Caught myself cutting switchbacks on a trail in Colorado last week and felt like such a jerk

I noticed like 4 different groups ahead of me taking obvious shortcuts that are ruining the trail edges, so why do people keep doing it when it literally causes erosion and makes the route worse for everyone else, has anyone else called out a hiker for this without starting a fight?

2 comments

2 Comments

wren_carr11d agoMost Upvoted

People keep doing it because they're lazy and think a few extra steps won't hurt anything lol. Honestly I don't think yelling at strangers on a trail is gonna change anyone's mind, it just makes you look like the uptight one. You really think cutting one switchback is gonna destroy the whole mountain overnight? Trail edges get trampled no matter what, it's just how hiking works. If it really bothers you that much just hike faster and get ahead of them instead of stewing about it.

finley_bennett2811d ago

Oh come on lol. I get your point about not yelling at people but calling it "just how hiking works" is missing the whole picture. Those switchbacks are there for a reason, usually to prevent erosion and protect the trail. Once people start cutting them, it creates these ugly gullies that just get worse over time, especially after rain. It's not about being uptight, it's about not wanting the trail to turn into a muddy mess that ruins it for everyone else.