Things you hate, dislike or annoy you when camping/bushwalki

[wildwanderer]

In Australia - fire service constantly doing controlled burns.. with National Parks close to Sydney choked in smoke during peak bushwalking season. April - September almost every day!!

In NZ - sandflies!

[Huntsman247]

There is nothing more infuriating and frustrating than cancelling a projected trip because of a highly unfavourable forecast when said forecast turns out to be about as reliable as the average political promise.

But everytime you stick it to the forecast and still go, it turns out just as predicted...

[Huntsman247]

People who break vegetation on an overgrowing track, but leave it dangling.

If you're going to break it to make passage easier, break it right off and chuck it away. Leaving it attached creates a greater problem than the living vegetation.

Even worse when they turn a shrub into an impailer stick. Had one been a few cm longer I'd have been pretty badly heart broken...

[davidf]

Coming back to where i normally live, which is actually quite nice, i do miss the dogs.

[wallwombat]

Bushwalkers who take Bluetooth speakers into the bush and blast their loud crappy music at very high levels.

[Hermione]

Ultralight fanatics who take take luggage scales so they can weigh people's packs. Took me a while to figure out why this incensed me so much, since for myself I don't care as I'm fairly comfortable with my pack and while lightweight I doubt I will ever be ultralight (not that anyone asked to weigh my pack). What bothered me was seeing others with heavier packs made to feel inadequate because of their gear choices, which may be what they can afford given that there were a number of families with kids, with Dad carrying the majority of gear, or just infrequent bushwalkers who aren't don't want to invest hundreds of dollars in new gear. I'm pretty sure these people knew their packs were heavy given they'd just lugged them uphill for 20km or so. If the aim really was to educate rather than belittle people I think there might be a better way to go about it. Also as an ultralighter why carry scales??? Surely you know the weight of all your own gear!

[Mark F]

The converted are always the worst proselytizers - a bit like vegans ... runs for shelter.

[Lamont]

Hey Hermione where did that happen? Did they then proceed to mock people?

[Hermione]

Frenchman’s, no they didn’t mock people. I don’t really think they had bad intentions just a bit misguided in my opinion, because I’m pretty sure anyone who’s lugged a 20kg pack up to Tahune hut is well aware of the weight.

[Lamont]

More a form of bragging I'd wager.

[Gadgetgeek]

I'll take March flies over midgys any day. I find it fun teaching the kids how to "hunt" march flies. The trick is to let them settle in. If you move too soon, they get away, let them get ready to bite and they seem to be distracted, so I tell the kids to count to three, then hit it hard. Of course you still need to jump on them afterwards because most people are not willing hit themselves hard enough to kill one. Sometimes with the boys it becomes a "who's tougher" type game. And I get a huge amount of amusement as some of the kids try to use themselves as bait. Better that than have them disrupt everything in panic every time a bug shows up.

As far as walking peeves go, not enough time to do as much walking as I'd like.

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

NZ sand flies can gagf

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[johnw]

NZ sand flies can gagf

Unfortunately that's why they keep multiplying

[cajun]

NZ sand flies can gagf

Unfortunately that's why they keep multiplying

Love it! but not them...

[Petew]

Let's see....

In NZ, sandflies. They make me miss the snakes and spiders.

Toilet paper flowers all over the track on popular walks.

People walking with music blaring

Camp fires in fire ban areas, often still smouldering with no-one in sight.

Whatever the critters are that crash around the bush at 3 in the morning when I'm out solo. It's not the noise, it's the associated psychodrama in my head that's annoying

[trekker76]

when camping in designated fossicking areas, all the grey nomads that seem to want to park right on top of each other, and you. They travel thousands of miles from the city to enjoy open areas and then park their cruisers, caravans and ivecos together like sardines

[Heremeahappy1]

