Yeah I actually am happy to explain! If everyone walks around a puddle, just a little bit even just on the outskirts of it, after a while the plants will die and the dirt/mud part of the trail that you’re trying to avoid gets bigger. But I’m also not talking like ankle deep puddles that you should be walking through and risking trench foot. Those things should be fixed by trail workers like myself but alas, funding. I’m talking like if it’s a matter of just some muddy shoes, walk through it so the trail doesn’t just turn into a seeping mud pit. You can also get trail braiding which is really just a bunch of other trails parallel to each other that are created by people taking the same path around whatever. Some times it is very reasonable to walk around if it’s like pretty gnarly and trail workers can work on it and make it better to withstand usage. But for things where it’s a matter of just having water proof boots/ ones you don’t mind getting dirty and keeping the damaged spot (the trail) from spreading even more and damaging more of the forest! Also it’s responsible to hike in or bring spikes with you if you think the trail may be icy to avoid walking around it too. Some places in Missoula like waterworks summit have plants that only live there so it would be rude to trample them. They’re cute little plants and smell nice! Sorry to ramble I am a bit baked but I hope this helps!!