Hiking trail etiquette 

The rules to the trail are largely unwritten, and trail users are expected to know them going in. Failing to understand them ahead of time can result in ‘faux-pas’ on your part that may range from embarrassing to outright dangerous or even fatal. It’s best for everyone to be aware of the rules of the road before hand so that everyone can meet oncoming people and challenges with tact, grace, predictability, and safety. Let’s run through them, and it might be advisable to print out this list and take it with you, or even to review it before hitting the trail.

1. Yield when appropriate

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that you should never play chicken with a semi truck. By that same logic, you may wish to protect yourself on the trail and keep in mind the fact that running groups, bikers, ATVs, dogs, and horses can mow you down no matter how much signage is put up.

The rule of the trail is that the more agile object yields. Bikes yield to people, and everything yields to horses. Bikes can stop and go quickly and are understood to be highly predictable and controllable.

EVERYTHING yields to horses. It’s not just because horses are bigger (some ATVs can get to be a good size), but because some horses are panicky around motors and bikes. And even people. The default mentality of horses (carried over from millennia of evolution) is that everything is trying to eat them. Their immediate response is to run away. On the trail, anything that you can do to keep from posing a threat to them is highly appreciated to their riders.

2. Sharing is caring

Try to maintain a safe distance between you and other hikers, especially on hills. Nobody wants to break your fall if you trip and come tumbling down, and you don’t want to offer that service to anyone else either, for your own safety! Comfort, privacy, personal space, and connection with nature are all concerns as well that encourage distance between hiking groups. Stay to the right of trails and move off the trail (if there’s room) when resting. Make sure that you choose a durable rest area like a rock or patch of dirt or snow instead of a nice fluffy grass or flower patch. That patch might look tempting, but it won’t survive your intrusion.

Another unwritten rule of the trail is that hikers going uphill have the right of way. They’re working harder and are likely to want to keep their stride and momentum. They’ll let you know if they prefer to rest and let you pass; if this happens, they should be allowed to make the call.

3. Signal

Letting other hikers know that you’re there can be critical. The danger of spooking them can be a small fright (if they’re hiking) or severe injury (if they’re riding a horse or bike). If you’re a shy type, a simple “Howdy!” or “Hi!” should suffice. You may notice that seasoned hikers are awkwardly chatty, but they’re talkative for good reason! If you’re able to muster more conversation, it’s often a good idea to strike up a chat with an oncoming hiker or a slower person that you overtake. That individual might just be the last person who has seen you, knows your whereabouts, and can direct search parties to you if you get lost or hurt yourself on the trail. Making sure that you’re memorable isn’t just friendly; it’s smart!

When you’re overtaking other hikers, signalling that you’re passing is commonly done by calling out “left!” Not only does this term (much like the golfer’s “FORE!”) let people know that you’re there, but you’re avoiding trail crowding by telling them the direction that you’re taking to approach. If you’re riding a bike, a quick ring of your bell (or honk of your horn) serves the same purpose and will let people know that you’re coming.

4. Minimizing impact

Contrary to the above advice, we’ll next suggest that you be quiet while you hike! It is tempting to hear the hills come alive with the sound of your echoes, but unless you’re seriously concerned about bear encounters then it is wise to keep the noise pollution to a minimum. Keep conversations short and voices down. Also, ringers off please! You’ll be glad that you unplugged for a few hours.

Unnecessary markers are also a form of visual pollution that can clog up trails. Notches on trees or (shudder!) initials carved in trees may seem romantic but are damaging. Piles of rocks (cairns) are unneeded for navigation and come to serve no purpose other than an egotistical “I was here!” when the forest becomes littered with them. Any type of marker focuses traffic in an undesirable way, as high traffic areas are more prone to trail scars.

Almost as bad as cairn builders are cairn topplers. Some hikers feel that they are doing the woods a service by clearing them of human-made objects. However, it is very likely that the (disrespectful) person who built the cairn will build another if that one is toppled. Additionally, cairns are sometimes employed in burial practices of small animals and family pets – as much as they should not be built, they should equally not be destroyed.

Remember that slack line, hammock, tent, tarp, and horse tying ropes all damage trees. It is important to stake wires to the ground, or to use appropriate padding on all ropes.

5. Stay on the trail

It may be quite tempting to investigate every glade and beautiful rock outcropping that nature has to offer. However, human shoes and handprints leave their mark on nature, crushing it. The rules aren’t in place just for you, but are put there with everyone in mind; what would happen if everyone wandered off the path and though the woods, stomping all over the forest? Some ecosystems bounce right back from a small amount of traffic, but some are very sensitive (like the Taiga) to even a single off-path trek. Other regions (even though they might bounce back from a few wanderers) would be devastated if a high number of people ignored this rule.  Not only do footprints crush vegetation in some areas, but they also contribute to erosion.