"...seem to want to park right on top of each other, and you. They travel thousands of miles from the city to enjoy open areas and then park their cruisers, caravans and ivecos together like sardines..."
Recreating suburbia one campsite at a time. Do we subconsciously cling to others as humans? Walking out along 90 mile beach away from any potential distractions for a quiet fish, only to find a few hours later a bloke walking a good half km, up the sand, to set up within shouting distance of me. F#$k off and leave me alone! Over the years Ive come to realise a few truths
1. Many ppl are actually scared of the dark and the bush. They will usually compensate with loud music, lights, alcohol and/or large fires.
2. Many ppl can not stand their own company or don't trust themselves and will travel in large groups, set camp annoyingly close to others, talk incessantly, general PITA
3. Many ppl believe and will act like they are the first person in the bush- the only person in the bush- the only user of the bush. This fuels intolerant behaviours such as blue tooth speakers, poor toileting, out of sight/mind rubbish disposal, drones, not exercising appropriate hut/water tank use, firewood collection and irresponsible vehicle use ie sense of entitlement.
Its not all doom & gloom, it brought a smile to my face today to see a bloke heading off for a fish, guys firewood collection, a trailer full of dirt bikes and some deer hunters collecting their hounds all within 20km as I drove back from my own offtrack exploration and 4wding. Proof user groups can coexist.
Exercising tolerance, etiquette, compassion and minimum impact will enable future use of our precious outdoors.

[Ms_Mudd]

Whatever the critters are that crash around the bush at 3 in the morning when I'm out solo. It's not the noise, it's the associated psychodrama in my head that's annoying

Yes this ^^^ exactly!!!

[ThehannaTree]

Waking up to find that last night you set up your tent in the rain and cold next to a sodden pile of poo and papier mache that could only have been left by a French elephant; being the one in the group who has to be the most cheerful because she doesnt have a working thermostat, feels hungry every 10 minutes and has food allergies that prevent her from helping out with the Tim Tams because hyperthyroidism is a constant companion; knees that go backwards down hills.

[north-north-west]

... food allergies that prevent her from helping out with the Tim Tams ...

I have never felt more sympathy for anyone, ever. That truly sucks.

[trekker76]

"...seem to want to park right on top of each other, and you. They travel thousands of miles from the city to enjoy open areas and then park their cruisers, caravans and ivecos together like sardines..."
Recreating suburbia one campsite at a time. Do we subconsciously cling to others as humans? Walking out along 90 mile beach away from any potential distractions for a quiet fish, only to find a few hours later a bloke walking a good half km, up the sand, to set up within shouting distance of me. F#$k off and leave me alone! Over the years Ive come to realise a few truths
1. Many ppl are actually scared of the dark and the bush. They will usually compensate with loud music, lights, alcohol and/or large fires.
2. Many ppl can not stand their own company or don't trust themselves and will travel in large groups, set camp annoyingly close to others, talk incessantly, general PITA
3. Many ppl believe and will act like they are the first person in the bush- the only person in the bush- the only user of the bush. This fuels intolerant behaviours such as blue tooth speakers, poor toileting, out of sight/mind rubbish disposal, drones, not exercising appropriate hut/water tank use, firewood collection and irresponsible vehicle use ie sense of entitlement.
Its not all doom & gloom, it brought a smile to my face today to see a bloke heading off for a fish, guys firewood collection, a trailer full of dirt bikes and some deer hunters collecting their hounds all within 20km as I drove back from my own offtrack exploration and 4wding. Proof user groups can coexist.
Exercising tolerance, etiquette, compassion and minimum impact will enable future use of our precious outdoors.

Good response, especially no.1. That didn;t occur to me at first.

[Camminata]

The logistics - driving to and from your hike, can't think of anything that annoys me while out there apart from going for a wee when comfy in sleep bag.

[Warin]

The 'plan' ... and sticking too it...

Ok .. I have a plan. But sticking too it ... not a good idea. Spending an hour watching an eagle soar .. not on the 'plan' ... bugger the 'plan'.

At a tourist site ... group arrives and someone says "Ok, we have 5 minutes here' ... they have spent some days getting here .. for 5 minutes?

[Camminata]

The 'plan' ... and sticking too it...

Ok .. I have a plan. But sticking too it ... not a good idea. Spending an hour watching an eagle soar .. not on the 'plan' ... bugger the 'plan'.

At a tourist site ... group arrives and someone says "Ok, we have 5 minutes here' ... they have spent some days getting here .. for 5 minutes?

