ENOUGH: Calling out some serious issues in the Hiking Community 

For me, my biggest gripe is the amount of trash people leave behind. I get tired of packing out other people's garbage.

I'm a big dude and I managed to summit one of our local mountains (around 5400ft) and when I got up there someone turned to me and said "how did YOU make it up here?" Rather than pick them up and toss their skinny butt off the cliff like a javelin (which I briefly considered) I said, "with great difficulty."

Do you know what's worse than dog poop on the trail? It's dog poop in a plastic bag beside the trail. WTF people.

Biodegradable dog poop bags take a year to decompose. Pack them out. P.S. Day hikers, don't leave them and say you'll get it on your way out, you won't.

I was 325 pounds at the start of my (successful) AT thru. It was everything I could do to make it shelter to shelter all the way into the Smokies. Then something magical happened, I lost as much weight as most people's base pack weight by then. I started to fly. Fat shaming wasn't an issue. Finding 3-4XL gear that was UL was. I went on to hike the PCT, JMT, BMT, VLT, and worked for the USFS. Lost 100 lbs on the AT, and kept most of it off.

The water issue has happened to me. I came across a family, the adults were in their early 30s, the kids were around 6 and 8. They also had a black lab. It’s early June in Arizona at around 1500 ft elevation. The time was 1100. I thought the dog was going to die. We gave some water to the kids first. Then we got the dog to some shade. We were able to soak him down and get him some water. They were lucky that we had a lot of extra water. We helped them get the dog to their vehicle. They were new to te area. When they left it was slightly overcast and 80. When we found them it was about 100 and sunny. They only had 1 16 ounce bottle of water each.

This may be a comment someone is looking for... Dog trainer here! Off leash dogs are a very hot topic within the training community also. The thing with an off leash dog is that, most of the time, they are over stimulated by being in new territory. When a dog is over stimulated they will not follow commands nearly as well as they do elsewhere (backyard, local field, anywhere they go often). If you're thinking "oh, my dog and I hike this trail everyday off leash and have never had an issue" Yet. You haven't had an issue yet. If your dog runs up to people it does not know, you have an issue there. I've been bit by many of the "don't worry he's friendly" dogs. If you have your leashed dog with you, call out to the owner saying to recall their dog. If the dog keeps coming, well, do what you feel necessary to protect yourself and your dog (do not shank any dogs please). If you feel you have very good control over your dog, go ahead off leash, but you better put that leash back on the second you see another person or animal.

One thing that people don’t realize is that if their dog isn’t accustomed to be in the woods, then they may be a lot more defensive and protective than when at home. Enter the thru-hiker who has gone without a shower for a few days. They don’t smell like a normal person, and I’ve seen “friendly” dogs take exception, as a result.

I've been bitten twice by loose dogs when the owner was letting them run free. They said they are "babies that would never hurt anyone" as i was bleeding out cuz of my blood thinners i take. I always take extra water for people who are out or didn't bring any; it's really sad to see children or young people who didn't think they needed to bring water. . I also have extra maps for people who are somewhat lost.

The answer to hiking inadvertently with others (pass, rest, pass them again, etc.), is to HIKE YOUR OWN HIKE. Being distracted by others originates in you. When you come across others, be mindful of your feelings. Are you lonely? Annoyed? Competitive? Care what other think? Judging others by your own standards? There are many things that can pull us out of the “zen” space we get into when hiking. It is up to the individual to find what irks us and what brings peace. Hiking your own hike requires asking yourself in each challenging moment, “Who do I want to be and how do I want to feel?”🌿

As a veterinarian and dog owner. I used to let my dog run loose because he stayed near. But I realized it is not considerate. You are sharing the trail with others. Not everyone is comfortable around dogs. Even the best trained can run off and chase something and get lost. It is NOT ok to chase wildlife. I love horses. We have to share the trail. Some parks you have to keep a poop bag on your horse. Main thing is don't criticize people for their mileage. I don't think I would enjoy little kids at a shelter. But again sharevthe trail. Great if these parents are responsibly hiking with kids and teaching them.

Last summer on the TRT I had 2 dogs run up on me out of nowhere. They both were barking and showing their teeth at me with their owners nowhere to be seen. I was seconds away from swinging my poles at them (which probably wouldn't have helped but I was going into fight or flight). Finally one of their owners came around the corner shouting "Ohhh it's ok! She's friendly!" I was furious. Now every time I see a dog not on a leash I get nervous and it totally takes me out of the element. I love dogs. But if I'm hiking uphill and have to stop because a random dog rolls up and starts barking at me making ME stop and wait, you're a terrible dog owner. I shouldn't have to make a decision whether a dog is friendly or not when I can't see their owner.

"Don't worry. My dog is friendly." Said to me by every owner of the dogs that tried to or did bite me. Also when the signs at the trailhead says "NO DOGS" it means ALL dogs! Dogs put stress on wildlife as well as hikers. Keep your pets at home.

