Backpacking etiquette?

Really depends. When there is a sort of set area, like around the AT shelters, you have to just try not to be too in-your-face. But when there is lots of dispersed camping, find someplace away from others.

In recent years, we have had more people on the trails and less camping sites due to rivers eating them away. We have ran into situations where we have shared a single site with other hikers. It is always nice to acknowledge the other camp settlers, ask if there is preference on where to set up your tent, and to be friendly. I personally prefer to not have anyone near me as I have to go visit a tree in middle of the night and don't need to trip over anyone else to do it. But I am always welcoming and etiquette calls for you to be the same, never refuse someone needing to share your site, and to maintain social distance unless invited, informally at least, as some are out looking for solitude.

Through-hikers tend to camp on top of each other because their focus is getting down the trail and not solitude at camp spots. Recently I picked a quiet spot a little way off the John Muir Trail in the late afternoon. A couple showed up and dropped packs about 60' from my tent. I correctly guessed they were through-hikers, because otherwise they'd have camped further away. We had a short friendly conversation and I didn't really hear them the rest of the night.

The AT is a very social trail and people expect to have company at shelters. Don't be the jerk who builds a smokey fire and makes everyone else wish they had ear plugs.

First, if you're traveling with a dog, take off his leash. People love dogs and your friendly pooch will create a great first impression.

Second, camp as close to others as possible, in order to minimize your footprint and lesson your environmental imprint.

If people looks suspicious, let them know loudly that you are carrying a gun, and then mumble something about "hoping you don't have any flashbacks tonight"

Finally, do your bit to chip in by dragging every dead branch you can find withing a 1/4 mile radius back to camp and building a huge bonfire. You'll let everyone know that you're a team player by doing more than your share. Once again, build the fire as close to the tents as possible to minimize the environmental impact. For the sake of safety, build a fire ring out of the biggest rocks you can lift and carry back to camp.

I have kindof a floating scale on that. If I'm off-trail in a place where I have a fairly reasonable expectation that no other party is going to show up looking to camp, then I don't really give too much thought to principles of sharing--I'll go ahead and find that "perfect" camp without a lot of regard for others' views, etc.

Camping right next to the trail is weird--I've only done it in terrible weather or if I'm very late making camp and will be gone early the next morning.

If someone wants to camp right near the water supply and have other folks tromping through their camp, I figure that's mostly their problem.

To me, I guess the camps I care about are in the more remote places that I have to myself. The more crowded camps where these etiquette principles become important are usually only on the first or last nights of my trips. I'm typically too tired to care on the first night...

Tigger and Lamebeaver, you guys are too much!

Don't forget the dog.