D
dvbl
Guest
This comes up every winter, but it seems like lots of trip reports this year (more than usual) include comments about post-holing. I'm wondering what is the proper etiquette about two topics: snowshoes and glissading. To be honest, when I first used snowshoes it was because I was sinking and/or slipping; I needed some flotation and traction; P = F/A and all that nerdy stuff. It didn't initially occur to me that using them was good manners toward those who follow; but once I learned it, it made simple sense. Why leave crusty icy pot-holes in your wake. Duh.
But when does a dent become a post-hole? Two inches? Four? Eight? Twelve? How deep does your boot have to sink for it to be considered a post-hole? When is it "good manners" to put on the snowshoes? And for all you entrepreneurs out there, is there a market for dog snowshoes? Once Fido is pushing 100 lbs or so, isn't he leaving some post-holes too?
How about glissading? Suppose a narrow trail is hard packed and easily bare-bootable, and the three hikers in front of you descending the trail decide to glissade or swiss-bob the next hundred yards, and they turn the trail into a slick luge run. Good etiquette? Bad? Neither?
Not looking for more rules or laws. Enough of those already. When I venture into the woods, I have alsolutely no expectation that any trail is going to be in good shape. This is just about civilized people trying to have fun, but at the same time practicing good manners toward others. And like most people, I just wanna know the (unofficial) rules of the road.
But when does a dent become a post-hole? Two inches? Four? Eight? Twelve? How deep does your boot have to sink for it to be considered a post-hole? When is it "good manners" to put on the snowshoes? And for all you entrepreneurs out there, is there a market for dog snowshoes? Once Fido is pushing 100 lbs or so, isn't he leaving some post-holes too?
How about glissading? Suppose a narrow trail is hard packed and easily bare-bootable, and the three hikers in front of you descending the trail decide to glissade or swiss-bob the next hundred yards, and they turn the trail into a slick luge run. Good etiquette? Bad? Neither?
Not looking for more rules or laws. Enough of those already. When I venture into the woods, I have alsolutely no expectation that any trail is going to be in good shape. This is just about civilized people trying to have fun, but at the same time practicing good manners toward others. And like most people, I just wanna know the (unofficial) rules of the road.