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Hiker's Lexicon, Dictionary for slackpacker, backpacker, climber
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 The Slackpacker's LexiconUnsure what a certain term means? Able to walk the walk but have no idea how to talk the talk? This will clue you in. If the term is more "geology" oriented than hiking oriented, please click on the button at left.
ABCAdvance Base Camp. A lesser-equipped, less-comfortable camp serving as a launch pad higher on a mountain.
Abney LevelHand-held instrument used by trail builders for measuring angles of elevation or inclination of trail.
Abseilingalso known as "roping down." A method of retreat, or for inspecting a climbing route.
Access Trailusually connects a primary trail to a road, campground, etc. or another trail.
Accessibletrail that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines and can be better used by people with disabilities.
Acclimatizationprocess of becoming gradually accustomed to high altitude.
Adopt-A-Trailindividuals, groups or businesses “adopt” trails, volunteering for periodic maintenance, litter removal, etc. Usually accompanied by pleasant signs.
Adzax-like tool used by trail maintenance to hack at stuff. Good for shaping wood in a trailish manner.
Air Rappelaccidental fall off a rock, cliff, or in a cave.
Airlinea trail that runs more or less straight regardless of how steep the terrain is. As if you drew a line through the air, rather than use switchbacks or contouring to get from point a to point b.
AMCAppalachian Mountain Club. Group headquartered in Boston that pretty much controls the hiking trails on the White Mountains. The Forest Service controls access, the AMC owns the huts and controls the traffic. The huts are a series of really neat buildings at or above timberline where hikers can buy a meal, relax, refresh, and stay overnight if they so desire. They have cool libraries. A real White Mountain experience. More importantly, the AMC is the champion of the White Mountains and has somehow managed to keep the mountain bikes off the hiking trails, so we definitely like the AMC. Now if only they could get rid of the stupid metal sticks everybody claws around with.
AMSAcute Mountain Sickness. Occurs at high altitude due to diminished oxygen. Begins with shortness of breath, followed by swelling, flu-like symptoms, and eventually, death. Most people won’t experience symptoms until they reach heights well above 10,000 feet. Varies with the individual.
Aprontransition area on a switchback. Going up a switchback, it's where you stop, look at the new direction...up...and groan. Going downhill, it's where you crash if you're out of control.
ArêteA steep ridge; pointy.
Armoringcovering on a trail surface...rock, brick, stone, concrete, or other material.
"AT"Appalachian Trail.
AYCEfrom AT speak, stands for "all you can eat" restaurant.
Backcountryarea where there are no maintained roads or permanent buildings—just primitive roads and trails.
BackslopeTrail construction term. Describes the cut bank along the uphill side of the trail, extending upslope from the tread (the part of the trail you walk on).
BaldDescribes a treeless, rocky summit in certain areas of the Appalachians. A "bald" is usually a treeless summit in the southern region that is not necessarily above timberline, but the peak is still open at the summit. Has more of a pastoral feel than the treeless summits of the Whites or Adirondacks.
Baseprimary excavated bed of a trail upon which the tread, or walking surface lies.
Base Courselayer material placed on a trailbed to support surfacing. Trail construction term.
Bear Boxmetal containers found at trail heads where bears are active. The idea is to take all food and other smelly stuff out of your car and leave it in the bear box. These boxes use latches, pins, or other devices that require human dexterity in order to open them.
Bedexcavated or cleared surface on which a trail lies.
BenchA long step, or tier, on the side of a hill. You climb until you reach the bench, then you walk across it, then climb until you reach the next bench.
BergshrundA crevasse that separates the upper portion of a glacier from the mountain it backs into.
BFRlarge rock you have to expel quite a bit of effort to climb over. Alternatively, cavers and climbers use this expression to describe a rock they don't want falling on their heads.
Binerabbreviation for carabiner (see also) clip with closure for attaching to ropes.
Bivouaca temporary or emergency "camp" or shelter, usually made in an undesirable locale on the side of a mountain, cliff, or in other such conditions where the hiker or climber requires rest overnight or during harsh conditions.
Bivvy Sack or Bivvy Baga sort of tent/sleeping bag cover for emergency shelter.
Black-BlazerSomeone -- usually a disgruntled townie -- who paints over or otherwise removes trail markers to prevent hikers from finding the trail.
