Recreating Nice With Others

Hotdogs, fireworks, and camping; spending time outdoors seems to be a quintessential part of celebrating the Fourth of July. From 5thwheels and glampers to ultra-light packers, outdoor enthusiasts flood popular camping areas on Independence Day. High volumes of people in our recreation areas can often lead to conflict, but don’t fret; by following a few simple tips, you can do your part to prevent tension between you and your fellow outdoor enthusiasts. 

The First issue I usually hear people complaining about During a busy weekend is space. Many of us enjoy camping because it provides us this the feeling of, “Getting away from it all” however, it is important to maintain realistic expectations in order to set yourself up for success. If you are not going to be able to enjoy a camping experience where there are a lot of other people and noise around, maybe camping at Lake Tahoe on the Fourth of July is not for you. Plan a different weekend to visit, or consider a back-country experience if you want a more exclusive experience.

If you’ve decided that you can tolerate camping within a close proximity of other campers, it is important that you still take your camp neighbors into consideration. If there is a “quite time” at you camp ground, try and refrain from loud music or being excessively disruptive after the designated quite hour. Another way to prevent possible tensions between you and your camp neighbors is to make sure to tidy up camp before leaving. If you leave food and garbage out at your campsite, you not only run the risk of attracting wildlife to your site, but heavy winds can also carry those things into your neighbor’s site.

If you decide to go for a hike or ride on a busy day like the fourth, it’s important to remember to be courteous to other users that you will encounter on the trail. Greet people with a friendly hello, and know who to yield to.

I get it; it can be difficult to share your favorite spot or trail, especially when it starts to get overly crowded. However, remind yourself of all the reasons why that area is your favorite. It is likely that the same reasons you fell in love with that place, are the same reasons that drew other users to it. For the most part, we all like do get outside for the same reasons, Lean on that common ground when you experience frustrations with other users and try to be understanding.  

Happy trails!