Just like Clark Griswald at the Grand Canyon.....

[north-north-west]

Ultralight fanatics who take take luggage scales so they can weigh people's packs. Took me a while to figure out why this incensed me so much, since for myself I don't care as I'm fairly comfortable with my pack and while lightweight I doubt I will ever be ultralight (not that anyone asked to weigh my pack). What bothered me was seeing others with heavier packs made to feel inadequate because of their gear choices, which may be what they can afford given that there were a number of families with kids, with Dad carrying the majority of gear, or just infrequent bushwalkers who aren't don't want to invest hundreds of dollars in new gear. I'm pretty sure these people knew their packs were heavy given they'd just lugged them uphill for 20km or so. If the aim really was to educate rather than belittle people I think there might be a better way to go about it. Also as an ultralighter why carry scales??? Surely you know the weight of all your own gear!

WHAT?!?!???
They just go and weigh people's gear? Way to earn yourself some big trouble, sunshine. You don't touch other people's gear unless specifically invited to do so and you really don't do it to judge them. And asking first when you're being all judgey like that does not qualify as an invitation.

[phATty]

WHAT?!?!???
They just go and weigh people's gear? Way to earn yourself some big trouble, sunshine. You don't touch other people's gear unless specifically invited to do so and you really don't do it to judge them. And asking first when you're being all judgey like that does not qualify as an invitation.

As a young fella, I'd be more impressed with how HEAVY the pack weight was. I'll live to regret it in the next 10 years haha.

[peregrinator]

The logistics - driving to and from your hike, can't think of anything that annoys me while out there apart from going for a wee when comfy in sleep bag.

Driving to, I generally enjoy. Driving from, I despise. Returning from the beauties of the bush through an hour or so of outer to middle to inner suburbia shows just how unsustainable and stressful a large city is. I now prefer where possible to travel out and back on public transport (train and bus).

[Camminata]

Ultralight fanatics who take take luggage scales so they can weigh people's packs. Took me a while to figure out why this incensed me so much, since for myself I don't care as I'm fairly comfortable with my pack and while lightweight I doubt I will ever be ultralight (not that anyone asked to weigh my pack). What bothered me was seeing others with heavier packs made to feel inadequate because of their gear choices, which may be what they can afford given that there were a number of families with kids, with Dad carrying the majority of gear, or just infrequent bushwalkers who aren't don't want to invest hundreds of dollars in new gear. I'm pretty sure these people knew their packs were heavy given they'd just lugged them uphill for 20km or so. If the aim really was to educate rather than belittle people I think there might be a better way to go about it. Also as an ultralighter why carry scales??? Surely you know the weight of all your own gear!

WHAT?!?!???
They just go and weigh people's gear? Way to earn yourself some big trouble, sunshine. You don't touch other people's gear unless specifically invited to do so and you really don't do it to judge them. And asking first when you're being all judgey like that does not qualify as an invitation.

I wonder if they are ultra light scales

[Camminata]

The logistics - driving to and from your hike, can't think of anything that annoys me while out there apart from going for a wee when comfy in sleep bag.

Driving to, I generally enjoy. Driving from, I despise. Returning from the beauties of the bush through an hour or so of outer to middle to inner suburbia shows just how unsustainable and stressful a large city is. I now prefer where possible to travel out and back on public transport (train and bus).

A train would be great , better than driving!

[johnw]

The logistics - driving to and from your hike, can't think of anything that annoys me while out there apart from going for a wee when comfy in sleep bag.

Driving to, I generally enjoy. Driving from, I despise. Returning from the beauties of the bush through an hour or so of outer to middle to inner suburbia shows just how unsustainable and stressful a large city is. I now prefer where possible to travel out and back on public transport (train and bus).

A train would be great , better than driving!

This. As I've become, ahem, a few years older I no longer tolerate long drives very well.
So any day trips reachable by train have more and more frequently got the nod in recent years.
Lucky to live walking distance from the local railway station, connecting to many places that I can sensibly visit in a day.
Overnight or longer I'd probably still take the car, although not unrealistic to do some of those by train.