[dicey]

I write TR's most of the time, especially if I think they might be helpful (i.e. snow and trail conditions) to others thinking of going there. I like to be able to read other's experiences of the places I'm planning to go, or have gone in the past. That being said, not being able to find a trip report of an area is not going to keep me from going there. There have been times I haven't felt the need to report on a place if I didn't think I had anything to add, or if I couldn't find a way to write it that didn't make me seem like a complete idiot

[#19]

If someone goes to a place they read about in a TR (or learn about from ANY source), that they had no intention of going to prior to reading the TR, then the TR (or the other source) caused NEW impact. Doesn't matter if the place is sensitive, less used, popular or not. It is still new impact. Is that always bad? No. Because like most things, there is a ton of grey between the black and white. I TR seldom as I don't get much out of it. I'd rather post an occasion photo and let your imagination run wild. I read Signpost and Pack and Paddle for 25 years and never TRd once. I skim the TRs but mostly look at the pictures. Old habits die hard. For the I want to help others with current conditions crowd, why not just say I went to the Monte Cristo area and the snow level is at 4500' on S slopes?

[Tazz]

I think we all need to remember that our "secret"places are not really "secret". someone if not many have been there and more will follow. This entire country has been explored, walked on, climbed up, stomped on, and molested in many ways. (especially lakes ...Hello) Most of the members on this site have respect for fragile areas. They aren't going to go running out searching for your secret spot and tramp all over it. out of the hundreds on this site you might get a couple that say "wow I want to go there" It is not just the number of boots that cause harm it is frequency also. Everyone has there own agenda and are not going to run out and chase your spot down the next weekend, but they might try it next year. It is the uneducated hikers and backpackers that haven't learned that respect yet (just look at paradise, enchantments, and more). You won't find these people off the trails. If you don't want to do a TR then don't. So just remember if you think it is "secret" you are mistaken.... some one else will go there too. can't we all learn to share.

[blue_tuberosa]

I'm kinda on the other side of things... I almost never write a TR. My personal rule is that I will only write a TR about routes that are already published... on Green Trails, etc. And like someone said... with this criteria, there is rarely need for a report since there are usually many. The exception might be early season... just to let folks know about conditions. However... while these are the rules that I live by (for today @ least), I'm certainly happy to read about other people's secret routes. If I'm eyeing a route on a map and wondering about the feasibility... I always search here and WTA to see who has already done it. Some of you have gotten my emails badgering you with questions about your routes. Hope this admittance won't keep ya'll from indulging my questions....

[Stefan]

I am a peakbagger. I will never go back to the same peak twice. Heck, I won't even go to the same lake twice. There is so much to see and so little time in my life to see as many different places. So if I write a trip report on a "sensitive" place, I really don't care because I will never go back to see how it has changed.

[Karen]

I mostly read trail reports to find out current conditions or driving information. I find myself writing fewer trail reports these days mostly because the places I've been hiking have aleady been pretty well covered or .... shouldn't be. Karen

[Brian Curtis]

I rarely write trip reports anyway, but my rule is to never write a TR to an off trail destination. I don't want to contribute to any degradation in any way and I think some places should be left for people to find their own way. That's how I chose the destination for our week long trip last year. I found some areas that looked interesting and went to the one where I could find no trip reports. Like Stefan, I rarely go back to the same place twice, but I find his attitude very disturbing that he doesn't care what impacts are caused by his activities just because he's never going back. I don't understand at all how that follows.

[Jeff R]

[Allison]

[MtnGoat]

I use the same philosophy as ML. Lakes on the system I'll TR, lakes off of it I don't. Since I am pretty much a lake-centric hiker, that covers it.

[MtnGoat]

[Jeff R]

Alright, I probably should not have interjected my opinion here, the only point I was trying to make is that they all are on the map,on trail or not. And sure, keeping those places off the radar probably help keep the traffic down. Myself, I base my plans only on my own list, and use t.r solely for condition purposes, but I can see that others consider them more as recommendations and will shy away from posting off trail reports in the future

[MtnGoat]

[MtnGoat]

[Tom]