Packed trail

[Terran Terran]

Too many people taking photograph’s

[Murali C]

The power of social media…..I remember going to Zion National park to hike Angels landing in 1999 and there were just probably 5 of us hiking and two of us had the summit to ourselves for hours while we ate. In 2005, that number jumped to 50 or so and now I hear – you need reservations. I heard the same thing in Sedona – which used to have 1 million visitors and now has 5 million or more.

It is so easy to share the best spots nowadays on social media which then creates the crowds.

[Bill in Roswell]

I’m in southeast Utah at the moment. There are numerous places like in the NPs, but on BLM land. Pay a small fee to use, no crowds. Seems most NPs are over run with tourists.

[David D]

Tried to get parking to hike the Daks this weekend, impossible.  Best times are in snowshoe season, crowds are a wee bit thinner

[DWR D]

I don’t post pics (or routes) of anything I don’t want to get crowded on social media… or if I do, I don’t label it as to location.

[Bill Budney]

I can see how it might be surprising to visitors, but it is not unusual to natives. Columbus Day (aka Canadian Thanksgiving) is traditionally considered the peak leaf-watching weekend in New England and northern New York state. Hotels are booked, restaurants and parking lots full.

Most of the people are day hikers or less. Some backpackers, sure, but the huge crowds thin somewhat as you hike further from the parking lot.

I hope you guys had a chance to park SOMEWHERE and get some fun in, somehow.

[AK Granola]

Just the initial photo of the line of people on the trail would have me turning around and finding something else to do. Or the traffic at the trailhead. I realize how spoiled we are in this secret location! shhh.

[Terran Terran]

Then it takes months to recover.

[jscott]

Wow. I’ve has no trouble finding trailheads that don’t look like that picture, or anything close to it, all throughout the Sierra and Cascades.

I’m happy to let the crowds congregate where they will and enjoy nature as they will. folks with kids or health issues; older people, overweight or out of shape people or folks who don’t care or know how to backpack have to have places outdoors to go. Good! Not every site has to be pristine wilderness. The folks in the photo above will vote to preserve parks and wilderness. they’re part of our community.

Even in Yosemite Valley, it’s easy to hike to the top of Nevada Falls or Yosemite falls with few people around: get up early in the morning and go. Or go in Spring or Fall. One early spring. morning I stood and chatted with the only other person who was at the top of Nevada falls before descending–I was on my way out from a five day venture. the other guy had day hiked the trail out of Yosemite valley alone that morning and I was the first person he’s encountered. In short, figure things out and go when others aren’t on the trail.

(Nevada Falls is a hugely popular trail out of Yosemite valley hiked by thousands every year.)

[JG H]

humans…hmmph…

[Kevin L]

Would not be surprised if the photo was at Mt. Monadnoc.  Second or third most visited peak in the world.  Can look like that any weekend.

[David D]

Dawn to dusk hike yesterday in a Canadian national park. Fairly quiet as they constrain parking like in the Dacks.   Still so many unprepared, helping lost hiker after hiker, many without water etc. SAR will be a booming business in the coming years.

[AK Granola]

I do very much like the idea of a Hike Safe card. Every state/land mgmt agency should consider one. Perhaps it could become a collector’s item, like national park passport stamps. Every bit helps.

[Roger Caffin]

Just the initial photo of the line of people on the trail would have me turning around and finding something else to do.
Like this?

(If you had not already guessed, somewhere on Mt Everest.)

Cheers

 

[AK Granola]

Wow Roger, that looks like the Chilkoot Trail in the gold rush! probably carrying about the same weight of stuff too.

[Jeff McWilliams]

Agree with @jscott – fortunately the crowds thin out considerably after the first mile or two at just about every trailhead destination.

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