When hiking with my dog, I use a waistbelt and 6ft bungee leash with her harness. I switch to a 50ft lead when climbing steeper areas where she and I are going at very different pace. Still, always attached to me... The fact that she has an excellent recall and wait command doesn't even come into play. It's just common sense to me. The only place I let her roam free is on our family land. If she "runs up" on someone there, they're trespassing...

On my thru hike last year I was bitten by a “friendly” off lease dog while assisting his owner filter water….keep your dog on a lease!

Kyle, awesome video!!! As a nanny and preschool teacher I cannot reiterate enough the importance of WATER for children, they go down FAST when they’re thirsty, especially in heat! But always, any season, for yourself and children, BRING LOTS OF WATER!! ❤ Take care out there!!!!!

I've had well behaved dogs. They weren't going anywhere without a harness and leash. Even the best trained dog can get distracted and/or hyper focused on something and take off. You can never read your dog's mind. I only take them out if I can maintain some kind of control. It's for everyone's comfort and safety, *especially* the dog's. Not doing so is a good way to invite tragedy into what was meant to be a relaxing retreat. Some will say "but their freedom!", to which I say I'd rather my dog live, and not get lost, shot, poisoned, attacked by a predator, or be taken from me or put down because they hurt someone. The dog will definitely get over it, and have fun regardless of the leash. I'll add that if you have a bigger dog, you need to be using a harness, not simply hooking the leash to the collar. It'll give you better control without harming the dog.

Unfortunately I have experienced the body shaming, not just on hiking trip but especially walking around my own neighborhood. I refuse to go to the gym. Not because of the trainers, because of the other members. We're damned if we do, damned if we don't. What these people don't see, are the scars on my shoulders, back, and knee. Just to get on a treadmill or go with some friends on a hike... It's excruciatingly painful. And I'm not the only one with these types of issues. I'm just saying, be kind to those around you. You don't know their story, and it's not your place to judge or criticize.

Electrolytes, it's what plants crave... I live in a place where college idiots are very close by and a little while back hiking got trendy around these parts... that leaves a LOT of litter. It's amazing how the modern hippie will litter.

On the Azt they have food cache bins that are bear proof. Lots of people will put food caches in them ahead of time clearly marked with names and an ETA so they can hike to the cache and restock. I've spoken with multiple hikers who said they're caches had been pilfered through or outright stolen. Total DB move to swipe someone's food or water cache. I think this tops the Bluetooth speaker DB!!

I've hiked a bit with my dog. Did a part of the AT (day hike) with her. She was always on a leash. Not just for people considerations but also wild animals. It's a safety thing all around. The only time she's off leash is when I'm in a primitive camp site far away from others. She doesn't roam off and bother anyone. She just hangs out. But if she couldn't behave, she'd be on a lead immediately. It is incredibly rude to have another person's dog run up on you in a hike or your campsite. And I never allow my dog to do that. Also, if I am on the trail with her and I encounter anyone else, we step off the trail and allow others to pass. Period.

totally agree on Off-Leash Dogs, was nipped twice on the AT. and yes both owners said " he never has done that before "

Dogs. I love dogs. The problem I've seen is not poorly behaved dogs, it's dog owners who have no idea that their dog can easily get heat stroke without enough water, may not be in good enough shape for the trail or the altitude, and can easily die by slipping into a river or off a cliff. On a recent trip on the Timberline Trail around Mt Hood I ran into 2 couples who had no clue what they were getting into with their poor dogs. Many technical, dangerous river crossings, long sections at altitude and in the hot sun, and some serious miles if you're looking to complete the 42 mile TT in a weekend. If you're bringing your dog on a long hike, be sure you give them adequate training hikes. And leash up or carry your dog for river crossings!

I admire the fact that you took the time to help that mother on the trail who's daughter was oblivious to her delima. People watch all these You Tube videos and equate that hiking with a pack is easy. You experienced folks are great for looking after these people and getting them help when they need it even when they don't know any better. It is not your job, but it is nice to see you call in the proffessionals who's job it is to take care of the community. Thanks!

I have a dog, and she's on leash when we're on the trail. I have a hands free leash that goes around my waist, so I can still use my poles and take video and stuff. We've had dogs run up at us and the owner yelling from sonewhere in the trees. "dont worry, he's friendly!" And I yell back,"but he just scared the s#!t out of my dog. He should be on a leash!" I have her on leash for her safety while on trail, and to not annoy other hikers. I do let the leash go once we're at camp. But I haven't yet taken her anywhere there's going to be other people at camp. If I was somewhere like the AT, she'd still be attached to me even at camp.

My dog is a great guard dog but a bad trail dog. He stays home where its safe for everyone.

I always love it when dog owners say "Well, he hasn't bitten anyone yet".

Saw MANY parents with kids, even strollers, no backpacks and apparently few supplies, at Wichita Mountains Wilderness in OK. Granted they were probably only going to the falls not even a mile in, but still. It's wilderness. There are bison, dropoffs, snakes, you're exposed, there are risks, and being unprepared is freeing until something happens.

