| Hiking For Dummies, an Etiquette Guide for the Discerning Hiker |
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 Sunday, October 19th, 2009The Coachella Valley, California Article and photos by Palm Springs Guides Trail Guide Jace Edwards For more Jace Edwards photos, click here. As the weather turns, many more hikers are hitting the trail. As one who hikes many of these trails in the dead heat of summer as well as the prime conditions we are approaching, I have to report my distaste for the trail etiquette displayed by many return enthusiasts. Conditions on the trail show evidence of both the careless pet owner as well as the inconsiderate hiker. Through fields of feces and litter, these magnificent trails are looking more utilitarian than preserved. There are many organizations doing their part to keep the trails maintained and clean, but even the maintenance has in part become obtrusive. Here, I will outline four different problems. Each one is a basic principle that can easily be applied by anyone. This I will call the Dummies Guide for Hiking the Coachella Valley. #1: Pet Owners  If you own a pet, clean up after it. Period. I understand if Fido ran half way up the hill to do his business; I am not referring to those incidents. What I am talking about are the minefields found at the base of many trailheads, Completely avoidable obstacles that sit waiting to ambush that early morning hiker who starts up the trail in a blue morning haze. Four steps into it and BLAM! The entire hike is now compromised of pleasure, all because Fido's owner couldn't carry a small plastic bag. Think about health risks. A large field of feces dries and turns to dust. Winds pick it up and every hiker who starts and stops at this area will go through a large, dusty fecal cloud. Sounds appetizing, doesn't it?#2: Water  Bring it, no matter what. If you can't bring it because it's too heavy, hiking may not be your activity. Water is life. That's not just a line from the movie "Dune," it is the truth. Anything can happen on a trail, and when it happens to the unprepared, it can cost more than you want. A camelback is the easiest tool for a regular hiker, but a bottle of water in your hand works too. I take about 100 ounces of water, about three quarts, for a four-hour hike. Sometimes I come back with extra, and sometimes I don't. If you are out wandering and find that half your water supply has gone, then you may want to consider finding your way back to the trailhead. Remember to listen to your body; it knows when it needs water and it knows when it needs to rest.#3: Litter  If kindergarten taught us anything, it was to put out toys away. If you are on the trail and you find that your water bottle is empty, leaving it for the trail fairies is not the proper choice. Stow it somewhere until you can get back to a garbage or recycling can. It amazes me how many items I find along the trail that are just results from careless hikers who apparently feel that the world is their trash bin. Often times, I find myself stuffing a plastic bag I keep in my cargo pocket with other people's responsibilities. Simple rule: If you pack it in, pack it out! #4: Trail Maintenance  As you hike, you may want to repair a portion of a trail, maybe replace a few rocks that guide a path. This is no problem for me. Adjusting the natural features for safety and guidance purposes is all of our responsibility. But when trail maintenance becomes an eyesore, that is where I take issue. There are some trails where having markers along the trail are beneficial. Small white dots on different rocks that guide the hiker up a tough course are appreciated and many times needed. But large white Xs marking trails that are clearly the only option is overkill. As my old Drill Instructor would say, "Leave it better than we found it!"These four simple principles will increase everyone's enjoyment of the trails, its scenery and challenges. Together we can preserve and enjoy our majestic peaks and deep crevasses the canyons have to offer. So remember to do your part the next time you hit the trail! Thanks to The Bureau of Land Management and their Web site, the Riverside County Sheriffs Search and Rescue Team, the Coachella Valley Hiking Club and to those who clean up after their pets and remove litter from the trail. Before you go, know the signs of heat stroke, click here. For more Jace Edwards photos, click here.  Palm Springs Guides Hiking Guide Jace Edwards focuses on hiking and the numerous trails the Coachella Valley has to offer. Aside from his contributions, Jace is also a broadcaster who has been heard on KCLB (Palm Springs), KCXX (Riverside), KCAL (San Bernardino), KKND (New Orleans), KEDG (Las Vegas) and KNRQ/KZEL (Eugene). An avid adventurer, Jace is always looking for that next challenge, so that he may write about it here, on Palm Springs Guides. For more information about Jace Edwards or to contact him, click here. | |||||||
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