The Rock Fight: “Reviewing Trail Etiquette, Killian’s New Project & The Personal Cost Of Being Rescued”

Podcast: The Rock Fight: Outdoor Industry & Adventure Sports Commentary
Host(s): Colin True and Shantae Salibair
Date: August 13, 2025
Episode Overview
This lively episode dives into the gray, gritty, and often hilarious realities of outdoor culture and etiquette. Colin and Shantae bring their blend of cranky old-timer gripes, playful banter, and sincere love for adventure to dissect recent headlines: hikers being fined for rescues, outrageous athletic feats, and the more subtle highs and lows of sharing trails. They challenge sacred cows of the industry, reflect on mountain values, and call out both bad trail behavior and their own outdoor misadventures.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Rock Fight Announcements & Community Chatter

(03:00–06:47)

• Inside jokes and updates: The hosts banter about Lord of the Rings marathons, new show launches (Gear Abby hosted by Shantae), and their community-driven approach.
• Notable quote:

  “We’re launching a new show, Gear Abby. I’m going to be answering your burning questions about outdoor people, places, products, and pastimes… There is no topic off limits as long as it is tangentially related to the outdoors.” — Shantae (05:52)

• General tone: Fun, irreverent, open to audience interaction (“Send us your questions, and your sponsorship dollars!”)

2. Personal Responsibility and the Growing Costs of Rescue

(07:13–14:38)

• The story: A British hiker ignored multiple trail closure signs in the Dolomites, got caught in a landslide, was rescued, and fined $16,000 to cover the cost of the operation.
• Colin’s take: Supports fining clearly negligent hikers who endanger themselves and put rescuers at risk.

  “If you are putting other people at risk... I’m kind of pro finding individuals for dumb rescues.” — Colin (10:54)

• Shantae’s view: Nuances the debate, worrying that steep fines might discourage people from calling for help when they truly need it.

  “Would less people who really need help call for help if they thought they were going to get fined? ... We’d rather take the side of, let’s just let people call if they need it and not charge them.” — Shantae (11:03)

• Notable moment: Both hosts recount their own caution-to-the-wind episodes, highlighting how easy it is to make mistakes and how learning is often a process.
• **Shantae recommends books by Brie Lo, a former Search and Rescue worker, for those interested in the nuts and bolts of rescue operations. (13:57)

3. Sporting Ambition vs. Parental Responsibility: The Ironman Dilemma

(14:49–19:55)

• The story: A New York man left his nine-year-old son alone for ten hours in the VIP tent at Lake Placid Ironman while he raced.
• Reaction: Outrage and disbelief from both hosts.

  “A kid is not a made-up thing. That’s your real responsibility.” — Shantae (16:27)

• Colin’s parental perspective:

  “When it comes to your kids... there’s a contract you sign. That is the priority. ...If your plans clash, too bad, dude — go get your kid.” (16:50)

• Debate on volunteer vs. police intervention, but general agreement: A “success at all costs” mindset is dangerous when it comes at the expense of others’ wellbeing.
• Tone: Critical, empathetic for the child, zero patience for selfish competition.

4. Killian Jornet’s “States of Elevation” Project: Spectacle or Inspiration?

(21:33–29:55)

• The story: Ultra-runner and “athletic superman” Killian Jornet plans to link all 72 U.S. 14,000-ft peaks by foot and bike, from Colorado to Washington.
• Colin’s view: Finds big “sponsored athlete” initiatives stale, wishes the marketing money supported more everyday adventurers.

  “It just seems stale at this point… I’d rather see brands support someone like Kyle Parker paddling across the country.” — Colin (26:43)

• Shantae’s optimism: Sees value in big feats as inspiration for others to chase their own goals—not necessarily to mimic elite athletes, but to spark personal adventure.

  “It gave me something weirdly concrete to focus on… it kind of changed my game as far as how I got into trail running.” — Shantae (24:00)

• Middle ground: Both want brands to focus more on authentic community engagement and broader, more relatable storytelling.

5. Lightning Round

(30:57–33:19)

• Antarctic tourism: With visitor numbers potentially doubling, Shantae calls for environmental countermeasures—fees, volunteer requirements—to protect fragile places.
• Chairlift safety: Both admit certain lifts (especially at Mount Baldy) make them question mortality.
• Kayaking on a self-grown mushroom: Pure delight at the sheer weirdness and the ecological potential (“Maybe we should just hand everything over to the mushrooms and orcas.” – Shantae, 32:54)

6. Trail Etiquette Deep Dive

(33:19–52:22, main segment)

a) General Attitudes Toward Etiquette

• Shantae: Good etiquette means educating without being a jerk. Shares story of gently correcting “first time” backpackers versus experiencing “trail police” who antagonize.

