Editing Hiking (section)

== Etiquette ==
{{main|Trail ethics}}

Because hikers may come into conflict with other users of the land or may harm the natural environment, hiking etiquette has developed. 
* When two groups of hikers meet on a steep trail, a custom has developed in some areas whereby the group moving uphill has the [[Priority (right of way)|right-of-way]].<ref name="etiquette">{{Cite web |last=Devaughn |first=Melissa |date=April 1997 |title=Trail Etiquette |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cd4DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA40 |access-date=22 January 2011 |website=Backpacker Magazine |publisher=Active Interest Media, Inc. |page=40 |issn=0277-867X}}</ref>
* Various organizations recommend that hikers generally avoid making loud sounds, such as shouting or loud conversation, playing music, or the use of mobile phones.<ref name=etiquette/> However, in bear country, hikers use intentional noise-making as a safety precaution to avoid startling bears.
* The [[Leave No Trace]] movement offers a set of guidelines for low-impact hiking: "Leave nothing but footprints. Take nothing but photos. Kill nothing but time. Keep nothing but memories".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leave No Trace Seven Principles (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/articles/leave-no-trace-seven-principles.htm |access-date=2021-03-18 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en |archive-date=2021-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318090644/https://www.nps.gov/articles/leave-no-trace-seven-principles.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Hikers are advised not to feed wild animals, because they will become a danger to other hikers if they become habituated to human food, and may have to be killed, or relocated.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Do Not Feed Wildlife |url=https://thamesriver.on.ca/watershed-health/native-species/dont-feed-wildlife/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Upper Thames River Conservation Authority |language=en-CA |archive-date=2023-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102021246/https://thamesriver.on.ca/watershed-health/native-species/dont-feed-wildlife/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Hikers are advised to verify whether tour operators adhere to fair treatment practices for their support crews, including providing proper wages and working conditions for porters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KPAP: protecting the rights of porters on Kilimanjaro |url=https://altezzatravel.com/articles/about-kpap |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=Altezza Travel |language=en}}</ref>