To Geo-Tag Or Not To Geo-Tag?

That is the question.

It’s a topic I’ve seen come up a few times recently among hikers and outdoorsy people on Instagram. Should we geo-tag our Instagram and Facebook posts with the locations of these amazing views and epic adventures?

As the current global pandemic shuts down things like festivals, concerts, swimming pools and the like, people have been gravitating to the outdoors more. Beaches, campgrounds and hiking trails have been busier than ever as people look for things to do to break their cabin fever. Nude drum circles aren’t for everyone. BC Parks recently had to introduce a day use reservation system at some of the major parks to accommodate for the increased traffic. This was after some record setting visitation days at parks like Golden Ears. While it’s great to see more people enjoying everything the great outdoors has to offer it has also brought a lot of controversy among avid hikers and outdoors-people, mainly due to trail etiquette, or lack thereof.

With more visitors comes more trash left on the trail, more sensitive areas being traveled/trampled on, more people not moving off to the side for faster hikers, more dogs off leash, more music playing out loud (you know who you are you, hiking in boardshorts with no shirt on and a Bluetooth speaker in your backpack)….the list goes on.

But on the other hand, can you really get angry at more people wanting to experience all that nature has to offer? I mean, before our avaricious hands and minds got all over everything, this is how our ancestors lived. They lived off the land, trailblazing, experiencing the outdoors, posting to Instagram. More people should explore their backyards and get closer with our wonderful planet to gain a better respect for it.

This is what poses the question, should outdoor enthusiasts, or anybody for that matter, geo-tag their social media posts essentially making it easier for everyone to find these spots?

Yesterday I posted a poll on my Instagram story asking people if they geo-tag their hiking spots. 64% of people said they do and that “Nature is for everyone”.

There have been a number of articles written about this over the past few years from the likes of The New York Times, REI, Nat Geo, and more. But as this topic is getting life again due to increased visitations to outdoor spots around the globe this Summer I wanted to ask some peers and fellow hikers what they think……

From @crushquest who’s based in southern California and shares an affinity with me for hiking and craft beer…..

I used to (geo tag) years back but I’ve seen spots get destroyed in my short time out here so I even delete comments when people say “that’s this place!”….. And I never tell people where I go. So many people will dm me asking being like “it’s cool I’m local” etc….. I always say if you want to come with me sometime you can….. Being in the place and telling them there how important it is to protect.

From @alpinealana from British Columbia who I saw bring this topic up most recently on one of her Instagram posts…..

As an avid hiker, the outdoors mean the world to me – and it makes me happy to see how many other people love it too. But slowly over time there has been a negative shift. Instagram and geotagging have created overcrowding in delicate ecosystems that don’t have the resources and funding to handle the influx of people. Not only that, not everyone respects the ‘leave no trace’ and ‘pack out what you back in’ outdoor ethics. Although I want to share all of these amazing spots in Beautiful BC, part of me wants to keep them hidden, protected, and free. If everyone can’t respect nature, then we all lose it too. Keep BC wild and tag responsibly.

Alana also sent me this video from Vox about Horseshoe Bend in Arizona. A spot that has blown up in popularity due to social media.

From @explorewithbeer, who’s based in Oregon, on how he goes about choosing what to tag and what not to…..

I usually tag an approximate location “Willamette National Forest” or “Oregon” instead of the specific lake or peak. If it’s a really high traffic/popular view I give more details.

From one of the OG beer and outdoor enthusiasts from BC, @crafttourist…..

I feel very fortunate to live in “Beautiful British Columbia” and love getting out on adventures to explore it. The more I got into hiking and off-roading, the more I started relying on social media and apps like AllTrails and Gaia to help me find new destinations. Getting an idea of what you are in for, before hitting the road, is important to ensure a safe day on the trail. If these hikes weren’t geotagged with recent reviews and pictures, I might never discover them. I feel nature is something that should be enjoyed by everyone, not kept a secret but at the same time, I can appreciate where people come from that are against it and would prefer to be there without the masses. The issue lies more in people not respecting proper trail etiquette or follow the “pack it in, pack it out” credo. They are the ones that ruin these majestic places. It’s a big world out there, I guess if you want to get away from the masses, drive farther and hike higher.

From @beerving_america who are self proclaimed nomads traveling the US in their RV (I’m so jealous)…..

As a full time camper we often share campsites/parking info with other full time/part time campers. Mother Nature is for everyone, even our best spots we’ll share.….. I’d say for full timers it’s also a piece of mind for safety. People can geo tag and leave reviews on apps like campendium. You know if you have service, the views, how the roads are, how safe it is, etc.

From my fellow BC hiker and beer enthusiast @bcbeerguy who was at a loss for words….

Ah…what?

^ That’s a direct quote.

I can’t remember exactly where I saw this a few weeks ago but another outdoor enthusiast had a couple good takes on why he doesn’t geo-tag. #1) I don’t know your trail etiquette or if you follow the “Leave No Trace” credo. #2) I don’t know your skill level when it comes to hiking. I may be going on hikes that are intermediate or advanced and I wouldn’t want somebody following my tracks just to get a good Instagram photo while putting their lives at risk.

I was on the fence before researching and chatting with people for this blog post. Now I’m falling off that fence trying not to trample the sensitive eco-system on the other side. I’m all for more people enjoying the outdoors but I’ve seen first hand on most of my hikes this summer that there’s been more trash on trails and less basic trail knowledge than ever before. I’ll probably still geo-tag the more popular hikes I go on as people will find those know matter what Google search they do for “best hikes near Vancouver“. For the lesser traveled trails, well, you’ll have to do your own research.

What are your thoughts? Do we need to keep these spots secret to preserve them or do we need to share so everybody has the chance to enjoy?

Whatever side of the fence you’re on always remember to Pack It In, Pack It Out and Leave No Trace. We all need to do our part to respect the trails so future generations can enjoy them as well.