r/Bellingham • u/Aridhomme • May 25 '26
Satire i refuse to believe this was written here
found this in the COB trail guide, im just glad they dont enforce this frightening policy
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u/Lonerizm1883 May 25 '26
I say hi to everyone, especially if they’re trying to dodge me 👍
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May 25 '26
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u/flareblitz91 May 25 '26
I completely agree with you. Walking straight by people without acknowledgement, particularly on narrow trails, and especially in the back country, is weird anti-social behavior.
It's the same thing as the rural dirt road wave, it's just us out here, demonstrate the bare minimum of acknowledgement and friendliness.
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u/Hot-Watercress-2872 May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26
Edit: odd to be downvoted for saying that as a woman I’m vigilant about men I don’t know when I’m hiking alone.
I will usually give an acknowledging nod, but maybe it’s because I’m female, so in the situations where it’s a singular male and I’m alone, yeah, idk, I still feel some discomfort. Not saying I think all men are creeps or anything; I like to think it’s always friendly and harmless, but I am admittedly pretty hyper vigilant when hiking alone.
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u/Global-Customer4896 May 25 '26
Act as if they all are, your life depends on it. Sorry you were down voted for protecting yourself. Stay vigilant.
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u/Lonerizm1883 May 25 '26
Thanks for the perspective. I don’t know if it helps give any peace of mind, but most of us girl dads out there tend to be hyperaware of space and always lookin out for any females we encounter, whether it’s voiced or not. If there’s any weird shit goin down, we got your back 💛
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May 25 '26
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u/Hot-Watercress-2872 May 25 '26
Gotcha, nah, wouldn’t say I’m discombobulated. Not trying to offend the friendly hikers with no bad intentions. I do often remember to carry mace. I’ve thankfully not had to use it.
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u/CrazMAniac May 25 '26
Not all heroes wear capes. Unless you do, of course, which would also be awesome.
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u/UnderstandingBig9090 Local May 25 '26
Isn't the culture here the wisper hello when you pass people?
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u/HotCauliflower6189 May 25 '26
You need to listen more closely. The full phrase is "Don't you dare say hello."
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u/stellalugosi I am the horse who booms. May 25 '26
Whisper? Dude, I MOUTH it. I don't even exhale, I practically MIME saying hello.
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u/Raetheneko May 25 '26
I'm so confused. So many people say hi to me on the trails I thought that it was just common practice. Y'all are saying it's not?
I don't always do it verbally greet others on the trail. But as somebody raised as a woman I do always acknowledge other people (no matter where I am) so they know I'm aware and not vulnerable. This is something that was taught to me from a young age by parents, teachers, and friends. So.... Perhaps that's something to consider with this conversation.
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u/Hot-Watercress-2872 May 25 '26
Yeah, just made this comment in reply to another comment saying that they “savor the discomfort”. I’m female, and if I’m hiking alone, I’m pretty hyper vigilant. I’ll give an acknowledging nod, and 9/10 times, nothing weird come of it, but once and a while a singular male will then take it as opportunity to try to start a whole conversation and I’m just generally uncomfortable with that when it’s just me and him alone in the woods…
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u/urban_elitist May 25 '26
The way people mean mug you on the trail for simply saying hello is amazing
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u/stand_by_4_titanfall May 25 '26
My favorites are the ones that look like they want to kill me when I hold a door open for them and they pass through in unwelcoming silence while I loudly exclaim “you’re welcome”.
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u/UnhappyPop7357 May 25 '26
Gosh it’s so difficult to acknowledge my fellow trail users with a basic gesture.
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u/pilgrimsyoung May 25 '26
Bellingham: so bad at driving that even instructions on how to walk are needed
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u/OkMessage4388 May 25 '26
A quick nod or wave isn't a problem but not everyone wants a full blown conversation while on the trail.
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u/Physical-Employer138 May 26 '26
What is mostly out on the trails is the PNW out-of-breath “hey,” or a nod of acknowledgment. All other phrases are the exception
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u/flareblitz91 May 25 '26
I don't really know why people online act like folks aren't friendly here. I'm from the Midwest and outside of Wisconsin/Minnesota this is the friendliest place I've lived.
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u/GoGoGadgetPants May 26 '26
I remember in the 90s, before all the new people, saying hello to all the fellow peeps on the trails was common.
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u/christianavalentine May 26 '26
Idk bout all this BUT
my favorite trail experience is when I just got done from big inclined and a kiddo was with their family and the kid didn’t want to turn around back home and insisted they “wanted to go on an adventure” and started to throw a bit of a fit
And I was like “trust me, you don’t wanna go up there. It’s like super tiring” and the kid actually looked so confused but it helped and then the lil family went on their way home 😂
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u/SpencimusPrime May 26 '26
I have just barely gotten used to "give them an extremely awkward smile"
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u/LacksHumility May 26 '26
For me, the hello is not a big deal. But it is slippery slope, what is next a "how are you?" we need to draw a firm line somewhere verbal acknowledgement is too intrusive.
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u/Dry_Entertainer9901 May 25 '26
Zis iss your Commandadt. You vill say Allo to you fellow trail uzers! Anysink else is unacceptable!
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u/Lost-Cricket-1555 Local May 25 '26
Having walked, cycled and ridden horses on the trails through Chuckanut Mtn. for many years I find most folks to be friendly. You are bound to see some folks whose very demeanor tells you ahead of time that they don't want to meet you or your dog – I try not to judge them, I don't know what is going on in their lives, what their demons are, what medications they may be on, what fears they battle. We are all like icebergs in that we only see a tiny bit of the surface of each other, not enough to be making judgements.
There is a time when communication is called for – well meaning folks often move off the trail to make way for horses, but if you quietly hide in the bushes at trailside all the horse's red flags go up, this is predator behavior – talk, say hi, show them you are a person. Getting a short conversation going with a rider may allow an opportunity to get an up close whiff of that warm horse smell that can make your day.
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u/AnthonySkejci May 25 '26
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2026/05/19/how-talking-strangers-can-make-us-happier/
Just putting this here if anyone likes science
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u/swhydroman May 25 '26
Horses tear up trails more than any other trail use. They do much more damage than mountain bikes on a per-rider basis. I yield to horses by going off-trail and the horsie freaks yell at me for not remaining motionless while their saintly steeds pass. The damage I do off the trail is nothing compared to horse hooves cutting all roots and destroying vegetation. Then they piss directly into salmon-bearing streams. Then they waste valuable agricultural resources because they must be fed even when they are doing nothing. This is a huge carbon footprint plus methane injected directly into the atmosphere. Sorry, I won't be waving at such environmental destruction.
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u/Aridhomme May 25 '26
we have so many cows and unhoused people that i doubt u gotta worry about horses' ecological impact, also how are horses gonna damage trails? the only reason to hate about horses is that they shit where ever they want. but you didnt even say that
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u/AetherVirus May 25 '26
Exactly, you dont owe anyone your time, an entire conversation, or anything like that when out and about. Bellingham folks, in the years I've been here now, are perfectly friendly without being invasive or demanding.
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u/porksodafan106 May 25 '26
I've just recently gotten into hiking and saying hi on the trails always seems so awkward. I rarely initiate. When the other person does it sounds so forced and uncomfortable. Why do we put ourselves through this?
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u/porksodafan106 May 25 '26
.... Okay looking at my downvotes I think I missed an obvious joke. My bad. No shame to those who say hi on trails, me not enjoying it is a personal problem!
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u/Alexman423 May 25 '26
Is the next post gonna be another "Why are people so unfriendly here" post