A Little Courtesy on the Trails Please

[BusaDave9]

The last time I was driving a Jeep on the mountain trails (it was a rental - don't ask) I came across a virtual traffic jam in the wilderness. Someone had trouble with his jeep. He was in a big group (all out of state) and his buddies pulled up along side of him and they blocked the whole trail for over half an hour. Jeeps and quads coming from both directions were backed up. It was no use asking them to move to the side, they were almost done. Just sit tight a few more minutes. When they were ready to go they looked around and saw jeeps in both directions so they yelled out "Can you guys backup and find a place to pull over?". Slowly things got moving.
This was on the "Alpine Loop" between Silverton and Lake City Colorado. Here in Colorado some trails get very busy in the tourist season. There are also some very narrow trails where passing is possible only in a few places (but the above mentioned trail was big enough for at least 2 jeeps and they still had it blocked)
There are a few rules that would be nice if people would follow this common courtesy.
1. Be considerate. Don't block others unless it is unavoidable.
2. If you can't make it up an obstacle after 3 tries pull aside and let others pass.
3. If a trail is marked for 35 inch tires, 2 lockers and a winch. You can try it with less but if there are others behind you be quick to pull aside.
4. On the street you keep right but on the trails you should drive and pass on the left. The reason I say that is here in Colorado some trails have some very dangerous drop offs. If you pass on the left both drivers get a good view of the edge of the trail. I would rather run into another jeep than fall off one of the shelf roads around here.
5. Most people say the jeep that is going up always has the right of way. I disagree, I think rule 1 supersedes all other rules. There are times it is easier for the person going up to pull over. Think about what would be easiest for everyone, not just yourself. For example if I am going up a narrow trail and there is a large group coming down. It is best for me to take the one pull out space. If I were to make one of them pull over, what would I do next? Have everyone else back up to the top?

What does everyone think about these? I know a couple of these are against the norm so feel free to disagree if thats what you think.

 

[CJKrawler]

Very good post Busa.

 

[BajaEdition]

good idea however
the rules are
uphill has the rightaway, it is a momentum thing and we do not need to get into a tif for tat about what is easier, that rule holds, it is up to the person with the right a way to yield, common courtesy is the factor here,not a hard rule. If you are piled up going down hill you need to review the rule that you wait till an obstacle is cleared before going onto it, if that is observed pileups do not happen. Again, common courtesy works here. However, I have seen clubs going down a trail the non traditional way for a trail (usually because it is easier that way) held up for several hours as others take it the traditional way. That is their fault as once again, uphill has the right away.

yes if broke down get it off trail and let others pass, that is a rule,

all trails in under the forest service or BLM must be passable by a vehicle with 31s and 1 locker. That is their standard. Now If you are less than that, or do not have the skills to do that, then give the guys wanting to go around the right of way, however do not yield just because they are built higher than you are. I see a lot of guys on 35s that could not go past an obsticle guys on 31s can, I also see guys all the time that think equipment over rides a lack of skill. Know your level of knowledge and judge a trail with it. Trails marked for more are not sanctioned. If marked that way they are either on private land, or it is not a Forest Service sign

by all means, if an obstacle is not passable after 3 tries, let others around, or accept a winch.

passing on trail is a personal thing, I have seen when one side or the other is preferable and you may need to discuss it, but once again, do not expect others to see it your way.

 

[Old Dog]

Heres my view from the southeast (Ky. and Tenn). With the exception of Harlan Ky. (which are simply class 2,3,4,or5 with nothing about what equiptment is needed) none of the trails here are marked for difficulty, so you get what you get and they are never the same year to year. Alot of the trails we run are on private land but some are forest property, most are only wide enough for one jeep.
Our rules are the smallest group or the group that can pull over the easiest (I've had to back up a long ways) is who moves over, doesn't matter if it's up hill or down hill.
Now luckly we hardly ever meet anyone but when we do we work it out.
Oh one more thing quads always move for jeeps, its a whos bigger thing.

 

[xj287]

For us here in the north east, VT and NH the public trails, which for us are class 4 roads (class 6 in NH) and legal trails for the most part are too narrow for 2 vehicles to pass at all. So for us it becomes a matter of who has a place to pull off and let the other pass. I've personaly never run into a major traffic problem on our trails up here. If there is an issue, it's usealy with someone that thinks its ok to drive 35mph on a trail that most people crawl in 1st gear.