The trail may wind past or through territory belonging to private owners. It is important to respect the privacy of people who might be living along the trails, as well as the wellbeing of the land itself on or adjacent to the trail. Permissions for other people to hike through farmland can be (and sometimes are!) withdrawn, and if complaints are made about trail users by private citizens, it is possible that trails use will be restricted.

6. Perceived danger

It’s not unrealistic that you could encounter a person or situation that makes you feel unsafe. If so, it’s a good time to bring out that cellphone that you remembered to bring along. It’s also advisable to pretend that you’re with a larger, hiking group, and many groups will be glad to have you hike with them for the trail or the day if you feel unsafe (no commitment required!). It’s always a good idea to ask for help if you get lost or if you need any supplies – other hikers are likely happy to share their water, sunscreen, first aid supplies, etc. if you run into trouble. Even the best-prepared are still caught unaware, and seasoned hikers are often not judgemental of trail hazards.

7. Leave no trace

It should go without saying that littering is terrible anywhere, and arguably especially so on the trail where it spoils views of untouched nature. Also, there are no street sweepers to clean up dropped cans and wrappers in the wild, and the shiny objects may be taken up by animals to locations where they may continue to pollute for eons before they completely decompose. The rule to follow is: if you pack it in, pack it out.

Remember not to make fires or fire circles in the wild. Please use picnic areas and grills if provided. Fire scars remain for years and may become very numerous if allowed to be created unchecked.

Use only provided toilet facilities, if possible. If not possible, the “bush” procedure is to dig a hole 6 inches deep, at least 200 ft away from any open water.

Pets are best left at home since they are likely to disturb wildlife with their scents and noises. If you do end up bringing them, remember to keep them on a leash so that they do not disturb other hikers or animals. You should always clean up after your pets, and they should never be allowed to void near water sources that they might contaminate.  This same rule goes for horses! They should never be tied within 20 feet of open water.

A good final note is to remember not to take anything with you from the trail. Many wonders await you: fossils, flowers, rocks, seed pods, neat bugs, and many more! Take a picture and leave the amazing scenery for the next person to enjoy.

STA NEWS

The STA is also holding a photo contest for the month of June! For more details, visit http://sasktrails.ca/give-us-your-best-shot!/ and use #sasktrailsphotocontest to enter. You can find our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sasktrails/ .

Give us your best shot!

The Saskatchewan Trails Association will be running a month-long “Give Us Your Best Shot” photo contest in June.  The photo contest begins on June 2 — Saskatchewan Trails Day – and concludes on June 30.  A prize package (including a $25 gift card to Cabela’s Canada, golf balls, and a t-shirt) will be presented to our winner. To enter our contest, post a picture of your favourite trail in Saskatchewan on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, using the hashtag #SaskTrailsPhotoContest.

Entry Procedure:

The contest is available for all residents of Saskatchewan. STA board and staff may submit their pictures but are not eligible to win the contest. While photos may be submitted multiple times using Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or email, there is only one entry per unique photo. You may enter as many unique photos as you wish to the contest.

To enter the STA Give Us Your Best Shot contest, you must submit your photos by posting on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #SaskTrailsPhotoContest. We must be able to see your picture for you to be entered in the contest, so be sure to check your privacy settings. Posts must be made public to be counted as an entry.  You may also submit them via email to info@sasktrails.ca. Pictures submitted by email may be subsequently posted to our Facebook page.

Prize:

The winner will be chosen at the end of the month, and announced on our pages, the winner will also be contacted through social media to arrange to claim their prize(s). Prizes must be claimed within 6 months. Pictures will only be accepted into the contest until June 30^th, so be sure to get your pictures in before then. As pictures come in they may be featured on our page, with credit to the photographer.  The best of luck to all that enter, we can’t wait to see your adventures!

Rules for Submission:

If you do not want to grant Saskatchewan Trails Association (STA) these permissions, please do not submit your photo. In order for STA to use your photo, you confirm that (a) your photo is your own original work; (b) you own all the rights in the photo, including copyright; (c) you have the right to give STA the permission to use your photo for the purposes specified in these rules; (d) the photo is not defamatory and does not infringe any Canadian laws or violate the rights of any third party; (e) you have the consent of anyone who is identifiable in your photo or the consent of their parent/ guardian if they are minors; (f) you waive any moral rights that you may have in the photo; (g) you indemnify STA against any claim, demand, action, suit, or other proceedings against STA arising out of the use of the photo or any false or inaccurate statements.