  “I don’t love the trail police… a lot of people are just ignorant.” — Shantae (36:22)

b) Right-of-Way & Yielding (bikers, hikers, horses)

• Uphill yields, horses always get right of way (and always ask the rider for guidance), bikers get the short stick.
• Both advocate defaulting to kindness, deference, and clear communication instead of strict code enforcement.

c) Music on Trails

• Strongly anti-speaker:

  “I did not sign up to share your Spotify account.” — Shantae (42:10)

• Outdoor music in public parks: Meh. In the wilderness: Please, no.
• Acknowledge some people hike with music to ease anxiety, but conclude that nature’s sounds trump personal playlists, especially in sensitive areas.

d) Leashed Dogs

• Dogs on leash unless otherwise stated.

  “Even if you can guarantee me that the dog is under voice command, put it on a leash.” — Colin (48:05)

• Both hosts recount being knocked over by friendly-but-not-really-friendly dogs. Concern for wildlife, other hikers, and, yes, even well-meaning dog owners.

e) Packing Out Trash & Food

• No tossing orange peels, banana skins, or micro-trash.

  “The ground isn’t your dad.” — Shantae (49:41)

• Food scraps, especially in dry places, do not biodegrade as quickly as people imagine.

f) Muddy Trails

• Go THROUGH the mud, not around. Trail widening is a persistent and growing problem.

  “You’re just widening the existing trail… killing the foliage… it takes a really long time to build or maintain a mile of trail.” — Shantae (51:18)

7. Colin’s “Old Man Hot Take” – Hates E-Mountain Bikes

(54:14–56:55)

• Colin’s rant: Opposed to e-MTBs—believes they create dangerous, etiquette-ignorant riders, undermine the work/joy equation of mountain biking.

  “I hate e-mountain bikes. They’re creating a generation of riders who don’t know how to mountain bike, who don’t know the etiquette…” — Colin (55:27)

• Grudging exception: Supports their use for people with disabilities or the elderly, but still doesn’t like sharing trails with e-bikes.
• Shantae’s counterpoint: Compares the resistance to e-MTBs to the initial backlash against climbing gyms for “ruining” climbing, implying adaptation is possible and etiquette can be learned.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On call-out culture:

  “People being assholes is one thing, but a lot of people are just ignorant.” — Shantae (36:22)

• Colin’s parents-on-duty philosophy:

  “There’s a contract you sign…That is the priority.” — Colin (16:50)

• On brands and inspiration:

  “Most of us are never going to do what Killian does… But it might inspire me to say, ‘What’s MY big thing?’” — Shantae (24:00)

• On music in the wild:

  “I did not sign up to share your Spotify account.” — Shantae (42:10)

• Orange peels and micro-trash:

  “This ground isn’t your dad.” — Shantae (49:41)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Episode Announcements & Banter: 03:00–06:47
• Trail Rescue Fines: 07:13–14:38
• Ironman Child Neglect Story: 14:49–19:55
• Killian Jornet’s 14ers Project: 21:33–29:55
• Lightning Round (Antarctic tourism, chairlifts, mushroom kayak): 30:57–33:19
• Trail Etiquette Deep Dive: 33:19–52:22
  • General etiquette: 34:33
  • Right of Way & Yielding: 37:24
  • Music: 42:00
  • Dogs: 46:10
  • Food Trash: 49:10
  • Mud and Trail Widening: 51:08
• Colin’s E-Bike Rant/Parting Shot: 54:14–56:55

The Rock Fight’s Community Call

• The hosts repeatedly encourage listener feedback—especially from search and rescue professionals, angry e-mountain bikers, and anyone with strong feelings on outdoor etiquette.

  “We want your emails… Send them to myrockfightmail.com.” — Colin (57:09)

Summary

This episode of The Rock Fight is a rollicking tour through every outdoor adventurer’s pet peeves and passionate debates. The hosts dissect the complexities of responsibility—whether on the trail, in extreme sports, or as brands shaping the outdoor narrative. True to their “around the campfire” spirit, they blend personal anecdote, opinion, and good humor, always returning to the core ethos: outdoor space is shared space. Etiquette matters—not in rulebook rigidity, but in sincere awareness of others’ experience.

If you love honest, unfiltered outdoor talk, practical (and sometimes cranky) advice, and a peek into the real dilemmas facing our wild spaces, this is THE episode for you.

For More:

• Email: myrockfightmail.com
• Instagram: @therockfight
• New shows: “Gear Abby” with Shantae
• Newsletter: “News from the Front” at therockfight.co

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