I like hiking because I like the scenery, and it beats going to a gym. That being said, yesterday was the first time I went out with a goal in mind, and that goal was to hike as many miles as I could without my body giving out. Mission accomplished! I like that-hike your own hike.

Orange peels. I see them on pretty much every hike. Just because it's bio degradable doesn't mean it's ok to throw on the trail. Sometimes I'll get so let down because I mistake an orange peel for a cup fungus.

Don't get me started on unleashed dogs! I hike with a dog, who is ALWAYS on leash. ALWAYS. Despite him being only about 12 lbs, he is in a harness - he can pull like a Husky, and there are times when deadfall is too high for him to jump, and it's easy to just lift him over with the harness, rather than risk me falling by trying to carry him over - pick him up, drop him over, then I climb over. It also saves me breaking out the emergency carry harness I have for him. His leash is only 6' long, and he is attached to my hip belt. If we approach a rock scramble, I switch to a 15' retractable, as he can scramble quicker than me, and he'll get hurt with a shorter leash because it restricts him mid-jump. He stays directly in front of me on trail, and usually picks the best route on rocky trails or scrambles - so he guides me. He completely ignores other dogs, people, animals on/near the trail. When a hiker is approaching us, we step off trail, and he puts himself on the opposite side of me from the trail, and sits with his back to the trail, better to completely ignore the hiker(s) and any dog(s) they have. I didn't train him to do this, he just does, and I couldn't be happier. (To be honest, I think he doesn't want to acknowledge any other dog in the world even exists. LOL) First. there are illness passed by just two dogs sniffing noses - such as papillomas. I don't want someone else's dog getting in direct contact with mine. Period. Dog owners who claim they have 100% control over their dog 100% of the time when off leash is either an idiot, or vain. Because quite frankly, I can guarantee you any dog can become 'no longer under total control', in a heart beat. I had to laugh when you said the owner yells "oh don't worry, he's friendly". Exactly what someone yelled when their pit bull was at a dead run towards myself, my German Shepherd, and my Schipperke (the one I hike with). I yelled back "my German Shepherd isn't, and he'll kill him". He was like "Oh shit!" and started running to grab the dog, because yeah, there was no response to his recall attempts. To be fair, the pit bull did indeed look like he just wanted to play. But to a guard dog, who's purpose is to protect, and protect myself and the Schipperke is exactly what he would have done, a strange dog running towards us is a huge threat. There is also the issue that a leashed dog has no escape route, so it will be a fight situation, not a flight situation... It can lead to all sorts of crazy shit. Trust me, even the most docile dog will go into attack mode if they are leased and another dog is running at them - they are cornered and have no choice. Yet somehow, the one with the leashed dog that feels it has to defend itself is always looked at as the one that caused the problem, not the one with the unleashed dog that was NOT under complete control by it's owner. Third, if they are true nature enthusiasts, they would have more care, concern, and respect for ground nesting birds and small animals, and ephemeral plant life - all of which are easily and quickly destroyed by a dog off leash. Even the best behaved dog off leash can and will wander several feet off trail, and can destroy things in the process. Finally, there is the dog poop. I still can't decide which is worse - those the leave dog poop in the trail, those that flick it off to the side as if it has zero impact on what should be a 'closed loop' eco system, or those that bag it, then leave it there in the bag. I've picked up more dog poop that wasn't from my dogs, than my own dog's poop. Complete asshats. Leaving the dog poop there in ANY condition is not practicing LNT. It's laughable that they seem to think "well the animals shit in the woods", and have zero concept that a dog on a commercial food diet is no where NEAR the same as the animals that are eating their caught food, raw, without all the additives. They are invading a closed loop system that is very damaging to the system.

The person with the really loud alarm set at 0430…

I have horrible ADHD so long breaks to "check out the view" are anathema to me, I'm basically going non-stop with nothing more than maybe a 30 second pause if I'm on really difficult terrain or need to dig something out of my pack. Other than that I don't stop moving because movement is the only way I can at least partially turn off my conscious mind. Another benefit to it is that once I pass someone on the trail I'll likely never have to see them again. I really do love people but only as long as I don't have to see or hear them.

In 2021 on the Savage Lundy Trail in Northern California, two parents (Jonathan Gerrish, Ellen Chung), their infant daughter, and their dog all died hiking in a heatwave without enough water. Temperatures reached 109 that day, and they were unprepared for the conditions. A tragic and cautionary tale.

Absolutely agree on the fact there is no correct pace for a hike. I hike at a fast pace when day hiking to push myself and see how quick I can get the mileage in. I feel it gets me in better shape for when I’m backpacking.

"Horses, dogs, kids, women, men, bikers, thru-hikers, and day hikers are the worst." -Nature

I would say to keep dogs leashed always. Sorry not sorry. Even your well-behaved dogs can agitate MY dogs if they come running up on us. Allowing the practice means that bad owners will inevitably let their bad dogs off-leash too, so leashing just simply needs to be the rule for everyone, unfortunately.

