TRAIL TALK

Every activity that has a dedicated following develops its own style of vocabulary. Have you ever trekked into a shelter and had a difficult time understanding a couple of seasoned backpackers talking? Well here are just a few words that might help you out.

Access Trail: Is a trail that connects the main trail to a road, other trail or town.

AT: Appalachian Trail that runs from Maine to Georgia

Blaze: A marker placed on a tree, rock or sign that delineates a trail route.

Blowdown: Is a large uprooted or broken tree that falls across the trail.

Break-in: Is the time it takes your body and mind or a piece of equipment to adjust to the physical and mental demands of backpacking and hiking.

Cache: A supplies drop-off hidden near a trail for future use. In most cases it will be food and water.

Camp Robbers: Any birds or animals that hang around camps and are skilled in stealing your food.

Cairn: A pile of rocks placed along a trail to mark its route. They're usually found above tree line.

CoI: A pass between two peaks or a gap in a ridge.

Contour: When a trail follows a contour while its elevation stays the same.

End to Ender: Someone who has hiked from one end of a long trail to the other.

Giardiasis: An infection of the lower intestines caused by an amoebic cyst. The condition usually occurs from drinking contaminated water.

Half Gallon Club: An AT thru-hiker who can eat a half gallon of ice cream at one sitting.

Power Hiker: Someone who covers long distances day after day. Often hiking from sun up to sun down.

Switchback: a zigzagging trail that traverses up a steep mountain or hill.

Thru-hiker: Someone who attempts to complete a long distance trail in one trek.

Trail Magic: The wonderful and unexpected things that happens to long distance hikers, such as a stranger offering you food, drink or a lift to town

Trail Name: A nickname that a hiker adopts. In most cases it has to do with the hiker's personality, life style or hiking style.

Trailhead: The start of a trail, usually from a road or parking lot.

Waterbar: a rock or log barrier that redirects water off the trail.

Yellow-blazing: When a long distance hiker leaves the trail and hikes along the road.

Yogi-ing: The way a long distance hiker acts to get picnickers to offer him their food.