Backpacking Jargon
Backpacking: Camping and hiking while carrying almost everything needed in a backpack
Jargon: Expressions used by a group that are hard for others to understand
Backpacking Jargon: Simple explanations of jargon used by backpackers in America
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said
in rather a scornful tone,
“it means just what I choose it to mean —
neither more nor less.”
Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass
Not Found Suggestions About
A
A-frame: Also pup tent, tent with flat fabric panels and two straight poles the same length at each end, forming two legs of an upright triangle
ABC: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation, old memory aid for highest-priority first aid problems, now ABCDE
ABC watch: Wristwatch that displays Altitude, Barometric pressure, and Compass headings
ABCDE: Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Decision to maintain spine control, Expose life threatening injuries, memory aid for highest-priority first aid problems
ac: Acre, about 0.4 ha or an American football field without end zones
Access trail: Also feeder trail, connects main trail to a trailhead or another trail
Acclimatization: Ascending slowly while adapting to high altitude, to prevent acute mountain sickness or worse
Achilles tendon: Connects calf muscles to heel
ADT: American Discovery Trail, 6,800 mile (10,900 km) route from the Atlantic Ocean in Delaware to the Pacific Ocean in California
ADZPCTKO: Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kick Off event, no longer held
AFAIK: As Far As I Know
Al: Aluminum or aluminium
Alcohol stove: Stove that burns alcohol
ALDHA: Also ALDHA-East, Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association
ALDHA-West: American Long Distance Hiking Association West
Alpine start: Begin hiking well before sunrise to avoid rockfall and other hazards as the day warms
Alpine zone: Above treeline in high-elevation areas
Alternate: Different trail connected to the main trail at each end
Altimeter: Device that measures altitude using air pressure
Altitoots: Farting because of high altitude
AMC: Appalachian Mountain Club
AMS: Acute Mountain Sickness, headaches, vomiting, and more caused by altitudes above 8,000 feet (about 2,400 m)
Anemometer: Device that measures wind speed
Anker: Brand of battery packs popular with thru-hikers
AQI: Air Quality Index, higher numbers are worse
Aquamira: Brand of liquid two-part chemical water treatment
Arc’x: Arc’teryx, company that makes backpacking gear
As the crow flies: Most direct path between two points, versus by trail or road
AT: Appalachian Trail, 2,200-mile (3,500 km) trail through the Appalachian Mountains from Georgia to Maine
ATA: Appalachian Trail Alliance
ATC: Appalachian Trail Conservancy, formerly Appalachian Trail Conference
Atmospheric river: Also pineapple express, narrow band of airborne moisture that can cause intense rain and snow storms along the west coast of North America
Avalanche: Sudden, dangerous, and rapid downward flow of snow on a slope
Avalanche beacon: Also avy beacon, small radio transmitter and receiver worn while traveling through avalanche areas to aid rescue
AYCE: All You Can Eat, feature of restaurants popular with thru-hikers
AYH: American Youth Hostels
AZT: Arizona Trail, 800-mile (1,300 km) trail across Arizona from Mexico to Utah
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B
Backboard: long, narrow, rigid board with straps used to carry an injured person
Backcountry: Area with no maintained roads and few buildings or residents
Bacon stretcher: Mythical device designed to stretch bacon
Bald: Low forested mountain without trees on top
: Shoes with very thin soles, often with individual toes
Barometer: Device that measures air pressure
Base layer: Innermost clothing, usually intended to quickly move moisture away from the skin
Baxter: Baxter State Park in Maine, north end of the Appalachian Trail
BBQ: Barbecue
Beanie: Also toque, warm knit cap
Bear bag: Bag used to hang food out of reach of bears
Bear box: Bear-resistant locker for food storage
Bear burrito: Sleeping bag or hammock with a smelly backpacker inside, usually cowboy camping
Bear cable: Cable permanently installed high between trees or poles for hanging bear bags
Bear can: Bear-resistant food container carried by backpackers
Bear fortune cookie: Tent
Bear piñata: Suspended bear bag low enough for bears to reach
Bear spray: Canned pepper spray used to discourage actively charging bears
Bearmuda triangle: Keep stored food, kitchen, and sleep area at least 100 yards (meters) apart
Beaver fever: Giardia infection
BeiDou: Chinese satellite navigation system like GPS
Bench: Long flat area on the side of a hill
Bergschrund: Also schrund, crevasse formed at the top of a glacier, often quite deep
Berm: Long dirt pile along on the outer edge of a trail
Beta: Recent first-hand information
Bidet: Device used to squirt water and clean up after pooping, instead of using toilet paper
Big three: Backpack, sleep system (like a sleeping bag and pad), and shelter (like a tent)
Bite valve: Mouth-operated valve on the end of a tube leading to a hydration bladder
Bivouac: Sleep outside without a shelter in bad weather
Bivy sack: Separate lightweight cover around a sleep system
Black blazer: Someone who obscures or blacks-out blazes to prevent other hikers from finding a trail
Black ice: Thin, slippery, almost invisible coating of clear ice on rocks, sidewalks, and roads
Blackflies: Small biting flies found in large swarms in the eastern U.S.
Blaze: Carved or painted mark on a tree or rock, showing the route
Blaze orange: Bright color worn during hunting season to reduce accidental shootings
Bliss index: Scale of 1 to 10 measuring backpacker happiness, where 10 is happiest
BLM: Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Government agency managing over 386,000 square miles (over 1,000,000 km²) for multiple uses
Blow out: Serious hiking shoe failure requiring repair or replacement
Blowdown: Trees fallen across a trail or wide area after high winds
Blue bagging: Carrying poop out of the backcountry in blue WAG bags
Blue blaze: Spur trails off the Appalachian Trail marked by blue blazes
Blue-blazer: Backpacker who uses blue-blazed Appalachian Trail sections instead of white-blazed
Bluebird day: Day with blue, cloudless skies
BLUF: Bottom Line Up Front, conclusion at the top with details below
Bluff: Short cliff
BMT: Benton MacKaye Trail, 288-mile (463 km) trail from Georgia to North Carolina
Boardwalk: Trail segment covered with planks to protect sensitive areas
Bog bridge: Also puncheon, narrow walkway to protect wetlands
Bomb cyclone: Quickly developing severe storm
Bomber: Unusually strong or durable gear; also a good rock climbing hold
Bombogenesis: Fast, sustained pressure drop in a developing storm, creating a bomb cyclone
Bonk: Suddenly run out of personal energy due to lack of blood sugar
Bonus miles: Extra distance backpacked on a thru-hike without forward progress, like hiking to town and back for supplies
Book time: Guidebook time to complete a trail
Bounce box: Also drift box or flyer, package of thru-hiker supplies not needed soon, so shipped ahead
BPL: Backpacking Light, online publication with active community forums
BPW: Base Pack Weight, also baseweight, total weight of backpack with everything inside except consumables like food, water, and fuel
Brain: Backpack lid with a zippered pocket
Break trail: Flatten a path through fresh snow that others can follow easier
Breathable: Fabric ability to pass water vapor
Brick-and-mortar: Retail stores you can buy stuff from, versus online shopping
Bridge hammock: Hammock with bars on both ends creating a flatter sleeping surface
Brown blazing: Off trail detour to poop
BRP: Blue Ridge Parkway, National Park unit in North Carolina and Virginia
BSA: Boy Scouts of America
BSI: Big Sky International, company that makes backpacking gear
BSL: Big SEKI Loop, 155-mile (249 km) route through Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California