Unattended toddlers in bear infested areas...I have no clue WTF these ppl are thinking. I was charged by a bear the size of a Volkswagen. Fortunately my Tamaskin alerted us that it was coming up behind my wife and I and then he chased it off. However it went right up the bank to the trail we used to get to the water. I cautiously went up there to go back to my vehicles and there were about 4 toddlers with no parents anywhere in sight. When they finally showed up I gave them a good verbal lashing about where they were and their naive decisions about how to act out there.. This is a repeating problem I see up here..

I'm certain I will run into this again, but I'm mainly a photographer, I trick myself into hiking so I can take awesome pictures. What miffs me, is, I'll have done my research, found the spots that might be good to take a nice shot at, plan to be there 30 minutes before I need to be there to get the lighting I want, sometimes leaving in the pitch darkness to do that, I'm not a really fast hiker, i'm older now, not in shape, I prepare for that. I'll set up there, get it all going get everything framed up and wait for that specific special moment... and then.. some guy who has been jogging the trail comes up and stands in the way. Sometimes they'll just whip out the smart phone and try to line up the same shot. We're all sharing this wilderness, but c'mon, I want to get my shot. I planned it out, and i just need 5-10 minutes to get it, but those minutes are damn specific. don't stand in the way. If i got there and someone else already had it, i'd pass by and look for another spot, no one wants to be pressured.

2nd comment triggered me,…..BANG! But seriously the day hike trails I use in Texas are overrun by the mountain bikers. It’s always younger twenty something guys apparently right after their testosterone shots. The horses have never been an issue for me.

I hike weekly with my 5yo (think nature trails- i use the word hike loosely here lol) and seeing kids wearing flipflops and unprepared for the trail is pretty common (im in new england). Most parents dont even bring a backpack with snacks/drinks/clothes/first aid. Iits definitely more concerning on some trails than others, but i agree with the comment you covered

Horse person here yeah i try to make sure my horse is empty before we hit the trails. Because that's just gross coming across a pile full of flies.

My dog got dog attacked once. The other owner let me know right away that the other dog was going to attack. Unfortunately my dog traumatized pretty good and is now racist against Pit Bulls. I do not know why the other person was walking such a viscous dog with a leash.

Thx for the good reaction! One important sidenote surrounding electrolytes for Kids: The product you mentioned is formulated for adults. Therefore it's for some age-groups to high and could be overdosing - mg wise. F.e. the sodium intake for kids between 4-7 shouldn't be higher than 500mg/ day. For most of the kids supplement the total dosages is much lower, than for fully grown-ups over 18 years old. The daily recommendet intake depends on the weight of the child. Please take this in consideration. Looking forward to the next videos. Greetings from Berlin - Germany

Even if your dog is friendly and behaved, Keep it on a leash. Other animals/dogs/people may not be as friendly. You have to be aware of the fact that just because your dog is friendly doesn't mean the situation is okay, or will end well. Edit: Any reason a dog should be off-leash? If it's a service (not support) animal that needs to be off-leash to perform its service.. But then it wouldn't matter because those dogs wouldn't run up on anyone or anything unless it's an emergency and they are trying to get help.

Thanks for your comments on overweight hikers. Well done.

Okay, on our last section hike of the AT, we had someone stop us right below an overlook trail and say, "you need to go see this, it looks over the local town and the next state". It was up a side trail, and we have already done over 1500 miles of the AT, and this point one overlook is about like the rest. We politely declined, but they insisted, finally I said, " we have seen every freaking red barn along the AT and we don't want to see another one." I know this wasn't nice but....DAMN, enough is enough. And as a matter of fact, the next day we went over the highest peak in the area, saw that overlook and everything that was described to us from above.

How can you hate horses/mules helping with trail maintenance?! 😆 Personally I love seeing them on the trail.

We can all agree that bluetooth speaker hikers top all these problems

As someone who sweats profusely and has dealt with cramping all of my athletic life (42 years) LMNT has made a life saving difference. I used to cramp badly in any hot weather ride, hike, or run, to the point I could not continue and it got dangerous due to electrolyte loss. I found LMNT 3 years ago, and I absolutely SWEAR....I have not cramped once since using it. And you are talking to a pickle juice guzzling fool, who used to carry flasks of pickle juice on long and hot rides.

Hike Your Own Hike is the best advice. This weekend I completed the Devils Path in a Day in the Catskills and I was successful because I went at my own pace. It took me 17 hours from start to finish because I took breaks when I needed to and wasn’t trying to break any speed record. It was awesome!

When I hiked Mt Leconte in the Smoky Mountains last July we were coming back about 12:00 am that morning and there were throngs of kids in flips all over the trail. Many parents and children were totally unprepared. I saw one man with his 9 year old son at the half way point with no water at all. He was about 3.5 miles in and had already gained about 1500 feet in elevation. We had left about 7:00 am that morning and booked it up and back. It was starting to get really warm and I was blown away by both the number of people on the trail and their unpreparedness.

Plus sized Mama looking for safe easy hikes near Boise and Chattanooga. I have lost 50lbs so far but want to keep going and introduce my kiddos to nature...but also not die along the way lol

The most serious issue on hiking trails is nasty beards on thru hikers that haven’t showered in a week. Scary stuff.