BlazeMark on a tree, rock, sign, etc. indicating the trail route.
Blazersmetal or plastic tags nailed to trees to mark a trail.
Blowdowntrees or whatnot "blown down" by wind and now blocking the trail.
Blue-BlazerTerm used by "thru-hikers" to describe those who will use shortcuts, connector trails, alternative trails, etc. periodically for a change of pace or break from monotony.
Bluffsomething you fall down. A promontory, riverbank, cliff, etc. that is too steep to walk down without handholds or a switchback trail. Or, when your poker hand just isn't very good.
Boardwalkplanking built on pilings in areas of wet soil or water to provide dry hiking.
Bog BridgeLogs that lie in the swamp, like puncheons (see) to provide semi-dry hiking.
Bollardround post barrier, often metal, usually 4' high, to prevent vehicles from entering a trail.
BorrowFill used in trail construction, obtained from a nearby location, usually leaves small pits behind.
Braided Trailnumerous routes have been created, usually at access points or where shortcuts are easy, resulting in excess wear and innumerable little trails crisscrossing randomly every few feet. An infamous example of braiding is found at Landscape Arch, Arches National Park. (Access has since been limited due to partial collapse)
Brain Bucketclimber's or caver's slang for helmet.
Brushing-Inusing logs, branches, rocks, etc. to obstruct a closed section of trail to prevent future use.
BushwhackingGoing off the trail, in the interest of taking a shortcut, creating a trail, looking for a rumored location, etc. Hikers usually begin their worst war stories with "We were bushwhacking and then..."
Cache A hidden stash of food or supplies, left along a trail for return or future use.
Cairna pile of rocks used to indicate direction of a trail in a treeless area; usually above timberline or in canyon country.
Camp 4a walk-in campground in Yosemite Valley, home to legendary rock climbers during the golden age of Yosemite climbing, mid 1950s through the early 1970s.
CanopyUpper layer of leaves in a forest, covering the ground below.
CarabinerA metal clip with a spring gate or threaded closure for attaching to ropes, anchors, etc.
ChimneyTwo different meanings: In geological terms, a tall thin column of rock or other matter that resembles its namesake. In climbing terms, a chimney is a vertical crack big enough to fit your body inside.
ChossIn climbing jargon, a large rock with a loose, flaky or crumbly surface that is unreliable for safe holds or pitons.
Cirquea group of mountains that forms a circle.
ClassUsually referred to in terms of technical climbing, for example, "The splatter route is definitely a 5.13" Here's what it all means: Class 1 is a simple mountain that can be climbed wearing a pair of sneakers -- little more than a nature loop. Class 2 includes minor handholds, more or less to steady yourself as you clamber up the mountain. Class 3 includes some vertical climbing, and perhaps use of a rope. Class 4 is any climb that requires use of a belay, in which another climber is required to remain stationary to take up slack and arrest the fall of the active climber. Class 5 is any climb that requires ropes to be attached to fixed objects, such as a tree or piton. The attachment is not to aid in ascent, but rather to protect in the event of a fall. Class 5 is the one with the most "variables." A Class 5.0 has two handholds and two footholds. Class 5.4 is missing a hold. Class 5.8 has a hold available for one hand and one foot only. Class 5.12 has no visible holds. Class 5.13 is a surface with no holds and is under an overhang. Class 5 is often further broken up, such as 5.13a, but this arcana is really in the climber's arena...not ours. Class 6 is any climb that requires artificial assistance to be carried out, whether it be ropes dropped from above or other mechanical aids.
Cola "pass" or low, sometimes protected area on a massif (mountain range).
Contouringfollowing an imaginary contour line around a mountain or canyon to get from point a to point b, rather than going up and down on a direct path. When a trail is "contouring" it means that it's relatively flat, and going around a promontory rather than over it. The Tonto Trail in the Grand Canyon is a well known "contour" trail.
CornerIn climbing lingo, where two planes of a rock face meet.
Cornicean overhang of ice or snow on the crest of a ridge or mountain. Caused by wind. Suggestion: Don't stand on a cornice.
Couloira gully on a mountainside. Could be a gully in the ground, or in snow.
Crabstill another abbreviation for carabiner (see also) clip with closure for attaching to ropes.
