Are you a peak bagger who feasts on GORP from alpine start to hiker midnight? Would you follow blazes up scrambles and across scree fields in pursuit of type 2 fun? NoBo or SoBo? How’s that trail spice taste? What’s with the blank stare?
While the use of the trail slang and jargon in the previous sentences were a bit of an exaggeration, once you start getting into hiking, backpacking, and trail activities in general, you’ll find yourself immersed in an exciting culture with its own unique language. If it seems like the backpacker you just met at the summit has begun spouting gibberish at you, consult this glossary of common trail terms for a translation.
Trail Terms
Alpine Start – An extremely early (pre-sunrise) start to a day of hiking.
Alpine Zone – The delicate ecosystem above treeline (see below) close to the summits of mountains
Backcountry – Undeveloped wilderness area without maintained trails/services
Bail – To bail is to leave the trail early before completing your objective. This isn’t a bad thing! You may need to bail in order to avoid bad weather or make it back to the trailhead before nightfall.
Blaze – A trail marker (usually painted on a tree or rock) that shows you where the trail is. Different colors usually indicate different trails – Trail A might follow blue blazes, while Trail B follows red ones. Following the blazes means following the trail!
Bluebird – A beautiful sunny day with a clear blue sky.
Bushwhacking – Hiking off of the trail for any reason.
Cairn – A stack of rocks used for various purposes on hiking trails – they may be painted with blazes, used as trail markers in place of blazes (usually above treeline), or built to indicate a summit.
Dirtbag – If a hiker refers to you as a dirtbag, don’t be offended! This is a term of endearment (and maybe even respect, in some circles) for someone who prioritizes an outdoor lifestyle over more traditional values, which don’t always emphasize extended treks up mountainsides.
False Peak – A peak that seems like the summit, but actually isn’t. Usually elicits groans and water-breaks.
GORP – An acronym for Good Ol’ Raisins and Peanuts, which now refers more generally to any mixture of snacks that can be stuffed in a Ziploc bag and scooped out in handfuls.
Herd Path – An unmaintained trail created by frequent traffic by humans or animals. May lead to vistas, “bathroom” spots, or up to backcountry peaks with no official summit trail.
Hiker Midnight – 9 PM; the time that a hiker or backpacker usually feels ready for bed after a day of exercise on the trail.
Hiker Trash – See “Dirtbag”. This is a similar term of endearment that refers more specifically to hikers. Especially once they make the sweaty and dirt-encrusted return to civilization post-peak bagging.
LNT – Leave No Trace: a set of ethics focused on reducing human impact on the environment while enjoying the outdoors.
NoBo – North Bound; used to describe which direction a thru-hiker (see below) is traveling in.
Peak Bagging – The act of summiting a particular peak for the first time and checking it off the list, usually used when a hiker is attempting to climb all the peaks in a particular range or grouping.
Register – The logbook which hikers sign before setting off on the trail, which provides information about their plans and makes a record of trail usage.
Scramble – A type of movement up a slope which is half hiking and half climbing. It usually means using your hands to help you get up/over/around boulders, steep pitches, or other obstacles.
Scree – A kind of loose pebbly rock that makes footing difficult and may require scrambling over.
Section Hiking – Completing the entire length of a long-distance trail by breaking it up into segments and hiking them at different times.
Single track – A section of trail only wide enough for one person at a time.
SoBo – South Bound; used to describe which direction a thru-hiker (see below) is traveling in.
Switchback – A turn so sharp that the trail “switches back” and goes in the opposite direction. Switchbacks make it easier to climb steep slopes. See “Traverse”.
Thru-Hike – A hike along the entire length of a long-distance trail, like the Appalachian Trail or Pacific Crest Trail (both over 2000 miles long!).
Topo/Topo Map – Shorthand for a topographic map, which shows elevation gain and other terrain features in addition to roads and trails.
Trail Angel – A person encountered on the trail who offers unlooked for assistance, primarily food, water, and guidance. They may seem to appear out of nowhere and disappear just as quickly.
Trailhead – The place where an established trail meets a road or parking lot
Trail Magic – A beneficial circumstance on the trail which seemingly happens by magic, usually unexpected and well-timed. Maybe you feel your stomach rumbling, and find a granola bar resting on a rock. Trail magic is frequently performed by trail angels, but can also be due to the forces of nature.
Trail Name – Nicknames given to and used by backpackers, especially thru-hikers. Don’t be surprised if hikers introduce themselves with names like “Cheese”, “Mousey”, or “Puddles”.
Trail Spice – The little particles of dirt and other natural substances which inevitably find their way into backpacking meals. Don’t worry, they’re nutritious.
Traverse – To cut across a slope rather than going straight up it.
Treeline – The line of elevation where trees no longer grow, usually at a high elevation.
Type 2 Fun – The type of experience which seems horrible in the moment, but which seems totally fun and worthwhile in retrospect. Hiking through a storm might be type 2 fun, for instance.
WFR (pronounced “woofer”) – Wilderness First Responder; a person who is certified as a first responder in wilderness settings. A WFA (“woofa”) is a person certified in Wilderness First Aid.
Widowmaker – A broken branch suspended in the air by other branches, which could potentially fall on someone.
Zero Day – A backpacker’s rest day, on which they hike zero miles.
Bonus Term:
Stoke – Even if you’ve heard this one already, you’re sure to hear it a lot more among backpacking and hiking enthusiasts. Stoke is enthusiasm for life, and there’s plenty of it to be found on the trail! Get stoked and get after it!
Any terms you’d like to add? Share them in the comments below!
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