As a day hiker and mom of a special needs child a few of these hit home for me! Bikers flying past us with no warning is a huge issue! We've definitely had a few very close calls with bikes!

I really dislike when I encounter hikers with a dog that is off leash and obviously not well trained. The last thing I want to do while out hiking is dealing with someone's untrained dog and have to listen to the owner tell me some story about how well behaved their dog usually is after it has jumped on me or snapped at me on the trail. The worst incident that happened to me actually occurred with a dog that was on a leash. My son is very allergic to dog saliva and breaks out in hives where ever he is licked and we ran into a couple on the trail and they had their dog on leash. Shortly after we split away from them we heard them yelling at the dog, it had slipped it's leash when they were untangling it and it took off straight for my family. My son was about 4 years old at the time and froze when he saw the dog coming for him and before I could do anything the dog jumped up on him and licked his face and then ran back to his owners. The owners never said anything to us, put the dog back on leash and were on their way back down the trail. Soon both of my son's eyes had swelled shut and he had hives all over his face, we gave him medication right away but he was still a miserable mess as we booked it back to the trailhead. Eventually we passed the couple with the dog and they were mortified after seeing this little boy in my arms with his eyes swollen shut, I hope they got more training for their dog or learned their lesson. We now prefer to find trails that are rarely used or ones that do not allow dogs. One more rant... Dog owners that hike and don't pack out their dogs waste is what really drives me crazy! There are those that don't even bag it and leave the landmines along the side of the trail for some unsuspecting hiker to step in. Then there are those that do bag it but, "leave it for picking up on the way out". Bags and bags of waste line popular trails in our area and it is evident that some waste has been bagged and forgotten for days. If they don't like the smell of packing it out, maybe they shouldn't be bringing their friend along on the trail with them.

Leave no trace!

I hate when people tell others how to enjoy something or specifically the outdoors. 20 minutes at the top of a mountain is good enough for me. If im out hiking and im out for 6 hours, so is the same person who did 4 less miles than me because they "stopped to look" at things. Point being we still spend the same amount of time outside so no point telling others how to do it. The point is GET OUTSIDE

Ive had a thru hiker obsessed with hiking with me when i was absolutely loving being finally on my own. I'd just taken care of both of my parents thru hospice and the fragile emotions of my brothers. The very last thing i wanted was to have a needy man hanging around especially because of his admissions of being lonely. Fortunately, fairly quickly he found a group of older women to coddle him. Be cognizant and respectful of peoples space and if lonely walk and work it out. Its no one esles problem and of course enjoy company but dont expect people to carry you in their backpacks. It also made me feel a little unsafe .His first words to me were "ive been chasing you for days' having seen my entry in a trail log. (Tip if female put a gender neutral trail name or initals in the trail log... the permit number line is enough of a necessary identifyer.)

I absolutely love to see dogs off leash hiking … ONLY 1) when the dogs are near their owner 2) they behave by recall Too many times I hear, “oh, this is the first time it happened!” I have had a pack of 70# dogs (like 4 of them) charge my 7# dog. I picked her up. They jumped on me. The owners were annoyed that I was screaming at them.

I live on Vancouver Island. I hike. I've seen many people of all ages very unprepared in all sorts of ways when they're many kms out there. I beleive in trail etiquette so I aways saw hello maybe chatt with them and then move on. In my head I wish them the best of luck.

The dog issue- I walk my dogs on a shorter trail outside town every day off leash. The thing is, there’s almost never anyone else on that trail. If I see someone, I immediately leash both dogs. However, when I go on more populated trails and hikes I leash them the entire time, as I don’t want to cause any stress to other users of the trail

I have personally been bitten by a dog that “never bites anyone”. I got six stitches in my leg and a $1500 ER bill for that fun little encounter. Dog owners, you can be certain that if your dog threatens me, you have about 3 seconds to get your dog under control before I take care of it, and you won’t like how I take care of it. I don’t have a carry permit for nothing.

The last socially acceptable prejudice is the one against people who are overweight. Jokes, judgments, comments (sometimes we’ll meaning), you name it. Be better.

Related to the last point, I used to day hike a particular trail in SoCal for years, and about half the time, I'd be passed by this mid-60s but quite fit couple that had a much faster pace than I did (even at my best when I was MUCH younger, I tend to keep a leisurely pace, because enjoying the scenery is a big part of the experience for me). No problem with the faster folks, which was pretty much everyone. Hey, do you have enough room to pass? Let me move over for you, and have a great day! But THIS couple would always snark at me for being slower than them. Every. Damned. Time. *clap clap* "Come on, speed it up! The day's young!" After biting my tongue a bunch of times, I finally just growled at them to mind their own goddam business. Hardly ever saw them on that trail again. And when I did run into them, I never got the snark again. Which was a blessing. I'm sure that they complained to their friends for years later about the slow guy who acted like an asshole.