BTDT: Been There, Done That, direct experience with the subject
Bubble: Also pack or herd, main group of thru-hikers moving along a trail, typically spread out across several days
Bucket list: List of adventures to complete before “kicking the bucket” (dying)
Buffer zone: Protected areas adjacent to the Appalachian Trail
Bushwhack: Difficult hiking through dense bushes and branches
Bypass: Skip a trail segment, town, or trailside attraction
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C
c: Cup, about 240 ml, exactly 8 ounces volume
C: Celsius, metric measure of temperature, 0 C is 32 F, 86 F is 30 C
Cache: pronounced cash, food and supplies hidden for later pick up
Cairn: Also duck, tall rock pile that might indicate the trail path
Calorie loading: Eating lots of high calorie food during a town stop
CalTopo: Website and app for mapping and navigating backcountry adventures
Camel up: Also tank up, drink a lot of water at a water source
Camp clean: Clean enough but not that clean
Canadian clipper: Also Saskatchewan screamer, Alberta clipper, storm system from Alberta that rapidly crosses the continent
Canister stove: Backpacking stove that burns butane-propane fuel from pressurized metal cans
Canopy: Top layer of a forest
Canyoneering: Also canyoning, traveling the length of rugged canyon bottoms by rock climbing and swimming
Can’t see the forest for the trees: Foreground features hide important background features; also a detail-oriented person missing the bigger picture
Carbs: Carbohydrates, major part of most backpacker diets, including sugary foods, pasta, couscous, and tortillas
Caretaker: Also maintainer, person who maintains a permanent shelter or campsite
Cat hole: Small hole dug to dispose of poop
Catenary curve: Natural curve that rope or fabric makes while suspended between two points
CBS: Cold Butt Syndrome, when hammock campers sleep without enough insulation underneath them
CCF: Closed Cell Foam, dense plastic foam used for sleeping pads and backpack padding
CDT: Continental Divide Trail, 3,100-mile (5,000 km) trail through the Rocky Mountains from Mexico to Canada
CFM: Cubic Feet per Minute, about 7.5 gallons per minute or 28 liters per minute
CFS: Cubic Feet per Second, about 7.5 gallons per second or 28 liters per second
Chafing: Pain and redness where skin rubs together or gear rubs skin, aggravated by sweat and dirt
Chinook winds: Warm southwest winds on the coast of Oregon and Washington; also warm west winds on the eastern slope of western North American mountain ranges
Chrome dome: Discontinued lightweight reflective umbrella, the name now describes similar umbrellas
Christmas toes: Tingling and numbness in thru-hiker toes that lasts through December 25
ci: Cubic inch, about 16.4 ml; 1,000 ci is about 16 liters
Cirque: Also corrie or cwm, steep-sided mountain valley with closed upper end
Class 1 climb: Trail hiking
Class 2 climb: Low-risk scrambling, sometimes using hands
Class 3 climb: Higher-risk scrambling, handholds needed, rope sometimes used to stop falls
Class 4 climb: Simple rock climbing, rope often used to stop falls, unroped falls may be fatal
Class 5 climb: Technical rock climbing, rope usually used to stop falls, unroped falls typically fatal
Class I rapid: Short, fast river section with small waves and no obstacles
Class II rapid: Short, fast river section with easily avoided obstacles
Class III rapid: Short, fast river section with irregular waves, tight channels, and multiple maneuvers required
Class IV rapid: Short, fast river section with unavoidable large waves, critical maneuvers required, and stopping for inspection usually required
Class V rapid: Long dangerous river section, stopping for inspection difficult, and difficult rescues
Cliffed out: Off-trail route that becomes too steep to proceed safely
Clo: Clothing insulation measurement, about 1.55 togs or R 0.88
ClO2: Also ClO2, chlorine dioxide, chemical water disinfectant
cm: Centimeter, about 0.4 inches
CO: Carbon monoxide, colorless odorless poisonous gas, formed by flames or combustion without enough oxygen
Cobbknocker: Also webwalker, web face, or web master, first person on a trail in the morning, who clears spider webs
Cobble: Rounded rocks 2.5 to 10 inches (65-256 mm) across
Cobblestone: Path built from cobbles
Col: Also gap, notch, or sag, low point on a ridge
Cold soak: Prepare food by soaking it in water without cooking
Comfort hiker: Backpacker carrying much more weight in the pursuit of camping comfort
Companion: ALDHA Thru-hikers Companion, guidebook for the Appalachian Trail
The Complete Walker: Popular 1968 book by Colin Fletcher that dramatically expanded interest in backpacking
Contour lines: Curved lines on a map representing constant elevations above sea level
Contouring: Also sidehilling or slabbing, following a roughly constant elevation path around a mountain or canyon
Cornice: Dangerous overhanging ledge of snow and ice on a ridge or peak
Corridor: Narrow strip of land along both sides of a trail
COSPAS-SARSAT: International organization that uses government satellites to locate PLB rescue signals and trigger rescues
Cottage gear: Backpacking gear made by small companies, usually owned and operated by the founders
Cotton world: Off-trail life, when wearing cotton is not potentially life-threatening
Cove: Small bay or coastal inlet; also small valley in the Appalachian Mountains, closed at one or both ends
Cowboy camp: Sleep out in the open, without a tent or shelter
Cowboy coffee: Mixture of hot water and ground coffee carefully poured unfiltered into a cup
Cowboy water: Also dip-and-sip, drink water directly from the source without treatment
Cowpie: Also cow plop, meadow wafer, pasture pastry, flattened cow poop, avoid stepping on
Cowtaminated: Water source polluted by cattle waste
CPR: Cardiopulmonary respiration, first aid for reviving a few mostly dead patients
Crampons: Metal frame with spikes and straps, used on boots for climbing steep ice
Crevasse: Deep, dangerous crack in a glacier that can be hidden by a weak snow bridge
Croo: Caretakers of Appalachian Mountain Club huts
Crotch gusset: Small fabric panel in pants allowing more range of motion
Crotch rot: Inflammation and often infection around the genitals
Crushing miles: Also pushing miles, hiking much farther than usual each day to reach a goal
Crypto: Cryptosporidium, waterborne intestinal parasite that causes diarrhea
CT: Colorado Trail, 490-mile (780 km) trail through the Rocky Mountains from Denver to Durango, Colorado
Culvert: Water passage under a trail or road, made of pipe, rock, or wood
Cupholders: Backpack lower side pockets used to carry water bottles
Cushy: Comfortable
CX: Cross-country, also freehike, hike a path not on established trails
CYTC: Calendar Year Triple Crown, complete the PCT, CDT, and AT in one year between January 1 and December 31
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D
D: Denier, pronounced den-year, measure of thread and fabric density, higher is heavier
Daisy chain: Two-layered webbing with one layer sewn to leave open loops, used for hammock suspensions; also a long rope gathered using interlocking loops
DAM: Down-filled Air Mattress, inflatable sleeping pad insulated with down
Data Book: Appalachian Trail information published by the ATC
DCF: Dyneema Composite Fabric, fabric made with Dyneema
DCH: Dyneema Composite Hybrid, fabric made with DCF, bonded to layers of other materials
Dead branch tattoo: Also rock tattoo or trail tattoo, scar acquired while hiking
Dead fall: Dead tree laying across a trail
Death march: Long, boring hike, often in hot weather
Declination: Also magnetic declination, difference between true north and magnetic north
DEET: Type of chemical insect repellant applied to skin
Deets: Details
Derecho: Long line of intense, damaging windstorms
Diablo wind: Strong, hot, dry offshore wind in Central California
DIAD: Done In A Day
Dialed-in: Describes gear well matched to the task
Dirtbagging: Backpacking on a limited budget using ragged gear
