What is Hiker Trash?

The term Hiker Trash is interchangeably used for those people who have chosen to live a long-distance hiking life on the trail while ditching the social rules and norms.

This way of living might appear strange to others; some are wondrous and liberating for the hiking community.

So what really is Hiker trash, and how can you identify them? The term to them is like a badge of honor and by no means an insult as they think of themselves as an unorthodox subculture who roams about town with their heads high when on the search for charging stations, free WiFi, and food.

Changes in the brain have been observed as a consequence of secluding oneself from society, hence the possibly abnormal behavior of the Hiking Trash crowd, who don’t think twice about what other people would think about their actions. They reach a certain level of self-actualization where talking about status, money, power, or profession doesn’t interest them as they have other common goals like hiking and living a much simpler life.

How Can Hiker Trash Be Identified?

There’s an easy way Hiker Trash can be identified in that they would pick up any edible off the ground and search for more, whereas an average hiker may have a glance at it and think about eating it.

Their cannibalistic hunger is due to the average amount of calories they burn in a day, i.e., 3,000 – 6,000 calories.

How is Actual Hiker Trash Set Apart?

The correct way to embody the status of identifying one’s self as Hiker Trash is for others to be able to tolerate and support the unpleasant body odor of hikers in their cars, shops, and restaurants. They believe in being respectful towards all trail angels, residents, other hikers, and people passing by, especially on their trail, as they represent it proudly by wearing the badge of a Hiker Trash. Being a part of the community instills values of inclusivity, being kind towards people, and the willingness to genuinely help out others and connect with them on a deeper level while also taking care of nature around them. Cleaning up and good etiquette is a part of their values, so it is not acceptable to act trashy and litter around.

It’s considered shameful for hikers when the hostels or resorts along their trails have to close down because hikers aren’t considerate about cleanliness and the environment.

Common Indicators of Hiker Trash

Here are some tell-tale signs of Hiker Trash and how you can differentiate them from non-hikers.

• Their raincoat starts serving as a shirt, and the compactor bag lines as a skirt as they walk along trails waiting for their clothes to soak in some sun to dry up.
• Their clothes smell regardless of being washed.
• They get lured in and accept strangers offering them a hot shower and warm bed to stay in.
• They are always hitch-hiking for a ride to the town.
• Hiker Trash is well experienced and is a master at fitting in more people than the vehicle’s capacity. 
• They don’t realize that their body odor is intolerable to others around them.
• Hanging their clothes and undergarments off their backpack to dry doesn’t make them conscious even when walking into a department store.
• Their whole attire looks like it’s beginning to deteriorate, with their backpack straps and socks looking worn and torn. 
• Most of their eatery stops are based on all-you-can-eat buffets.
• They are always on the hunt for extra goodies they can find along the way, such as an abundant supply of chocolates.
• They can be identified from the rest of the crowd with their long braided beards.
• Hiker Trash is almost always on the search for charging outlets and bathrooms for when they’re not on the trail.
• They are quite skilled when it comes to opening bottles without using proper bottle openers.
• They are quite satisfied with seeking shelter in an outhouse during a storm.
• They have their own Hiker Trash language, using phrases like; hiker midnight or hiker hunger.
• They are accustomed to being offered money because of their shabby appearance.
• Extreme sports have a whole other meaning to them when it pertains to eating, drinking, and taking a nap out on the roadside. 
• Overcrowded hotel rooms don’t bother them as they are okay with eight to ten people lodging in one room.
• Hiker Trash Fashion is a thing for them with fluorescent colored Hawaiian outfits and trucker caps as it adds personality to the outfit, according to them.
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Wind Up

Some define Hiker Trash as those who have opted for a simple and lower standard of living. This can be untrue as when on a trail, hikers enjoy a higher standard of living being connected with nature. Hence the term can be referred to those who are free-spirited and clean even while looking shabby and smelly.