by Aardvark » Mon 16 Apr, 2018 9:38 pm
I find it worrying the trend to placing tape on off track routes and not removing it. I have followed many a route i know in recent years to return to my car with pockets chock full of tape.
The biggest bug bear i have here is the attitude of the person having placed the tape. By not removing the tape,it can only be presumed that you are lazy OR you have the arrogance to assume you are doing others a favour by marking tracks. 90% of the time the route is obvious to any regular off track walker because of the path of least resistance and the often clear signs of travel. It is a skill you acquire over time to be able to track something.
The use of tape, as i have always been educated is to assist you temporarily if you have doubts about your ability to recall your route.
I think it's important that people should take out what they take in. Remember from a navigation perspective that others may want to take on the challenge of following an off track route. It is an often overlooked skill by those who don't walk off track or only walk occasionally and don't appreciate the need for some to hone those skills. These people need to read the topography and need to develop a sense for what the likely route is going to be. It also comes from an understanding of the animals (people mostly, maybe cattle, deer etc) who ply the route and how they would likely tackle various obstacles.
I see it as another symptom of a growing population and therefore more people who think everywhere needs to be signed, and manicured and made safer.