Cramponssharp, pointy things that can be strapped to your boots, used for moving about on ice or steep ice/snow surfaces.
Craps Outthe trail grows faint, then ends. Also used by climbers and cavers when a particular route can no longer be followed, or cave dead ends.
Crash Padused in the sport of bouldering, it looks like a small mattress that folds in half.
Crateringthe sudden stop at the end of a fall. See also "tomatoed out."
Cruxthe hardest part or "key" to a climb.
Cwmarea enclosed by a cirque. Pronounced coom.
Death Marchunusually long, not very interesting hike. Term often applied when forced to take a dull trail to reach the one you really want to be on.
Dihedrala corner on a rock face with a wide angle.
DNCDelaware North Corp., the folks who control the High Sierra Camps and virtually all the key lodging in Yosemite National Park.
Double blaze two blazes, one atop the other, that denote a change in direction or junction in the trail coming up. When the top blaze is to the right, it means the trail turns right, etc.
False LeadIt looks like the trail, smells like the trail, and for a while it seems like you're on the trail...but you actually followed the false lead off the true trail.
Fen Low, flat, marshy land or a bog.
Flail usually applied to climbers, stuck at the crux of a given pitch, expending a lot of energy with little success. Hikers use the word to euphemistically describe the stopping/starting/exhaustion near the summit of a difficult mountain, or when a hiker gets turned off the true trail by a false lead .
FlakeA thin, semi detached segment of rock that could conceivably fully detach during a climb. Depending on the circumstances, a failing flake can cause a climber to "tomato-out" (see below).
Flip-flopper Mostly used with the Appalachian Trail. Describes a thru-hiker who realizes he won't finish before it snows up
North, gets a ride to Katahdin and hikes back to where he left off.
Forty-sixerPeakbagger slogging up the 46 highest peaks in New York's Adirondacks. One of the better-known peakbagging milestones.
FourteenerPeakbagger pursuing the Colorado mountains exceeding 14,000' elevation.
Freehikinghiking off of established trails. Unlike "bushwacking" which is usually done as a short-cut, freehiking intentionally seeks a complete hike experience free of artificial boundaries. Some speedhikers are also freehikers.
Gaiters Outerwear that zips or snaps around ankles and lower legs to keep water, snow or muck out of your climbing boots.
Ghost-BlazingThe art of following a section of trail that is no longer used. When a trail is "re-routed," usually the old blazes are blackened out.
Glonka clueless idiot who doesn't realize that uphill hikers have the right of way on a trail, and just bulldozes down.
GORP Originally an acronym for Granola, Oats, Raisins, Peanuts. More commonly known as "Good old raisins and peanuts."
Goesadjective to describe a lead (faint trail during a bushwack, unexplored part of a cave, route up a rock face) that pans out, or "goes" where you hoped it would, rather than dead-ending.
Grandes Coursesin mountaineering circles, these are long, difficult climbs combining mountaineering, rock climbing, ice climbing, and usually a bivouac or two. Mt. McKinley, Everest, The north face of the Eiger and the Matterhorn are examples of grandes courses.
Gunksabbreviation for the Shawangunk ridgeline in New York State, located between the Catskills and the Hudson River. The Gunks are generally recognized as the center of rock climbing in the eastern U.S.
Half Bench Type of trail where half of it is excavated out of the slope and the outside of the trail tread contains the excavated material. Trail looks as if it were chipped out of the side of the hill, which is what it is.
Harding refers to Warren Harding, legendary Yosemite climber who made many first ascents from the mid 1950s to 1970. Known for regularly hauling gallon jugs of wine along on multi-day climbs.
Hardwarerefers to carabiners, pitons, ascenders,
bolts, etc.
Herd Pathan unofficial but obvious route hikers use to get from one place to another. Sometimes refers to an official path that is extremely overused.
HSC or High Sierra Campsa group of very popular camps in Yosemite National Park. While not overly remote, all provide a backcountry experience but with canvas cabins, reasonable bedding, and hot meals. They allow hikers to reach back country locations without having to overload a backpack. To do the entire loop is the ultimate slackpacker experience.
Jangliesrefers to carabiners, pitons, etc. that dangle from a climber and clank around during a climb.
