I’m a pretty laid back person, but like any outdoor enthusiast there are some people outside whose behavior infuriates me. But really, what’s the point of ranting to my audience— people who are likely educated in Leave No Trace— except to entertain them with my “colorful” language? Instead of ranting, I’m trying these tactics to address my outdoor pet peeves.
At the start of every school year, my students and I come up with our list of classroom rules and norms. As any teacher will tell you, we phrase these in a list of what to do, not what NOT to do. For example, “Don’t use other people’s property without asking first” becomes “Ask before you use other people’s belongings.” I think we can use a similar approach in the outdoors when we see people violating laws and basic, common sense ethics.
Pet peeve #1: people fishing with tackle in FFO waters.
Desired norm: Consult fishing regulation books.
When I see people using spin rods with worms at a FFO small mountain stream with wild native brook trout, I want to use their rod to lash the idiot. But I remind myself that it’s ignorance, not malice that’s driving their behavior. The intent is good, and they sometimes have kids with them.
Maine Fishing Regulations can be found as a pdf online or on the Maine State IF&W website.
Tactic: Educate respectfully
My approach is to say something like, “Hey, great spot for fishing, isn’t it? Had any luck today? It’s so nice to see parents having fun in the outdoor with their kids! I just want to let you know that this stream, as well as (X,Y,Z) are fly fishing only, and the local game warden does cruise through here from time to time. It’s a pretty hefty fine too.” Then, if they are from out of town, I let them know where the town office is so that they can pick up a regulations book. If they have a phone with them, I suggest that they check out the regs online. I also suggest a place where they can fish with tackle and worms. If they aren’t confrontational and new to the area, I might even offer to teach them to fly fish.
Pet peeve #2: piles of human waste and TP along trails and at campsites.
Desired behavior: Dispose of waste properly.
Mainers love to blame out of staters for just about anything. In particular, we envision people from southern New England dropping off bags of trash at our scenic turn outs and leaving their Poland Spring water bottles alongside trails.
However, I can tell you with confidence that the fire permit camping site I went to recently was probably trashed by Mainers. It’s quite remote, and I’ve also had students tell me they camp there. This place was spectacular! The site was alongside a brook with a series of small waterfalls and pools big enough to sit in. Unfortunately, this campsite was littered with piles of human waste and TP. Disgusting!
Each year, I take a week or two to educate my students on LNT. This year, when I told my students about the above experience I had, one girl said, “Well, you leave the TP where you go so people don’t step there.” Wow.
Tactic: brandish my trowel often and talk about cat holes until my friends want to make it my nick name.
A metal trowel is worth the extra cost. Plastic ones break on roots.
If you don’t have an audience of kids or teens to show the way, then lead by example. Buy yourself a backpacking trowel, show everyone your new tool and explain that you will use it to dig a 6” cat hole and bury your waste. Leave fire rings clean and be a model for leaving a place as you found it, or better.
Leave No Trace is a continuum. I just do a bit better each season. I used to think that biodegradable soap was safe to use right in a lake or river. I didn’t know that I should be dumping my gray water away from the water source. Later, I learned that I should be dumping it 200 feet from the water source. Do I go that far every time? No. Few of us adhere to LNT perfectly, but we can take small steps to do better and serve as an example to the people around us.
Pet Peeve #3: People camping in day use only areas, sprawling their stuff all over the picnic area, boat launch and pubic beach. (ie. Round Barn on Flagstaff Lake)
Desired behavior: Camp in designated camping areas instead of day use areas.
The last time I went to the Round Barn campsite on Flagstaff Lake, the day use area had been taken over with overnight campers. As we walked alongside their tents, tarps, chairs, and toys down to the beach the campers stared at us as though we were invading their area. Did they not see the signs? I love this beach: I have so many great memories of going there with my friends and all our kids, teaching my campers to paddle and build a fire, creating drift wood sculptures with my students, and so much more. It feels like a personal assault when people ignore the norms of a treasured place. I want to pull these people by their ear lobe to the Day Use sign and make them read it.
Tactic: I have no patience or love here. Report them every time it happens, and ask your friends to call in too.
This particular behavior infuriates me to the point that I can’t trust myself to be calm or civil. I have to admit, I complained loudly to my friends so that the campers could hear me. That was immature and pointless. What I needed to do was report them to the state of Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands. And that’s what I do now. If the Bureau hears from enough people, maybe they will send a ranger there on busy summer weekends and the rule will be enforced.
Pet Peeve #4: People putting themselves and others in danger because they are ill equipped to make the climb.
Desired behavior: Plan ahead and prepare. Know the terrain and know your limits. Hiking is supposed to be fun and reasonably challenging. Hiking should never give someone a heart attack or make kids cry.
Last year, someone had to be air lifted off of Tumbledown Mt. a popular hike near Mt. Blue State Park. This is a short trail by western Maine standards, but Maine Trailfinder accurately lists it as Moderate and Advanced. With it’s beach on Webb Lake and typical high-quality amenities that Maine state park campgrounds offer, Mt. Blue State Park is a popular place to camp for families. It’s only natural that people who aren’t regular hikers would take a day trip to hike Tumbledown.
If you are a hiker, you’ve seen it: someone with a bright red face, standing to the side, gripping their side, looks at you with desperation and asks, “How much further to the top?”
What I want to reply is, “Turn the F around you stubborn fool before you have a heart attack and cost my broke state thousands of dollars to rescue your ass.” Alas, this helps nobody.
Tactic: Make the exhausted hiker feel responsible and wise, and not like a failure, if they decide to turn back.
Ask if they still have water and give them some. Give them some chocolate. Encourage them to turn back if necessary. Remind them that the mountain isn’t going anywhere. They can come back any time. THEN, educate them about Maine Trail Finder and the AT interactive map and show them on the map (the one that you always carry while hiking) how the topo shows just how steep the climb is. Tell them about a time you turned back and why you are so glad you did: you would have run out of time, the terrain was too dangerous with ice or water, you were too tired. It’s okay to make a story up if you have to. You don’t want them to feel like a failure, you want them to feel like they are being responsible and wise.
When I’m really pissed off, I have to remind myself that I’ll never change someone’s behavior or attitude with insults. It is everyone’s resource, after all.
What’s your outdoor pet peeve? Reply in the comments.