Opinions About Routes Etiquette

[John Morrow]

I think about this quite a bit.  In most western mountains against civilization, and in redrock country, I now hesitate to post any atypical crosscountry routes.  In Death Valley, and in the Mojave in general, I am amazed how few people I see off the 4WD roads/trails and known routes/trails.  I do post those to aid others who are more familiar with an area already.  Hopefully I am not encouraging the masses.  I inadvertently have done that in other regions and am modifying the level of detail or omitting altogether in such places. I try to ask myself "why am I posting" and "what impact could it potentially have" before I click send.  I probably am in a bit of denial as to how many lurkers there are out there monitoring trip report sites.  I ignorantly believe I am mostly reaching the few regulars who might appreciate a report.  If anyone does a route I have posted and runs in to a disproportionate level of use, I'd want to hear about it.