Dispersed camping: Camping away from established campsites and trails
Ditty bag: Small bag to hold miscellaneous items
DIY: Do It Yourself
DOC: Dartmouth Outing Club
Dodgeway: Fence opening that permits hikers to pass, not livestock
Dome tent: Shelter shaped roughly like half of a ball
Double blaze: Two aligned vertical blazes indicating a sharp trail turn
Double-track: Primitive dirt road formed by parallel vehicle tires
Double-triple: Completing the Triple Crown twice
Double-wall: Tent with two layers of fabric overhead, outer layer waterproof
Down in the weeds: Focused on details, missing larger features
Down the rabbit hole: Getting deep into a topic, sometimes ending up somewhere strange
Downburst: Blast of air coming down from above, often during a thunderstorm
Droppin trou: Said to others before lowering shorts, pants, or trousers outdoors
Drumlin: Long low hill formed by glaciers
Dry camp: Camp overnight without using local water
Duct tape: Also Duck Tape brand name, wide, heavy duty tape used for repairs and other tasks
Duff: Layer of leaves, sticks, and other dead plant material covering the ground
Dust devil: Tiny tornado that picks up dust, mostly harmless
DWR: Durable Water Repellant, coating that helps rain run off fabric for a while
Dyneema: previously Cuben, brand of UHMW polyethylene fibers
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E
EABO: Eastbound thru-hiker
ECT: Eastern Continental Trail, 4,400 mile (7,100 km) route from Key West, Florida to Belle Isle, Newfoundland
EE: Enlightened Equipment, company that makes backpacking gear
EGNOS: Satellite system that improves Galileo accuracy in Europe, like WAAS for GPS in North America
Elk duds: Elk poop that resembles Milk Duds candy
EMS: Emergency Medical Services like paramedics and ambulances; also Eastern Mountain Sports outdoor retailer
EN rating: Also sleeping bag rating, unreliable sleeping bag low temperature estimate using the ISO 23537 standard, formerly EN 13537
End-to-ender: Someone completing the entire Appalachian Trail
ESBIT: Brand of hexamine solid fuel tablet
Escape velocity: Courage to leave a vortex
Escarpment: Long series of cliffs, roughly the same height and running the same direction
EtOH: Ethanol, drinking alcohol
Exposure: steep area with high risk of falling and serious injury or death, more exposure is more dangerous
External frame pack: Backpack with stiff supports near your back and outside the fabric
Extension collar: Extra-tall backpack body unrolled to carry more stuff
Eyelet: Shoelace hole in a boot or hiking shoe, often reinforced with metal or plastic
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F
F: Fahrenheit, U.S. measure of temperature, 32 F is 0 C, 86 F is 30 C
Facilatrees: Forest as toilet or “facilities”
FAK: First Aid Kit
Fall line: Shortest and steepest way down a hill
False lead: Path that looks like the real trail, but is not
False pass: Mountain crossing that looks like the true pass until you get there
False summit: High spot that looks like the true summit until you get there
FarOut: Formerly Guthook, brand of app-based guides to long-distance trails
Fastpacking: Covering many miles (km) per day with a very light backpack
FBC: Freezer Bag Cooking, preparing food by adding hot water to ingredients inside a thick zippered plastic bag
Fill power: Measure of down insulation fluffiness, higher is lighter
Firenado: Also fire whirl, tornado of fire formed during intense blazes
First-hand experience: Personally observed or participated in the subject
First Known Time: Time taken by the first person to complete a trail
FKT: Fastest Known Time, speed record for hiking a trail end to end
Flash drought: Drought that forms in days or weeks rather than years
Flash flood: Rapid flooding of low lying areas, often scouring desert washes and slot canyons in sunny conditions
Flip-flop: Thru-hike part of a trail in one direction, then skip ahead to hike another part in the other direction
Floater: Tiny debris suspended in water
Floorless: Tent without a built-in floor
Flophouse: Cheap town lodging for thru-hikers
Florida Trail: A 1,500 mile (2,400 km) trail following most of the length of Florida
Food fantasies: Backpacker dreams of what they will eat in town
: Separate floor underneath a tent for added protection
Ford: Cross a river by wading through the water
Four state challenge: Hike the Appalachian Trail across Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania in less than 24 hours
Frameless: Backpack without an internal or external frame
Freestanding tent: Tent that mostly works without stakes in the ground
Frost quake: Also ice quake, earth shaking caused by ice suddenly cracking
FSO: From Skin Out, total pack weight plus everything worn or carried
ft: Foot, about 30.5 cm, exactly 12 inches
ft³: Also ft3, cubic foot, about 7.5 gallons or 28 liters, exactly 1,728 cubic inches
Fun factor: Current lack of enjoyment, part of evacuation decisions after illness or injury
FWIW: For What It’s Worth, slightly off-topic but still important
FWOT: Freaking Waste Of Time, project or path that seriously fails to meet expectations
FWS: Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Government agency managing over 235,000 square miles (over 600,000 km²) to protect wildlife
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G
g: Gram, about 0.035 ounces weight, 1 ounce is 28.35 g
GAIA GPS: App for mapping and navigating backcountry adventures
Gait: Walking pace
Gaiters: Lower leg and shoe coverings to protect from dirt, water, snow, and obnoxious plants
Galileo: European satellite navigation system like GPS
Gallon: About 3.79 liters, exactly 4 quarts
GAMEr: Northbound Appalachian Trail thru-hiker traveling from Georgia to Maine
Garvey: Double vertical blaze with the top blaze pointing to a trail turn
GAS: Gear Acquisition Syndrome, problem of buying too much backpacking gear
Gathered end: Hammock with each end gathered for suspension
Gathering: Annual ALDHA meetup in New Hampshire or West Virginia
GBITS: Great Backpacker In The Sky, mythical being who tests the toughness of hikers
GCNP: Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona
GDT: Great Divide Trail, 700-mile (1,130 km) trail in the Rocky Mountains along the border of Alberta and British Columbia
Gear attic: Fabric shelf high inside a tent for storing gear
Gear head: Someone very focused on backpacking gear
Gear: Backpacking equipment
Gearly afflicted: Backpacker with Gear Acquisition Syndrome
GET: Grand Enchantment Trail, 770-mile (1,240 km) route across Arizona and New Mexico
Getting off: Temporarily or permanently leaving a thru-hike
GG: Granite Gear or Gossamer Gear, companies that make backpacking gear
Ghost blazing: Following an abandoned trail segment
GGG: Gathering of the Gear Geeks, annual meetup of Backpacking Light gear heads in California; also Garage Grown Gear outdoor retailer
Giardia: Waterborne intestinal parasite that causes giardiasis, including diarrhea, stomach cramps, and vomiting
Ginourmous: Extremely large, bigger than enourmous
Glissade: Sliding down steep snow without skis, usually holding an ice axe to stop safely
Globalstar: Satellite system for messaging and phone calls; also a brand of satellite phones
GLONASS: Russian satellite navigation system like GPS
Glutes: Large muscles in the back of each thigh
GMC: Green Mountain Club
Gnarly: difficult, unpleasant, twisted, or excellent, depending on context
GNSS: Global Navigation Satellite Systems, like GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, and BeiDou
Go-to gear: Equipment used on most backpacking trips by someone
Going to ground: When a hammock camper decides to sleep on the ground
GORP: Good Old Raisins and Peanuts, also trail mix
GPS: Global Positioning System, U.S. satellite navigation system
GPX: Computer file with waypoints, tracks, routes, elevations, and times
Grade: Trail steepness, higher grades are steeper
Gram weenie: Also weight weenie, someone very focused on reducing their backpacking gear weight
Graupel: Also snow pellets, tiny, soft hail that can lead to avalanches later
