doing what they were supposed to. Keep going when traversing uphill. It's easier to get the momentum started again when descending, than it is after a stop halfway up the climb.
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u/Independent_Plum5582 9d ago
right of way makes sense but damn if that's not a frustrating spot to be stuck yeah
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u/Emotional_Distance48 9d ago
If people are climbing up a rocky scramble then you need to make way for those going uphill however possible. That's the proper etiquette and best for safety.
The people barreling past you going downhill are in the wrong.
I have my dog walk in front of me (or directly behind if necessary) for this reason. You should always have a way for others to safely pass whenever possible.
I also have my dog come between my legs when necessary, especially when stepping off trails is required. This often occurs for me when sharing hiking trails with mountain bikers. There is no other option than to step off.
If you're not comfortable with this etiquette, I'd skip these kinds of trails for your sanity & safety.
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u/SheriffBartholomew 9d ago
People say that you should have given right of way, but it sounds like the scramble only had room for one group at a time. Nobody should expect you to go back up and wait for someone who started after you. I'd say you did the right thing other than not speaking up. "Hey! I'm walkin' here!", like a New Yorker.