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Should You Be Doing That on the Trail?

Judgement calls final color akteej

Play Music on Trail

  • For Some of us need Bey and some bass to get up a mountain.
  • Against Uh, headphones exist. Music drowns out nature’s sweet silence.
  • Verdict Prohibited

Hike in Jeans

  • For It’s cheap, comfy, and what people did in the ’70s, before performance wear was a thing.
  • Against You know the saying: Cotton kills! Get those 501s wet, and you’ll be cold, miserable, and unsafe.
  • Verdict We’ll allow it. 

Make Campfires

  • For Humans have burned timber for warmth, comfort, and s’mores for eons.
  • Against Misuse leads to wildfires, and the fine particles in woodsmoke cause respiratory problems.
  • Verdict We’ll allow it.*

Instagram Beautiful Spots 

  • For A pretty view and a thoughtful pose equals all the likes.
  • Against It only takes a few viral pics for cherished vistas to become overrun.
  • Verdict We’ll allow it. 

Let Dogs Off Leash 

  • For Even labradoodles are descended from wolves, and they yearn to be free.
  • Against Dog fights, dogs colliding with toddlers, dogs tromping wildflowers…
  • Verdict  Prohibited

Feed Wildlife 

  • For The cute chipmunk is the only one that actually likes protein bars!
  • Against It encourages animals to beg, borrow, and steal people food—which may get them euthanized.
  • Verdict Prohibited

*Carefully. Where legal. (Duh!)

 

Published in the 25 Amazing Hikes issue of Seattle Met.











Allison Williams
Allison Williams
Since joining Seattle Met in 2011, Allison Williams has overseen the magazine’s travel and outdoor coverage, including deep dives into Olympic National Park, the Columbia River, and a Burger King drive-thru in Canada. She edits the travel-focused blog Tripster and contributes service, news, interview, and narrative pieces to the magazine, including long-form features about mountain mysteries and puppies in prison. She’s earned awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and been nominated for a City and Regional Magazine award.  Allison was raised here in Olympia and studied writing at Duke University, Oxford University, Columbia Journalism School, and University of Alaska. She began her career in New York City in the newsrooms of Metro newspaper and Time Out New York, then hightailed it back to her native habitat so she could write guidebooks and climb mountains.