Gray water: Dirty dishwater
Green tunnel: Most of the heavily-forested Appalachian Trail
Grom: Young participant in an extreme sport
Ground control: Off-trail people helping thru-hikers with shopping, shipping, bill paying, and pet care
Groundling: Also ground dweller or grounder, backpackers who sleep on the ground
GSMNP: Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee
Guesstimate: Estimate based on guesswork, calculation, and experience
Gully: Also gulch, large ditch to small valley formed by erosion
Gut it out: Keep going despite fatigue, illness, or injuries
Gut rot: Belly pain from bad food or infection
Guylines: Cords used to attach tents and tarps to stakes or other supports
GWL: Great Western Loop, 6,875 mile (11,065 km) route linking the PCT, PNT, CDT, GET, and AZT through nine states
GWT: Great Western Trail, 4,455 mile (7,170 km) trail from Mexico to Canada through Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana
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H
ha: Hectare, about 2.5 acres
Haboob: Wide, intense dust storm pushed ahead by a storm front
HACE: High Altitude Cerebral Edema, life-threatening brain illness caused by altitudes above 8,000 feet (about 2,400 m)
Half gallon challenge: Eat a half gallon (about 1.9 liters) of ice cream halfway through the Appalachian Trail
Hammock: Fabric sling hung between trees, just above the ground, for sleeping
Hammock tent: Hammock with everything needed for shelter, including tarp, bug net, and suspension
Hamstring: Back thigh muscles running from hip to knee
Hanger: Hammock camper
HAPE: High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, life-threatening lung illness caused by altitudes above 8,000 feet (about 2,400 m)
Happy camper: Someone happy in their current activity
Hardcore: Very dedicated person
Hardshell: Waterproof jacket or pants without insulation
Harpers Ferry: ATC headquarters town near the Appalachian Trail in West Virginia
Hayduke Trail: 812 mile (1,307) route across Utah and Arizona
HE pot: Also HX pot, heat exchanger pot, with outer fins to capture more stove heat
Headlamp: Small light attached to a strap, usually worn on forehead or upside-down on neck
Headwall: Cliff at the upper end of a cirque
HEET: Brand of gasoline additive, sometimes used as alcohol stove fuel
Heine pot: Tall Heineken beer can turned into a cook pot
Hermit hiker: Someone who likes to hike alone
HH: Hydraulic head, unreliable measure of fabric water resistance, higher is more waterproof
High Sierra Camps: Permanent backcountry camps in Yosemite National Park, California, with tent cabins, bedding, and hot meals
Highway tree: Fallen tree that allows cross-country hiking over brush
Hiker box: Box or cabinet where thru-hikers donate unwanted stuff
Hiker funk: Persistent odor of thru-hiker clothing and gear after weeks of backpacking
Hiker Heaven: PCT thru-hiker hostel in Southern California
Hiker hunger: Intense hunger and enormous appetite developed while thru-hiking
Hiker midnight: 9 pm (2100 hours), bedtime for many thru-hikers
Hiker shuffle: Awkward thru-hiker steps after removing their backpack at the end of the day
Hiker tan: Dirty skin that resembles a suntan
Hiker trash: Affectionate name for thru-hikers after weeks of backpacking
Hiker-friendly: Town or business that appreciates thru-hikers
Hill-walking: Hiking in the hills
Hitchhike: Also hitch, get vehicle rides from strangers
HMG: Hyperlite Mountain Gear, company that makes backpacking gear
Home free: Very close to the end of a thru-hike
Hostel: Low-cost shared lodging often used by thru-hikers
HST: High Sierra Trail, 49-mile (79 km) trail through Sequoia National Park to Mount Whitney, California
HTD: Horizontal Tree Drip, when condensation drips from trees, then wind blows it into your face or tent vents
HTH: Hope This Helps
Hump: Carry a heavy load
Hut: Also bothy, permanent trail shelter, often shared with other backpackers
Hybrid tent: Combination single-wall and double-wall tent
Hydration bladder: Also water reservoir, flexible water container
Hydration system: Backpack-mounted hydration bladder, hose, and bite valve for hands-free drinking
HYOH: Hike Your Own Hike, resist pressure to hike or backpack like others, not permission to break rules
Hyperthermia: Dangerously high body temperature
Hyponatremia: Dangerously low blood sodium, usually from drinking too much plain water
Hypothermia: Dangerously low body temperature
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I
IANAL: I Am Not A Lawyer, warning that legal advice might not be correct
IAT: International Appalachian Trail, 1,850 mile (2,540 km) trail from the Appalachian Trail north end in Maine to the north tip of Newfoundland
Ice axe: Axe with one pointed head, one flattened head, and a foot spike, for climbing and crossing ice
Icebergs: Large rocks placed in overused campsites to prevent camping
ICT: Idaho Centennial Trail, 1,311 mile (2,110 km) trail across Idaho from Nevada to Canada
IERCC: Private company that coordinates responses to satellite communicator rescue messages
IIRC: If I Recall Correctly
IMO: In My Opinion
IMHO: In My Humble Opinion
IMNSHO: In My Not So Humble Opinion
in: Inch, about 2.5 cm
Indian summer: Warm dry autumn weather, typically after a period of cooler weather
inReach: Brand of two-way satellite communicators
Internal frame pack: Backpack with stiff supports near your back and inside the fabric
Inverted canister: Remote canister stove with preheat tube that can burn fuel from an upside-down canister in cold temperatures
Iridium: Satellite system for messaging, phone calls, and Internet access
IRL: In real life, usually back in town, versus the current setting
ISO: International Standards Organization, creates and publishes standards used to test backpacking gear
IT band: Part of the outer thigh that helps stabilize the knee; overuse while hiking can cause severe pain
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J
JMT: John Muir Trail, 211-mile (340 km) trail through the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney, California
Jungle hammock: Hammock with built-in bug netting
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K
Karst: Eroded limestone landscape with sinkholes, caves, fissures, and towers
Katabatic wind: Wind caused by colder, denser air falling from a higher elevation
Katahdin: Appalachian Trail north end on Mount Katahdin, Maine
KCHBR: Kings Canyon High Basin Route, 124-mile (200 km) route in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, California
kg: Kilogram, about 2.2 pounds
km: Kilometer, about 0.6 miles
km²: Also km2, square kilometer, about 247 acres or 0.4 square miles
Knob: Prominent rounded hill or mountain
Knot: Fixed looping of a rope, guyline, or webbing; common backpacking knots include half hitch, bowline, and taught line hitch
Krumholtz: Stunted and twisted trees found near treeline
Kula Cloth: Brand of pee cloth
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L
L: Liter, about 1 quart or 61 cubic inches
LASH: Long Assed Section Hike, backpack multiple sections of a longer thru-hike
Lash point: Small loop or slots on gear to attach other gear with straps or cord
lb: Pound, about 454 g, exactly 16 ounces weight
LCT: Lost Coast Trail, 25-mile (40 km) trail in California following the Pacific Ocean
Lean-to: Permanent backcountry shelter with slanted roof and open sides
Leapfrog: Repeatedly pass and get passed by the same backpackers while hiking
Learning opportunity: Mistake that you can learn from
Leeward: Also lee, downwind, the direction the wind is going toward
Litter: Trash left in the backcountry; also long, narrow rigid basket used to carry an injured person
LNT: Leave No Trace, guidelines to reduce local environmental impacts while backpacking
Loft: Thickness of fluffed-up insulation, like a sleeping bag ready for use, higher is warmer
Logbook: Also register, trailside paper book to record trail progress and communicate with other hikers
Lollipop: Hike that includes both an out-and-back and a loop