I have a small dog, so while hiking most ppl are happy to see him because he’s cute. But I also have him trained to heel and he’s always in my sight. I’d hate for an animal to eat him or something. That said, I walk him off leash when there’s not other ppl around. And when I see them coming I either tell him to heel or put on his leash to be respectful. I’ve had other larger dogs run up to us out of nowhere and they are jumping on us and it’s very annoying. One almost pushed my dog off the side of the hill I was walking along! There’s also bikers to consider. You never know when one could whip around a corner and run into your dog! Be safe out there and be respectful of other ppl and their personal space!

Hike your own hike is absolutely key. Some people hike to enjoy the scenery, some to lose weight, some to 'switch off' and 'zone out', some to beat their personal best. There are so many different reasons people hike, there isn't just one 'point' to it. It's entirely personal and individual.

I like how Boulder does it. Dogs must be on leash but you can get an off leash permit where you show your dog is voice trained and good recall.

If it wasnt for horses we would've never discovered the western part of this country. They once played a vital role in the building of this nation.

So agree regarding dogs. I’ve been run up on by dogs numerous times.

Offleash dogs are a huge issue on many more crowded or highly used trails in Oregon. I've been on narrow cliff face trails on jagged rock had off leash and even dogs on those long extended leashes come directly under my legs and in one case tripped me severely. I was livid.

Inexperienced hikers taking shuttle drivers for granted. I got a shuttle in 2012 around the Fontana Dam/ Village. The driver was an elderly gentleman, and was very reluctant to show up. I got to listen to his rant session on the ride. Apparently, the night prior, a hiker called him and asked if he could pickup and deliver a pizza to the Fontana Hilton. Then the hiker decided to hide in the woods, because he realized he didn’t have enough money to pay the poor shuttle driver. Gas ain’t cheap folks.

I hate seeing litter from people fishing, I often hike around lakes and rivers and it's disgusting how much stuff they leave behind. They obviously pack a bunch of stuff into their spots but they fail to pack it out! I see lures, lines, and general garbage all the time!

One thing I haven’t seen mentioned here is the use of remote collars on dogs. They can be very effective if you train your dog properly. I have four dogs and I am usually on horseback. Obviously a leash is not practicable, but remote collars work well. My dogs are all stock trained farm dogs who don’t chase anything they aren’t told too so it’s not difficult to keep them out of trouble on the trails.

Dog poop baggies hanging off of limbs, smashed in the middle of the trail, left under benches, or tucked in the rocks at overlooks really irk me. It's not that hard to take an old JIF jar for poo bags and pack it out like mountain climbers do. Trail heads can get pretty manky by late fall.

Hey Kyle, I just first wanted to say that I love your videos and watch every new upload! I did want to mention however to be careful when talking about sugars in energy drinks/powders. For the average person, added sugar is an issue, but for your target audience simple sugars that are easy to break down and found in energy drinks can be vital for people to get instant energy over long or strenuous hikes. I do want to try LMNT myself because it sounds like a great product, I just get nervous when people “demonize” sugars when they can be very beneficial to you depending on how you are utilization them. (I promise I have a real degree in the field and didn’t take a 3 day nutrition expert training course lol) thank you!

You are correct that many many people are watching hiking videos and they want to do it. But many people have no idea how far 5 miles is when hiking and how difficult it is to hike up 1500 feet in elevation in a mile or two. I remember when we were hiking to Rainbow Falls in the Smokys and we came up a husband and wife sitting by the trail. See looked at me and said we must be almost there and I had to inform her that she had only gone about a mile and that she had another 2.5 miles to go and a pretty sttep climb. She then looked at her husband and said that it I am going back.

When I’m day hiking I always take my DSLR and I’m stopping every 3/4 mile to take photos. Every ten steps if there are mushrooms around. 😂 It IS more fun to push yourself. I also ride horses but we don’t ride where we hike. For me it’s because I worry about injuring someone should my horses spook or something random happen. You never know with horses. 😬

Re speed hiking, the only time I get a massive influx of endorphins while hiking is when doing high-mileage, fast days. It never happens when hiking lower mileage days and stopping to rest all the time.

i was genuinely curious, what possible issues could the hiking community have? other than serial killers

Most hiking attire, especially lightweight rain gear and pants are made for skinny people. For women clothing sizes top out at 14-16. (Most clothing companies call this size an XL. ) Me at size 20-22, have a difficult time finding clothes and other gear that fits. (The chest and hip straps on backpacks don’t fit. Even when fully extended. ) As for the hiking community, in my experience the in shape people don’t want to hike with the round people.