By entering, contestants agree to abide by the contest rules which shall be applied by Saskatchewan Trails Association

We have recently received an update on the Boreal Trail in Meadow Lake Provincial Park. The trail is currently closed due to a storm that swept through the area last fall. The storm left many trees damaged and some had fallen on the trail. There are signs posted at the trail head indicating trail closure and advisory to use trail at your own risk.

A statement has been posted on Tourism Saskatchewan’s website with more information:

“Due to the October 2016 and April 2017 snow storms all trails within the park have a significant amount of fallen trees on them and users must use extreme caution. Please contact the park administration office for further instructions at 306-236-7680 or 306-236-7617.”

The following was written by Daniel Bushman from The Watrous Manitou.

“With a cut of the tape by Watrous Town Councillor John Gunderson followed by the applause from those in attendance, the Rotary Trail Phase Two officially opened. Despite an earlier rain shower Friday, June 30, local Rotarians, dignitaries and residents gathered near the water treatment plant in Watrous, (which is also close to where the new phase of the trail begins) to see the official ribbon cutting ceremony.
After a few remarks from Rotarian Jim Coulter, Rotarian Al Mosewich, who has been a major driver of the first and second phase of the trail along with Harold Regier, who graciously provided some of his farmland to be used for the second instalment held the ribbon while Gunderson made the ceremonial cut. Rotarians, residents and visitors then took a walk on the new phase, which links up to the original trail and curves back towards Watrous.
“There are a lot of people that need to be recognized,” said Mosewich regarding the trail’s opening. Mosewich said Harold Regier and his family generously provided permission for the town to include the trail on his land located on the northern part of Watrous. In addition to Regier’s generosity, Ron Ediger from Melron Service was the main contractor on the trail build; Wes Woiden from Woiden Construction did the installation of the culverts; Brad Sundquist from Watrous Concrete supplied tons of base gravel; and all made significant personal donations to help see the trail get built.
Many local fundraisers over the last four years, including last year’s GJM Charity Classic Golf Tournament have also been contributors towards the trail. “There have been 100’s of donors and many fundraisers to raise money for the second phase of the trail.”
Mosewich also noted many town employees like Public Works Superintendent Dion Tarasoff and his public works crews did much of the work; and Susan Jabs and staff in the town office also contributed, writing receipts for contributors.
While work on the original phase of the trail, which runs along Main Street in Watrous towards the cemetery began October 2006 and was completed July of 2009, phase two took a little longer, spanning four years. However, this time around

Mosewich said they were able to raise enough funds and will not have to take out a loan to pay off the remainder of the trail.
“It took four years to raise the money and one week to spend it,” Mosewich chuckled. Substantially complete, Mosewich said they would be letting the gravel pack and settle for phase two. Instead of paving it, a chip-seal surface will be applied by Chad Mierau from Diamond Asphalt Repair, but might not be completed until the fall.
While phase one stretches 1.6 kilometres, phase two, which extends from the first phase and loops back towards Watrous to 3rd St. E., is about one kilometre in length.
To walk both phases Mosewich said, “If you go from The Watrous Manitou on Main Street to the gazebo on the first phase and then over to phase two and then down to 13th Ave. off 3rd St. E. and over to the first phase of the trail then back to The Watrous Manitou, it would be about three miles. It would also take about an hour to walk. I am excited to see the trail come to fruition and I hope that others will enjoy it as much as I already have.”
As for what is next, Mosewich said there are four proposals that have been looked at and would more than likely be done in three or four parts. Those include:
• having the trail extending alongside the highway towards the Manitou Beach Golf Course;
• having the trail located on the other side of the highway and running towards Manitou Beach (there would be water to contend with in both situations);
• crossing the highway and following the creek bed,formerly known as Stacey’s Dam, to the back of Wellington Park at Manitou Beach. This would be more of a nature trail type path; and
• following the road allowance that runs in a line from Centennial Ford to the west end of Manitou Beach behind the golf course. That might allow the trail to hook up to the Manitou Beach trail system.
Mosewich noted if any of these options are done, that it could take up to 10 years or so before completion. Until then, Mosewich is looking forward to enjoying the current trail.
The Rotarian also provided some unique statistics for Watrous Rotary Trail Phase Two:
• over 600 tons of pit run gravel was used;
• 137 tons of base gravel and 1368 yards of aggregate was used;
• 34 hours of the track steer spreading gravel was done;
• 53 hours of trucks hauling and unloading gravel was done;
• 130 hours of labour from driving trucks, bringing out backhoes to other work;
• nine hours of peeling back the top soil; and
• 17 hours of packing the gravel.
“From start to completion, it was really a whole town effort and the entire community has been behind us since we began phase two. There remains a core group of Rotarians that would like to see the trail extend to the beach so perhaps that will one day become a reality, it just might take 10 years or more to get there. It is like Rome, it was not built in a day.”

http://watrousmanitou.com/