Looks good on paper: In theory this should work, reality might have other plans
LP: Lone Peak, brand of trail running shoes
Long Trail: 273-mile (439 km) trail through Vermont
The Look: Thru-hiker appearance after weeks of backpacking, with confidence, determination, and a muscular, lean body
Lyme disease: Serious illness transmitted to humans by tick bites
L2H: Lowest to Highest, 130 mile (209 km) route from Badwater to Mount Whitney in California
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M
m: Meter, about 1.1 yards or 3.3 feet
MacGyver: Creatively solve a problem using available materials, from an old TV series
mAh: milliamp hour, vague and confusing battery energy unit, use watt-hours (Wh) instead
Mail drop: Supplies and gear shipped to a thru-hiker for resupply along the trail
Massif: Distinct local group of connected mountains
MATC: Maine Appalachian Trail Club
MEC: Mountain Equipment Company, formerly Mountain Equipment Co-op, outdoor retailer
McLeod: Combination rake and hoe for trail building and firefighting
MEGA: Southbound Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, traveling from Maine to Georgia
Menstrual cup: Small soft reusable cup worn internally to catch menstrual blood, instead of using disposable tampons or pads
Meths: Also methylated spirits, denatured alcohol, often with methanol plus ethanol
Micro USB: Small rectangular connector used for recharging batteries
Microburst: Very localized blast of air from above, often during a thunderstorm
Mid: Pyramid-shaped tent supported by internal vertical poles
Mile: About 1.6 km
Mineral soil: Ground with almost no burnable material, good for stoves
Misery index: Scale of 1 to 10 measuring backpacker suffering, where 10 is worst
Misting: Water droplets floating inside a tent
ml: Milliliter, about 0.2 teaspoons, 1 teaspoon is about 5 ml
MLD: Mountain Laurel Designs, company that makes backpacking gear
Mod: Modify gear after purchase
Modder: Someone who modifies gear
Monkey butt: Red butt inflammation and often infection
Monsoon: Summer thunderstorm season in American southwest deserts
Moraine: Ridge of broken rocks formed by glaciers
Moulder strip: Also heat shunt, metal strip that carries heat from stove flames to a canister for better cold weather performance
Mountain money: Also shit tickets, toilet paper
Mountain walking: Hiking in the mountains
Mountains-to-Sea Trail: 1,175 mile (1,891 km) trail from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean through North Carolina
Mouse hanger: Cord through an empty can for hanging packs, to prevent mice from crawling down
MPD: Miles Per Day, 1 mile is about 1.6 km
MRE: Meal Ready to Eat, also Meal Rejected by Everyone, compact well-preserved military food
MRT: Mogollon Rim Trail, 500-mile (800 km) route following the Mogollon Rim across Arizona
MSR: Mountain Safety Research, company that makes backpacking gear
Moskies: Also muskies or mozzies, mosquitos
Multi-use trail: Trail with multiple uses allowed, like hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking
MVTR: Moisture Vapor Transfer Rate, poorly-standardized measure of fabric ability to allow humid air to escape, higher allows more
MYOG: Make Your Own Gear, instead of buying gear made by others
MYTH: Multi-Year Thru-Hike, backpacking another part of one long-distance trail, year by year
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N
Nalgene: Brand of water bottle
National Scenic Trail: Eleven significant U.S. trails including the PCT, CDT, and AT
NCT: North Country Trail, 4,800 mile (7,700 km) trail from Vermont to North Dakota
Nero: Short day thru-hiking with just one night in town, nearly a zero day
Nest: Hammock camper setup including hammock, suspension, tarp, and insulation
Nesting: When one pot or cup fits nicely inside another
Newbie: Also noob, someone new to an activity
NNML: Northern New Mexico Loop, 500-mile (800 km) route through New Mexico
No-see-um: Also midge, tiny biting fly; also tent netting with holes too small for midges
NOBO: Northbound thru-hiker
NOC: Nantahala Outdoor Center
NOLS: Non-profit school teaching outdoor skills and wilderness medicine
Non-freestanding tent: Traditional tent that needs stakes in the ground
Nor'easter: Also Northeaster, intense blizzards ranging from North Carolina to Nova Scotia
NPS: National Park Service, U.S. Government agency that manages over 133,000 square miles (over 340,000 km²) “unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations”
NWS: National Weather Service, U.S. Government agency that forecasts weather
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O
OCT: Oregon Coast Trail, 425-mile (684 km) trail along the Pacific coast in Oregon
ODT: Oregon Desert Trail, 750-mile (1,207 km) trail across the deserts of eastern Oregon
Off-trail: Hiking a path not on established trails; also the developed world away from a thru-hike
OHT: Ozark Highlands Trail, 320-mile (515 km) trail across northern Arkansas
OIA: Outdoor Industry Association, trade group of outdoor gear manufacturers
Old-growth: Ancient forest or tree not yet logged
On-trail: Hiking on an established trail
OP: Original Post, referring back to the first entry in a forum thread
OR: Outdoor Research, company that makes backpacking gear; also Outdoor Retailer, annual trade show
Oregon challenge: Thru-hike the PCT all the way through Oregon in less than 2 weeks
OTC: Over The Counter, medicines like aspirin that you can buy without a prescription
Out-and-back: Hike out then return on the same trail
Outer tent: Rainfly on a double-wall tent
Outhouse: Also privy, small permanent shelter with a hole in the ground for pooping
Over-the-top: Exaggerated or excessive
Overpronation: Pushing off from the big toe while hiking, often causing foot problems
oz: Ounce, about 28.4 g weight; also about 28.4 ml volume
Oz: Australia
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P
Pack it out: Leave nothing behind on a backpacking trip
Pack string: Pack animals like horses or mules, tied together and led down the trail
Packing your fears: Carrying more gear and food than needed due to fears and inexperience
Packraft: Also trail boat, one-person, lightweight, inflatable boat designed to be carried and used by a backpacker
Packsplosion: Also full yard sale, emptying a pack and spreading everything out to find something
Pass: Mountain ridge low point, sometimes allowing hiking to the other side
Patagucci: Nickname for Patagonia, company that makes backpacking gear
PBC: Portable Battery Charger, also battery bank, USB brick, and many variations, battery pack for recharging other devices using USB
PCT: Pacific Crest Trail, 2,650-mile (4,270 km) trail through California, Oregon, and Washington from Mexico to Canada
The PCT Hiker’s Handbook: Influential 1992 book by Ray Jardine that re-kindled interest in lightweight backpacking, MYOG, and corn pasta
PCT-L: Pacific Crest Trail email list and archive
PCTA: Pacific Crest Trail Association, issues PCT permits and maintains the trail
PCT Days: Annual Pacific Crest Trail festival in Cascade Locks, Oregon
Peak bagging: Climbing a list of mountain peaks
Pee: Liquid body waste, urine
Pee cloth: Also pee rag, cloth used to wipe body after squatting to pee, then hung outside a backpack to dry
Penalty potatoes: Food carried but not eaten on a trip
Pepsi can stove: Also tin can stove, alcohol or solid fuel stove made from an empty can, like cat food, tuna, or beer
PEU: Also PE, polyether urethane, waterproof fabric coating
PF: Plantar fasciitis, painful foot condition
PFD: Personal Flotation Device, lifejacket
PhD: Posthole Digger, hiker who enjoys postholing through the snow
Piezo igniter: Makes electric sparks by clicking a button, used for lighting stoves
PIF: Pay It Forward, encourage someone you helped to help someone else in return
Pinhoti Trail: 335 mile (539 km) trail in the Appalachian Mountains through Georgia and Alabama
Pit zips: Jacket armpit zippers allowing more ventilation
PITA: Pain In The Ass, obnoxious person or task
Plantar fasciitis: Painful inflammation of the foot arch
Platypus: Brand of hydration bladders