KnobProminent rounded hill or mountain. Common term in the southeastern USA
Lead(pronounced leed, not like the weight) appears to be a trail/cave/climbing route
Lean-toone- to three-sided structure, usually with a single slanted roof, designed to provide minimal shelter for backpackers.
MUDSmindless up and downs. Where the
trail goes up and back down for no reason other than the amusement of
whomever laid out the trail. Very aggravating. Usually occurs when some control freak at a local trail council is realigning a major trail, and wishes to put his or her mark on the route, or is trying to increase the amount of mileage under their control.
Neveloose, granular snow. After movement has worn off the "points" on individual snowflakes, they clump together to form this stuff, which is shaped roughly like ball bearings and lends itself nicely to avalanches.
NoboNorth bounder (AT or PCT).
Open-bookmountain climber slang for a "dihedral" or wide-open corner.
Pack-outAlso known as "carry-out." The practice of leaving nothing -- and that does mean nothing -- behind on a backpacking trip. Require ziploc bags, PVC tubes with caps, etc.
PathWe all know what a path is, don't we? For 10 bonus points, name the difference between a path and a trail. See definition of trail, below.
PeakbaggingChasing your personal checklist of peaks. Organized peakbagging lists, such as "White Mountain 4000 footers" are popular; there are a number of clubs that promote and recognize peakbagging accomplishments.
Pitcha given section of a vertical. Usually applies to sections of a mountain/rock face that differ in angle from the section above and below. Suzanne took the lead on the last pitch...
Pitonmetal loop climbers screw into rock to run rope through for safety.
PointLead person in a line of hikers. Responsible for following the trail.
Puncheonslogs, planks, rocks, or other crude "bridges" built across soggy areas.
Prescribed burnsintentional fires conducted by forestry services to clear underbrush and eliminate some of the fuel for potentially larger unintentional fires. These used to be called "controlled burns" but since they seldom are, the name was changed.
PUDSpointless ups and downs. See "MUDS," above.
Rainbow-BlazerTerm used by "thru-hikers" to describe people who hook together all sorts of routes to complete a trail -- including hitch-hiking.
RimrockedClimbing up to a spot from which you are surprisingly too frightened to descend. This term is most frequently applied in slickrock country; many climbers find it easy to scramble up the ladder-like layers...but going down can be quite unnerving. When one becomes so unnerved that they are stuck, they are "rimrocked."
Royal Robbinspossibly the greatest U.S. rock climber in history, a Camp 4 regular during Yosemite's golden age. Made countless first ascents.
Sastrugiwave-like formation of crust on a snowfield, formed by wind. Common in arctic regions; difficult to cross.
ScrambleHas a couple of meanings in hiking circles. Generally, to climb in a hurried, helter-skelter fashion, having to use your hands. If it's a climb you probably could do without your hands, but you feel compelled to use them, it likely classifies as a scramble. Scramble also refers to a group of climbers going up a slope using all sorts of routes, sort of a "get up however you can since there's no trail here and we'll meet at a certain point."
ScreeThe sort of stuff found on a talus slope...loose rocks, scrabbly, hard to get good footing on. Picky people, sticklers for detail will claim that scree is smaller than talus. All we know is that it's tough to walk on.
Séraca massive chunk of ice breaking away from a glacier or cliff of ice. Some séracs are the size of a desk, some are the size of a six story condominium.
Seven Summitsrefers to the highest summits on the main seven continents; a goal of many wealthy adventurers is to reach all seven summits.
Shelter RatUsually refers to thru-hikers, shelter rat is anyone who camps exclusively in trail shelters.
Sherpverb meaning to act as a Sherpa. "We sherped 80 pounds of gear to camp."
SoboSouth bounder (AT or PCT).
Social Trailsunofficial shortcuts that connect individual sites to each other, restrooms, etc. at campgrounds.
SoloingWhether hiking, backpacking or climbing, soloing is going alone. When climbing, soloing vaguely means doing any climb by yourself where injury would result in the event of a fall.
Speedhikingintentionally running the length of a hiking trail to establish and compete against your personal best time and sometimes to compete against times established by others.
Stash Huntingoriginal term for "geocaching."
Stash NotesGeocachers create these "clues" about the caches they leave.
StumbleesAlso "Stumblebees." Climbers who pay big bucks for guides to lead them to the summit. Stumblees would otherwise be unable to make it.
