Those Things that drive us Crazy

Don't be “that guy” the next time you hit the trails.

By Jason Pohl
JTC 320

Imagine a beautiful spring day, the first since the arctic deep-freeze of winter. You are out enjoying the wondrous scenes of the Poudre River trail, basking in the sun and glorious sounds of thousands of gallons of water rushing over a waterfall.

Then you hear the latest Lady Gaga hit single from behind you.

That surreal moment was interrupted by a cell phone. At first you may think that nothing will deter you from your surreal, relaxing moment, but five minutes into the conversation you have had enough. Sure, it could be a really important call, but then all you hear “Oh my God! Really? No way!”

You have your own “Oh my God” moment, rip the phone away and send it for a ride down the roaring river.

Maybe the above example is a bit drastic, but everyone has thought something similar at some point in their life while enjoying the amazing trails Fort Collins and the state of Colorado have to offer. There are unspoken rules that far too many people blatantly break every day, and those of us who notice, well, we really notice.

Littering is just bad. We all have had that hammered in our heads since age five, but the amount of people who do it is phenomenal. Just because it came from nature doesn't mean it should be used to decorate a state park like a Christmas tree.

“Apple cores and orange peels don't grow along Fort Collins trails, so don't put ‘em there,” biker and runner Nathan Petter said. “Same thing goes for energy foods. Just because you’re tired, don't toss the Clif Bar wrapper.”

A common sight along Spring Creek near Stover St.

Littering brings up an interesting issue. Exploring the outdoors with your pet is great...when it is done right. Those black bags along the trails get used and then you see the giant Hershey's Kiss bags scattered along the path. Pick it up and actually carry it to the trash can that is a mere 15 feet away.

And just because Rex wants to feel wild and free does not give you permission to don the 27-foot leash. That leash becomes an obstacle that bikers will not slow down for. Your loss.

People are interesting. People have stories to tell, but there is a way to tell your story when you are on a single-track trail that works, and another that will get you bulldozed if you aren't paying enough attention.

“I don't know how many times I've had an amazing run, and see a group of people talking ahead of me. Then we get closer. And closer and they are not moving out of the way until I jump by them. Then I'll hear them say something about disrespect,” said cross-country coach and Boston Marathoner Dennis Gilbert.

This can be taken even further when you are on an amazing hike with your best friend exploring Fort Collins' own Grey Rock Peak. Suddenly, you round a corner and see a group of nine people walking together, talking at the top of their lungs. Not only that, but the pace they are walking at seems fit for a small child-but wait! They have a small child! Not only is every living thing being scared away for miles around, but you have to run up behind them ask four times for them to move. Talk about disrespect.

Unless you are looking for evidence of a missing person, there is absolutely no reason to be spread out across the trail. It's called single file, and most people learned that around age seven.

The most common pet peeve of outdoor enthusiasts stems from man's most trusted machine: the 4-ton diesel truck.

Biker Scott Hendrick agrees this is by far the worst thing. “Being smoked out sucks. The only thing you can do is chase 'em down at the next light.”

By smoked out, Hendrick explained that this means being passed by an unnecessarily over-sized truck that shifts gears and ultimately pushes the black, smoky chemical cocktail down your throat and deep into your lungs.

“The real kicker is when you see that truck pull up to the same trail-head as you” Hendrick said.

We have all seen it. Every day we observe “that guy” doing “that thing” that nobody can stand. Whether it is wearing something beyond atrocious like a sweater vest with Capri-pants or trying to make a dumb question sound smarter, all the while feeling dumber, everyone has a pet-peeve.

Those who choose to enjoy the outdoor world Colorado has to offer have their own set of peeves. So the next time you are out and about, remember that what you do out there is being critiqued, and if you’re not careful, you could ultimately become “that guy.”

Honorable Mention Pet-Peeves

• Wearing crooked pack/hat
• Loudly using trekking poles
• Barking dogs
• Wrong way runners
• Crowded sidewalk bikers
• Reckless drivers
• Inconsiderate snot rocketers
• Even more inconsiderate spitters
• Running wave-ignorers
• Bragging your ride/run/hike/whatever to the world of Facebook...Every. Single. Day.

This above list was compiled from interviews from numerous outdoor enthusiasts along Spring Creek Trail.