Extra points for the hike your own hike stuff ❤

SUBSCRIBED - because my son (in his 30s) planned a 4-5 day hike in Colorado with his friend, never hiked that long before, with 2 not so reliable friends, bought more gear than realistic to carry, wore new, not broken in shoes, only took my advice on buying/wearing special hiking socks which made him the last one of the 3 to get sore feet and give up on the first day... shaking my head sadly... I believe they would've been a news story if they hadn't quit when they did. I watched every expert hiker tips and advice video on RU-vid before they set out hoping to share with him the need for training... testing himself and the tasks/environment before winging it. One of his 2 friends feet hurt so bad he quit the end of the first day saying he'd let the other friend's wife know to pick the other 2 up the next afternoon and never did. The 2nd friend's feet hurt too much to go the full second day and at a Point called his wife to pick them up. He could barely walk. It's not like walking at the zoo!!! The terrain is uneven... You'll know your FEET like you've never known them before! They're gouing to carry your butt and gear ... they're the FIRST thing a hiker needs to think about and prepare/train for the task. It takes months to build proper callouses. If some UNforseen occurance should befall or need to detour for some reason or defend yourself.... You will need good feet!!! But, NO...they think it won't happen to them. I was careful how I spoke to my son both before and after his cut short hike. He's a grown man and I respect him even if I don't agree with him or know he doesn't know as well as I do/lacks experience. But I said what I could to the extent he would maintain his respect for me and I'm glad he listened about the socks. I related true accounts, one about 3 hikers Whose Feet Were The First To Betray Them, one the other 2 abandoned and he was never seen/recovered again, the other wanted to die, his feet so infected finally agreed to wait while the last went for help..he had taped his feetso they hadn't blistered as severely. I think though, had my son and his friends all prepared a little better they might have pushed themselves to going farther, already in the no cell service range, and still lacking the training from an EXPERIENCED MENTOR HIKER could have ended up worse...omg!!!😢 I'm so glad they quit when they did. The next couple nights were in the low 20s f, they didn't have coats BECAUSE Colorado has Weather... it does not have Climate, mid July 2007 went from 70 degrees to 20 degrees in 4 hours. He reflected silently on my concerns, especially after seeing his friends acting for their own selves without regard and at the expense of the others... especially that first one quitting and not keeping his word to retrieve the others. My heart goes out to the lost and those not found in time. I know how it feels when you can't contact or receive from someone you love dearly in a "dead zone". I got my son back and he's wiser now, both in himself and in his trust of his mom's wisdom. It can happen as easily as it starts... PEOPLE DON'T HAVE HOOVES OR THE BEASTLY BRAUN OF THE WILD BEASTS who are built for that terrain to dwell all their lives in Without Gear and Shoes or Coats. I think what you're doing, making these informative videos, making connections with professionals who won't give up searching, keeping the lost in the minds of those who visit those areas, even asking them to report anything they might discover could potentially be a new place to search... So Very Loving Of You !!! Had it been my son... I would have wanted that sort of loving concern and help. Wanna know how fragile we are despite feeling capable... watch lots and lots of " I almost died " video accounts, bear attacks, survival true stories, rescue videos, earth quake/sumami accounts... not for the drama but for the learning from other's mistakes and life experiences. Then we'll appreciate our life and the lives of those we love so much more. We won't forget the lost ones or their families!!

A friend of mine had a huskey who would hike with us. This dog was a good dog with people, but very aggressive with small, furry creatures. He would let this dog run free whenever we would hike, even though the dog had disappeared before on numerous hikes. The last time we hiked and the dog was let off the leash it came back with a mouth full of porcupine quills and was in obvious agony. We had to abandon the hike and carry the poor thing back to the trail head - a difficult chore since it was a large dog and was writhing in pain the entire way. We managed to get the dog to an emergency vet clinic where the dog was anesthetized and had the quills surgically removed. Dog remained at the vet clinic multiple days and cost my friend over $1000. My rule was always to keep my Corgi on a leash when she and I would hike because even though she was no where near as large as my friend's husky, she was still very aggressive with other wild animals.

The truth is the yuppie hiking community say their chill but are actually pretentious. See, there’s a few of us who remember the old days of hiking where you could strap what you had to an external frame pack and not have to listen to M()rons drone on about their new expensive equipment. I remember sitting and watching sunsets with good conversation without some person asking you to move so they could get their model instagram post.

I love dogs, but I think they should be on leashes. I have met many dogs that I don't think actually need to be on leash, as they are well-behaved, however dog owners generally are very biased about their dogs and think they are well-trained when they are not. Not on trail, but while running in the dark early morning, I have been bitten twice by dogs that probably were nice dogs that weren't on leashes just thinking they were protecting their owners. (Don't get me started on dog poop bags!!!)

I did the AT about 45 years ago in series of smaller 15-20mile segments with the boy scouts, friends, and then explorers that covered about 1/3 of the trail and then did the rest on my own in 2 big segments during the summers of 77, and 78. My goals changed a lot during that time and thus my hiking style, so as far as Mr. Name goes, given enough time and trail, his viewpoint will likely change.

When a dog owner has genuine voice control over their dog, I'm happy to take that as 'on leash'. Unfortunately, the number of dog owners who *think* they have control over their dog is very large while the number who actually do is very small, and there is no way to tell them apart until the dog is off and running at you or your child or whatever.

I only hike with my dog. (Sometimes 2 dogs.) And, there is almost no reason to have your dog off leash while on trail. I can understand it at camp. Sometimes there's some spots where it's necessary to drop the leash while on trail. (Like scrambling over fallen trees.) But, 99% of the time your dog should be leashed. If it's not, you're lazy and inconsiderate.

