I hope my previous posts didn't come across as intentionally being mean to people. I'll try to give them whatever information I can, and be generally friendly, but at some point, there's just no more I can do unless I take charge of their trip and responsibility for their enjoyment. I've done that often enough with new hikers, but we planned it before the trip - I don't feel any responsibility to pick up strays on the trail.

Having said that, if someone wants to hike a ways with me, and seems genuinely interested in being outdoors, I'll gladly do so and tell them anything they want to know about backpacking or the area we're visiting (assuming I've been there before.)

I won't change my trip to accomodate them, but I won't chase them off. And I don't tolerate very well the totally oblivious, reckless person who is out there acting selfishly, disregarding other people's safety or enjoyment, or abusing the trail (littering, destroying vegetation, etc.)