Playing in the high energy zone: Engaging in outdoor activities with dangerous natural forces, like hiking precarious ridge tops or cornices, or boating difficult river rapids
PLB: Personal Locator Beacon, one-time-use device that sends rescue signals through government satellites
Plunge step: Also heel step, hike down a snowy or crumbly slope heel-first, digging in with each step
PNT: Pacific Northwest Trail, 1,200-mile (1,900 km) trail from the Rocky Mountains in Montana to the Pacific Ocean in Washington
PO: Post Office, where thru-hikers send and receive mailed packages
Pogonip: Also ice fog, freezing fog that often coats tree branches and other surfaces
Point: First person in a group of hikers, responsible for finding the way
Polycro: Also polycryo, lightweight plastic sheeting used as tent footprints
Poop: Also poo, semi-solid body waste, feces, excrement, manure
PORE: Point Reyes National Seashore in California
Posthole: Plunge feet and legs deep into snow while hiking
Pot cozy: Insulation around a pot, keeps food warm after heating
Potable water: Water clean enough to drink
Potty trowel: Small one-handed shovel for digging cat holes
POUS: People Of Unusual Size, backpackers taller than most, adapted from a Princess Bride movie scene
Power hiker: Backpacker who covers many miles per day, often in the dark
PRD: Pocket Rocket Deluxe, an upright canister stove made by MSR
Preheat tube: Stove fuel tube that crosses the flames for better cold weather performance
Prescribed fire: Also controlled burn, fire set under supervision to prevent larger wildfires
pt: Pint, about 473 ml, exactly 2 cups or 16 ounces volume
PU: Polyurethane, also polyester urethane, waterproof fabric coating
PUD: Pointless Ups and Downs, also Mindless Ups and Downs, trail segments that seem to climb and drop for no reason
Puffy: Thick insulated jacket that looks puffy
Pulaski: Combination axe and adze for trail building and firefighting
Pull the trigger: Decide to buy a piece of gear after lengthy thinking
Purist: Appalachian Trail thru-hiker planning to pass every white blaze
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Q
q: Quart, about 946 ml, exactly 2 pints, 4 cups, or 32 ounces volume
Quad: Also quadrangle, uniquely named USGS topographic map covering a rectangular area
Quilt: Hoodless, bottomless sleeping bag, like a very warm blanket
Quiver: Personal collection of similar backpacking gear, like several backpacks
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R
R-value: Standardized measure of sleeping pad insulation, higher is warmer
r/Ultralight: Reddit online ultralight backpacking community
Rain gear: Clothing worn for rain protection, including hat, jacket, mittens, and pants
Rain shadow: Area with much less rain downwind of a mountain range, often creating deserts
Rainbow blazer: Appalachian Trail thru-hiker who hikes different-colored blazed routes
Rainfly: Also flysheet, separate waterproof tent layer designed to shed falling rain and snow
Ramen bomb: Meal combining ramen noodles and instant mashed potatoes
Ray Day: Best date to hike out of Kennedy Meadows on a northbound PCT thru-hike, considering Sierra Nevada snow depths
Ray-way: Backpacking philosophies of author Ray Jardine
Real world: Backcountry or civilization, depending on context, like “back in the real world ...”
Red flag warning: National Weather Service forecast of high fire danger
Red snow: Snow colored by red algae, not safe to eat or drink
REI: Recreational Equipment Inc, very large U.S. outdoor retailer
Relo: Relocated trail segment
Remote canister stove: Stove with a short hose that connects to a fuel canister
Repeat offender: Someone thru-hiking the same long distance trail again
Reroute: Trail moved to an adjacent or newly-built trail section
Rescue assistance: Prepaid service that helps with rescues after you contact them
Rescue insurance: Insurance that pays for rescues after the incident
Resupply: When thru-hikers pick up more supplies
RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, memory aid for treating injuries like sprains and broken bones; instead of compression, use support like tape or splints
Ridge runner: Person employed to hike back and forth on trail sections, educating hikers and enforcing rules
Ridgeline: Line following the highest points of a ridge; also a tight guyline above a hammock to maintain desired shape
Ridgerest: Brand of closed-cell-foam sleeping pad that rolls up
Rime ice: Ice formed on trees and other surfaces when windblown water droplets freeze
RMC: Randolph Mountain Club
Rock garden: Part of a trail or river with lots of rocks sticking up
Rock hop: Hop from rock to rock across a river trying to stay dry
RSN: Real Soon Now, eventually or someday
RUA: Restricted Use Area, backcountry area with special rules
Ruck: Meetup of outdoor enthusiasts
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S
S2S: Sea-to-Summit, company that makes backpacking gear
Safety meeting: People smoking marijuana together
SAK: Swiss Army Knife, brand of pocket knife with other tools
SAM splint: Brand of shapable but rigid support for suspected broken bones
Santa Ana wind: Strong, hot, dry offshore winds in Southern California
SAR: Search and Rescue, the team and process of finding people and rescuing them
Scat: Animal poop
Scouting: Inspecting the route ahead from a high point along a trail or river; also a worldwide youth movement teaching outdoor activities including backpacking
Scramble: Climb a rugged area using hands and feet, but not rock climbing
Scree: Fist-sized rocks on slopes, difficult to hike over
Seam tape: Special tape added to tent, backpack, or rainwear seams for waterproofing and reinforcement
Second breakfast: Extra morning meal due to hiker hunger
Second dinner: Extra evening meal due to hiker hunger
Section: Portion of a longer thru-hike, usually between towns or major trailheads
Section hiking: Backpacking sections of long trails like the PCT, CDT, or AT
SEKI: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park in California
SEND: Satellite Emergency Notification Device, satellite communicator that sends rescue messages through commercial satellites
Shakedown: Gear inspection and suggestions from a more experienced backpacker
Shakedown hike: Backpack trip to test gear and skills before a longer hike
Shale: Loose flat rocks with sharp edges, often difficult to hike over
Shell: Uninsulated outermost clothing, like a rain jacket or windjacket
Shelter: Tent or tarp; also small three-sided building for backcountry camping
Shelter rat: Hiker who camps only in permanent shelters
Shenandoah: Shenandoah National Park in Virginia
Shin-splints: Shin pain from overuse and inflammation
SHR: Sierra High Route, 195-mile (314 km) route above timberline in the Sierra Nevada, California
SHS: Shaky Headlamp Syndrome, annoying lighting changes as your head moves while wearing a headlamp
SHT: Superior Hiking Trail, 310-mile (500 km) trail following the shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota
Shuttle: Paid ride between trailhead and town
Siberian express: Cold air mass from Siberia crossing North America
Silicone: Plastic made with silicon, used in backpacking gear from spoons to fabric coatings
Sil/PU: Fabric coated with with silicone on one side, polyurethane on the other
Sil/sil: Fabric coated with with silicone on both sides
Silnylon: Silicone-coated nylon fabric
Silpoly: Silicone-coated polypropylene fabric
Single-track: Narrow trail
Single-point hammock: Also portaledge, hangs from one overhead point, mostly used for rock climbing
Single-wall: Tent with only one upper fabric layer
Skipping: Bypassing a section of trail
Skunked: When cars do not stop while hitchhiking
Skyhook: Mythical device for suspending items in midair; also a rock climbing device
Slackpacking: Sending a backpack ahead while hiking without it
Sleep system: Sleeping bag or quilt plus sleeping pad
Slogging: Difficult hiking on a muddy trail
Slot canyon: Long narrow channel eroded into the earth, typically in the southwestern U.S.
SMD: Six Moon Designs, company that makes backpacking gear
Smoke shifter: Mythical device for moving campfire smoke, often requested as left-handed or right-handed
Smokies: Part of the Appalachian Mountains on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina
Snag: Standing dead or dying tree; also large chunks of wood in a river
Snot rocket: Plug one nostril and blow mucus forcefully out the other
Snowmageddon: Also snowpocalypse or snowzilla, extreme snow storms in the popular press
Snowpack: Compressed snow layered on the ground, usually from multiple storms, higher snowpack is deeper
SNP: Shenandoah National Park in Virginia
SOBO: Southbound thru-hiker
Social trail: Also use trail, unofficial trail formed by repeated walking
Softshell: Wind and water resistant insulated jacket or pants, not waterproof
Soloing: Backpacking alone
SOS: Emergency signal requesting help or rescue
Spectra: Brand of UHMW polyethylene fibers
Speed hiking: Hiking rapidly down a trail pursuing a new record
Spork: Combination spoon and fork in one utensil
SPOT: Brand of satellite phones and satellite communicators
Springer fever: Desire by previous thru-hikers to return to the Appalachian Trail
Springer Mountain: Appalachian Trail south end in Georgia
Spruce trap: Spruce tree covered by deep snow, dangerous to fall into
sq mi: Also mi² or mi2, square mile, about 259 ha, exactly 640 acres
Square meter: Also m² or m2, about 1.2 square yards or 10.8 square feet
Square yard: Also yd² or yd2, about 0.84 square meters, exactly 9 square feet
Stack height: Thickness of a shoe sole at a given point
Stats: Statistics and details
Stealth camping: Camping well off trail at an unofficial site, while practicing Leave No Trace
Stick snake: Stick that jumps up and hits you when you step on it
Stile: Steps passing over a fence that permit hikers to pass, not livestock
Stoveless: Backpacking without a stove, usually eating cold food
Stride: Walk with long steps
Stride length: Average step length while hiking, sometimes useful for navigation
Stupid light: Gear too light to function well; also not carrying enough to reach goals or stay safe
SUL: Super Ultra Light, base pack weight less than 5 pounds (2.2 kg)
Summit: Also peak, top of a mountain
Sun cups: Uneven snow surface like the inside of a giant egg carton, hard to hike over
Supination: Hiking with most weight on the outside of feet, often leading to pain
Suspension: Straps, ropes, and hardware needed to hang a hammock between trees
Swag: Lowest connection between two ridges
Swale: Dip in a trail designed to shed water
Swamp ass: Sweaty butt, can cause chafing and monkey butt
Sweep: Last hiker in a group, makes sure no one falls behind
Switchback: Sharp trail turn on a slope to make climbing and dropping easier but longer, and reduce trail erosion
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T
Talus: Large broken rocks that usually do not move as you step on them
TAR: Therm-a-Rest, brand of backpacking gear
Tarn: Mountain lake or pond scooped out by a glacier
Tarp: Simple overhead fabric shelter with no floor or doors
tb: Tablespoon, about 15 ml
TBD: To Be Determined, specification or answer will be supplied later
TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury, serious head injury typically caused by a hard impact like falling
TD: Trail Designs, company that makes backpacking gear
Teardown: Completely disassemble a piece of gear, often documenting the process with photos
Tehachapi challenge: Hike the Pacific Crest Trail from Hiker Town to Tehachapi, California in less than 24 hours
Ten essentials: Short list of items day hikers should carry for safety
Tenkara: Minimalist fly-fishing without a reel
Tent body: Inner fabric layer of a double-wall tent
Tent platform: Flat wooden stage or dirt pad for camping
Three-season: Gear and skills for spring, summer, and fall backpacking, loosely defined
Thru-hiking: Long, multi-day backpacking that requires resupply and usually starts and ends in different places
Thundersnow: Snow falling during thunder and lightning
Ti: Titanium
Ticks: Tiny blood-sucking parasites that can transmit Lyme disease and other serious infections
TNF: The North Face, company that makes backpacking gear
Tog: Clothing insulation measurement, about 0.645 clo or R 0.57
Togs: Clothing
Top quilt: Quilt used on top of a hammock camper or groundling
Topo: Topographic map with contour lines of constant elevation; also a brand of trail running shoes
Torso pad: Short sleeping pad just long enough to reach from head to butt
Town clothes: Clothing worn by thru-hikers while in town
Town gut: Belly pain after thru-hikers eat too much in town
TP: Toilet Paper, used to wipe your butt after depositing poop, instead of using a bidet
TPW: Total Pack Weight, combined mass of everything carried in a backpack
Trail angel: Someone who provides trail magic to thru-hikers
Trail clearing: Removing trail obstacles for easier passage
Trail Days: Annual Appalachian Trail festival in Damascus, Virginia
Trail gorilla: Volunteer who helps maintain the PCT
Trail legs: Stronger, almost tireless legs of thru-hikers after weeks of backpacking
Trail magic: Unexpected help or supplies provided to thru-hikers
Trail muffin: Horse manure on a trail
Trail name: Nickname traditionally given to a backpacker on their first thru-hike
Trail provides: Thru-hiker belief that when they really need something, it will appear
Trail runners: Lightweight trail-running shoes used instead of boots
Trail spice: Leaves, twigs, and dirt in backpacking food
Trail spikes: Also microspikes, metal spikes attached under trail runners for icy trails
Trail town: Hiker-friendly towns near popular long-distance trails
Trail virgin: First time thru hiker
Trailhead: Trail segment start and end, typically a parking lot or road
Tramily: Trail family, group of thru-hikers who bond and travel together
Tramper: Hiker, especially one who continues despite bad weather
Traverse: Hike horizontally across a slope; also hike the length of a mountain range, island, or named region
Tread: Bottom of a shoe or boot that contacts the ground; also the surface of a trail
Treadway: Constructed surface of a trail
Treeline: Maximum elevation or latitude where trees strop growing, replaced by shorter plants
Trekking: Hiking, usually long-distance hiking
Trekking poles: Also hiking poles or hand wands, hand-held poles used for stability and pushing forward
Triage: Sort multiple sick or injured patients into a few priority levels
Triangulation: Determine position using compass bearings to three landmarks like mountain peaks
Triple Crown: PCT, CDT, and AT
TRT: Tahoe Rim Trail, 175 mile (281 km) trail around Lake Tahoe in California and Nevada
ts: Teaspoon, about 5 ml
TSA: Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Government agency with rules about what you may not take on an airplane, enforced through inspections at airports
TST: Theodore Solomons Trail, 271 mile (437 km) trail in the Sierra Nevada, roughly parallel to the John Muir Trail at lower elevations
TT: Tarptent, company that makes backpacking gear
Turnpike: Also highway or freeway, heavily used trail
Type 1 fun: Traditional fun, enjoyable during the experience
Type 2 fun: Miserable experience that seems like fun later, worth repeating
Type 3 fun: Terrible experience, usually requiring rescue or emergency medical care, avoid repeating
TYT: Tahoe-Yosemite Trail, 186 mile (299 km) route from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite National Park in California
Tyvek: Brand of waterproof non-woven polyethylene fabric
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U
UHMW: Also UHMWPE, Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene, very strong, lightweight, plastic fibers used in fabrics and guylines, like Dyneema and Spectra
UL: Ultralight, base pack weight less than 10 pounds (4.5 kg)
Underquilt: Quilt hung just below a hammock for insulation from cold air
Understory: Shorter trees and bushes growing beneath a taller forest
Undulating trail: Climbs up and down like a series of ocean waves
Unobtainium: Mythical substance that solves all problems
Upright canister stove: Small stove that sits top of a fuel canister
USB-A: Rectangular connector used for recharging batteries
USB-C: Oval connector used for recharging batteries
USFS: United States Forest Service, U.S. Government agency that manages over 300,000 square miles (over 780,000 km²) for multiple uses
USGS: United States Geological Survey, U.S. Government agency that makes topographic maps and measures river flows
UV: Ultraviolet, invisible sunlight that can tan skin and cause cancer
UV-C: Ultraviolet light that can sterilize water
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V
Varmint: Also varmit or vermin, troublesome person or wild animal
VBL: Vapor Barrier Liner, waterproof inner clothing or sleeping bag liner used below freezing
Vestibule: Sheltered tent entrance, often used to store gear
Virga: Visible rainfall that evaporates before reaching the ground
Vitamin I: Ibuprofen, non-prescription medicine for pain and inflammation
Vortex: Place that thru-hikers find hard to leave, like a town, restaurant, or hot springs
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W
W: Watt, standard unit of electrical power, not energy
WAAS: Satellite system that improves GPS accuracy in North America
Waffle-stompers: Heavy boots with lugged soles that leave waffle-like patterns on trails
WAG bag: Special bag used to carry poop out of heavily used backcountry areas
Walk-in: Developed campsites reserved for backpackers or bicyclists
Walk-up: Easy mountain summit, no more than Class 2 climbing
War wounds: Injuries earned while hiking
Washout: Also blowout, portion of trail destroyed by flooding or erosion
Water math: Calculating how much water to carry between possibly unreliable sources
Water report: Water source information posted online by other thru-hikers, like desert sections of the PCT and CDT
Waterbar: Log or rock barrier that directs water off a trail to prevent erosion
Waterproof: Fabric or container that resists the entry of water
Watershed: Landscape that channels all the rain, melted snow, and groundwater feeding into one stream or river
WEBO: Westbound thru-hiker
Weekend warrior: Also weekender, backpacker camping for 1 to 3 nights
WEMT: Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician, training and certification for backcountry medicine
Wet out: Saturated waterproof breathable fabric that stops breathing, then condensation builds up inside
WFA: Wilderness First Aid, training and certification for basic backcountry first aid
WFR: Wilderness First Responder, also woofer, training and certification for advanced backcountry first aid
Wh: Watt-hour, standard unit of electrical energy, not power
White blaze: Blaze that marks the one true Appalachian Trail
White blazer: Thru-hiker following only white blazes on the Appalachian Trail
Whites: White Mountains of New Hampshire
Whoopie sling: Lightweight hammock suspension adjusted using hollow rope sliding through itself
Widowmaker: Dead tree or large limb that could fall and injure or kill a backpacker
Wild: Book by Cheryl Strayed about her PCT thru-hike attempt, made into a movie starring Reese Witherspoon, the movie dramatically increased PCT traffic
Wilderness: Land cultivated by Native Americans before colonization and genocide, now unoccupied and undeveloped
Wilderness area: Highly protected roadless U.S. public lands, over 170,000 square miles (over 440,000 km²)
Williwaw: Also squamish wind, blast of cold wind dropping from the mountains
Wind direction: Compass direction the wind blows from, so an east wind blows from east to west
Wind layer: Outer clothing to protect from wind
Windchill: Additional cooling caused by wind
Windchill factor: Lower felt temperature computed from temperature and wind speed
Windjacket: Jacket to protect from wind
Windpants: Pants to protect from wind
Windward: Upwind, the direction the wind is coming from
WM: Western Mountaineering, company that makes backpacking gear
WMI: Now NOLS Wilderness Medicine, teaches backcountry first aid and medicine
Wonderland Trail: 93-mile (150 km) trail around Mount Ranier in Washington
WPB: Waterproof Breathable, fabric that might be both waterproof and breathable
WRHR: Wind River High Route, 95-mile (153 km) route across the Wind River mountain range in Wyoming
WTH: What the hell?, astonished at something
WTF: Very astonished at something
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X
XUL: Extreme Ultra Light, base pack weight even less than SUL
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Y
Yard sale: Backpacking gear unpacked and spread out, usually for drying
yd: Yard, about 91 cm, exactly 3 feet
Yellow blaze: Yellow center-line on a highway
Yellow blazer: Someone who hitchhikes around trail sections
Yellow snow: Snow colored by urine, “don't you eat that yellow snow”
YKK: Brand of zippers
YMG: Yama Mountain Gear, company that makes backpacking gear
YMMV: Your Mileage May Vary, worked for me, might not work for you
YNP: Yosemite National Park in California
Yogi-ing: Indirectly encouraging others to offer food or drink without asking, like the cartoon character Yogi Bear
Yo-yo: Hike a long trail in one direction, then turn around and hike back to the start
Yurt: Round semi-permanent tent-like shelter
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Z
Z Lite: Brand of closed cell foam sleeping pad that folds up
Zero day: Day with no miles thru-hiked, two nights in the same town for rest and resupply
Zero-drop: Shoe where the heel and toe are at the same stack height, typically small
Zero-mile: Beginning of a trail that might not be at a trailhead, like Springer Mountain for the Appalachian Trail
Zoleo: Brand of two-way satellite communicators
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0-9
10 by 10: 10 miles (about 16 km) by 10 am, strategy for hiking more distance per day
20, 25, 30, 40: Planned mileage today, like “hiking a 30”, 1 mile is about 1.6 km
2000-miler: Successful Appalachian Trail thru-hiker
911: Emergency phone number for the U.S., Canada, and several other countries, like 999 or 112 elsewhere
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Still haven’t found what you’re looking for?
Scroll carefully through this page, looking for a close spelling or phrasing. Please do not suggest minor variations.
Try Wikipedia for more details.
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Suggestions
Cannot find it after searching carefully? Found an error? Want to add more? Send suggestions to:
backpackingjargon@GMAIL
Please include:
- “Suggestion2022” to begin the Subject:
- Suggestion, even without a description
- Several links to pages with that word, acronym, or phrase
- Add “.com” after GMAIL above
Updates might take a long time, replies even longer.
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About
Answering “What does that mean?” in clear, simple words.
Designed for backpackers in America unfamiliar with some expressions, which might be regional or trail-specific.
These are not comprehensive definitions.
Many entries have other meanings depending on context.
All trail lengths are approximate and subject to change.
Goals:
- Short, simple, high-level descriptions
- Combine similar jargon with similar descriptions
- Write around most gender references
- Be positive
Created by Rex Sanders, CC BY-SA 4.0
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