US Hiking v. European Hiking

Over the past 12 year, I have hiked a fair amount, mostly in the Western US.  But my wife and I just completed our second long slackpack in the Alps.  Here are some of the things that are different between US and European hiking:

• The trails in the Alps tend to be steeper and much rockier.  Many are old roads and some are old goat paths but Europeans don't seem to build switchbacks like they do here.
• Bathrooms can be hard to find in the Alps.  Refugios have them but they require a purchase.  There are very few public toilets so take advantage when you encounter one.
• The Alps are covered with refugios so you are always within walking distance of a good meal, glass of wine or coffee.  There are very few comparable examples in the US but places like Muir Trail Ranch come close.
• Since much of the Alps are accesible by car, gondola or chairlift, the trails are usually much more crowded.

Government Shutdown Notices

I saw this on the website for Tonto NF: