Often they stash heavier articles just off the side of the trail.
They might be intending to return for them, but they almost never do.
Er, how do you know they never return for them? If you pick up the articles, how do you know they aren't coming along on the trail right behind you?
Articles of value (cameras, etc) I take to the nearest Forest Service office; trash I pack out; articles that may be cached or cast off I leave in place. Let someone else battle the ethical demons of removing someone's stuff.
Well I am glad that someone also agrees on this. I thought I might be the only one who felt this way and kept my thoughts to myself initially.
Every spring and summer, we are out hiking somewhere as we live very close to some of the greatest mountain country in NA. It is not uncommon to see gear left beside a trail when people need to lighten the load for a steep hike up a peak, lookout point etc. The unwritten rule / code of conduct is that you never mess with nor touch another persons gear without their permission...period. We have never had a problem following this nor have we ever worried that our fellow hikers may not abide by it.
The only exceptions to this if it is apparent that an item was dropped by accident. If the item is a shirt, jacket, water bottle or other small piece of gear, we pick the item up and move it to a safe but very visible spot beside the trail.
On the other hand, if the item is of any real value we will pick it up and ask people along the trail or in camps if they lost xxxxxx item then ask them to describe in detail what brand/model, possible identifying marks etc. For items that no one claims, it is turned over to the proper authorities.
No, I know the trail.
They almost never bother to return and pick up their stuff.
It is not usually really expensive gear.
I am not talking about somebody hung their camera on a branch when they stopped to relieve themselves beside the local dayhiking trail.
I specifically mention long distance hiking trails.
When you see the stuff still left in the bushes at the end of the season you understand. When you see it still there the next year you understand even better.
Most of it is the same item over and over.
This is stuff discarded.
They booked a time to hike the trail, and paid big money to an outfitter for the permit a year in advance.
Then they bought hiking gear , loaded up their pack with 65, 70 or 80 pounds of it, walked around the local park a bit and decided they could handle it.
They hiked through on a permit in season and are not allowed back without another permit, which takes a year to get, and their vacation is over anyhow.
To get back to the trailhead is a 4 hour drive from where they end up, and they want to get cleaned up and they have a plane to catch.
One spring before the season started I counted 23 umbrellas from the third mile to the 8th mile of the West Coast Trail.
Just shoved into the bushes.
They thought umbrellas would keep them dry on a 60 mile hike through the rainforest.
People start with one idea and find out that it is not a good one, so they just throw it away.
This is not somebody setting some gear down to do a side branch of the trail.
This is stuff discarded.
Heck, If I am walking down a sidewalk and see a glove or hat in the snow I put it up where it can be seen.
Whoever lost that glove will likely walk past it again tomorrow and be glad they found it again.
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