The only time I have had a problem with fat hikers, is when I have had to help carry them off the trail. Other than that, I think it is great that they are out there, but like everyone else, I wish people would do the work necessary to understand their limitations. If one hasn't been off the couch for a year, don't start with Whitney.

Kyle, I was surprised not to find in your video (or the comments) my #1 frustration with people hiking - leaving trash on the trail! Whatever happened to the Leave No Trace dictum? I find myself picking up other people's trash each time I hike (except for the poop bags...I'll leave those for someone else...). By the way, I ordered some of the LMNT products and I can't wait to try them. Well done video!

Oh man, I feel that one about adjusting my pace so I won't have to hike with a random stranger. 🤣 I'm an introvert and hiking is pretty much my number one way to recharge my battery with some solo time in nature... so no offense to the random other hikers, but I'm not out there for a conversation. It can be so awkward sometimes to know when it's OK to try and say something along the lines of "well, I'm actually out here for alone time, so I'm gonna speed on ahead now, k?" when a conversation with another hiker DOES spring up on trail. Also, I'm a bit of a weird combo of being a fast hiker but also a shutterbug when I'm out there. So it's not uncommon for me to pass people on trail, but then have them keep passing me because I saw some other neat thing I wanted to point my camera at. Guess the long and short of it is, this is why I love picking trails/mountains that are described as being quieter. I keep a weird pace and love getting some one-on-one time with good ol' Mother Nature, soooo I'm ALL about hiking my own hike. 😁

Im laughing so hard at the "DONT WORRY HES FRIENDLY" because that happens SO often -_- same with the horse poop. We just passed some horses today and the trail was like an obstacle course to aboid the poo lol

I agree with your feeling on dogs, if they’re really well behaved and only stay right by their owners, I really don’t have much of a problem with it. Though that’s too subjective for people to conform to. If someone’s large dog off leash started attacking me, know I’m reaching for my knife

I'm not a hiker but I enjoy your channel. It helps me with information in case I get in some dangerous situations. Survival skills 👏

Just got into backpacking from day hiking! I work summer construction, so hike from Dec-march mainly... i normally would only stop for like 15 minutes at summit/point of interest. Theres only so much daylight in winter, i like 12-20 mile day hikes... now that im into backpacking i stop more... heavier pack but also have to do sweat management... TEAM CAMPCHAIR!!! Insta for last weekends 3rd trip into backcountry 2 nights in the badlands last weekend!!

Hiking faster is what led me into ultras, I just love doing it that way. It’s my bag, you do yours Have fun everyone!!

Dog trainer here. My thoughts on off leash dogs on trails as a dog lover, dog owner, and dog trainer are this: For the owners who have put in the enormous time, energy and effort into training their dog to off leash reliability, I have absolutely no problem with them enjoying their priviledge of off leash hiking with their dog in *appropriate* places. What off leash reliable actually means is that the dog will recall off of prey distractions, and will not rush up on other hikers, runners, or dogs. The dog should remain under control when encountering these things whether the leash is on or off. Just being honest, most owners are going to achieve this with remote collar training. Owners who believe their dog is "friendly" so it doesn't need to be trained or well behaved and can still walk off leash do not fall into this category for me. This is extremely rude to allow boisterous dogs to rush up on people even if they are "friendly" and not all people or dogs take kindly to this. Owners who think their dog is too lazy to be of any threat to prey and so they don't need to train their dog also don't fall into this category. All dogs have prey drive to some degree and even lazy dogs need trained if they will be hiking off leash. Another note on off leash is that dogs don't assess risks like cliffs and rushing rivers the same way people do. Never allow any dog off leash in the presence of natural hazards. I have two dogs in my home. One is 12 years old and is not trained to enough reliability to hike off leash. My younger dog is a 10 month old retriever and he is just starting to hike off leash on lightly trafficked trails. I am extremely picky about where I take off the leash. I have been working my ass off on training this dog since I got him at 8 weeks old. I introduced the remote collar using Robin MacFarlane's method when he was 6 months old, and he is just now getting to the point where I feel comfortable taking the leash off on certain trails. Hiking with dogs is great and can bring both people and dogs a lot of joy. However, it needs to be done responsibly. In my experience, most people vastly overestimate how much their dog knows, and this becomes incredibly problematic and dangerous in off leash scenarios. Training is a must, and in my opinion (some people will disagree with me and that is okay) remote collar training is a must for *most* dogs who will be hiking off leash.

I'm with you on being torn about how to handle my pace around other hikers. Had that experience leapfroging other hikers more times than not since I'm always stopping for photos.

The note about parents too - I feel like a LOT of hikes are just not kid friendly, period. I was on a hike this past weekend, and near the top, the boulders were really big. It was a difficult hike for my friends & I in our late twenties, and the fact that I saw parents heading up the mountain with 5 - 7 year olds who are also expected to go up those rocks, hell no.