SweepLast hiker in a group -- by design. Person follows all others, ensuring that no one falls behind or is left needing assistance.
SwitchbackEver been on a trail that zig-zags up a mountain? That's a switchback. Makes the hike easier if not longer, and minimizes erosion problems.
Talus SlopeLoose jumbled rocks with poor or dangerous footing on the side of a mountain. A slope covered with small individual rocks. Allegedly, talus is larger than scree. We've yet to find anyone who can positively define the difference.
Thru-hikerThis is the opposite of a slackpacker. Usually applied to someone attempting to complete the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, or some other lengthy trek requiring meticulous advance planning and commitment to the task at hand regardless of circumstances. (The slackpacker is not meticulous and will bow out gracefully when he or she tires.) Whereas a slackpacker will do day-long sessions, and a backpacker will do a few overnight sessions, a thruhiker is attempting to go start-to-finish. Thruhikers come in a variety of types; see "white-blazers," "rainbow-blazers."
Tomatoed-Outphrase coined in the 1960s to describe a climber who has inadvertently free-fallen a great distance off a mountain. (Actually, it refers to the grisly impact at the bottom.)
TouristMore or less the same as the regular definition, but with the added meaning of someone who blasts into a scenic area, stays at a resort property and plays lots of golf. When they do hike, they head for the busiest trail wearing the latest gear and blabbing into a cel phone. Carries a topo map on a nature loop. If they have kids, they usually throw rocks off the summit while mom or dad is oblivious. Generally expects the local populace to bow and cater to their needs since they are spending lots of cash.
TownieSomeone who lives near, and perhaps lurks about, a popular trail. Some townies help thru-hikers; others go out of their way to hassle hikers. In either case, the expression "get a life" comes to mind.
TrailA route made across a wild region, over rough country, or the like, by the passage of man or animal. A trail differs from a path in that a path tends to be a convenient means of foot travel to avoid roads. A path serves in place of a road, takes you between two civilized localities. A trail takes you away from civilized things.
Trail AngelA townie or other person who provides unexpected and much-appreciated assistance to a hiker.
Trail SquatterA townie or other person who regularly camps in the same spot -- usually the best spot -- on a trail. Arrives early in the day and stakes a claim while the rest of the world is busy hiking. Then when you are setting up camp, the Trail Squatter stops by to nose around in your activities.
TrailheadThe beginning of a trail; entry point. (Hey, I was hiking with a guy who never heard the term before).
Trail NameNo, this isn't the name of the trail. This is something thru-hikers and backpackers like to do: Christen themselves with a "clever" pseudonym to use on the trail. Some examples are "Banjo Bob" or "The Old Limper" or "Dangerlegs." The name is intended to refer to the individual's particular style, but more often refers to some odd habit or peculiarity.
TramperSlackpacker or hiker dedicated enough to plod along stoically regardless of weather conditions. Not surprisingly, this term is popular in New England.
TraverseTo climb a slope diagonally rather than a more direct approach. In climbing lingo, it sometimes means going almost horizontally across a face, to obtain a better route up.
TreadThe surface portion of a trail that people way on, not including backslope, ditch, and shoulder.
Treeingthe practice of hanging food up off a tree branch so that a bear can't get to it. But usually they can, if they really want to.
TrekkerThese are people who enjoy the travel and journey to remote "base camps," and do so with no intention of climbing the mountain or otherwise reaching the ultimate goal. Mt. Everest base camp is a popular destination for trekkers.
TurnpikeIn hiker's lingo, a trail used by a lot of folks that goes quite directly from one place to another. In trail construction lingo, it is a trail built up above wet, boggy areas by placing stone and/or dirt over fabric with logs or rocks holding the whole shebang in place.
Understoryforest vegetation growing under the canopy.
Undulating TrailTrail that goes up and down like a series of waves.
Universal Trail or Universal Designa gentle trail with very few barriers or no barriers, providing maximum accessibility to wheelchairs and very aged slackpackers who shuffle along in velcro sneakers, with their trousers belted chest high.
USGSUnited States Geological Survey. These are the folks who've measured and mapped everything, and make those cool topo maps.
Verglasthin, often clear coating of ice on rock.
Vogelsangone of the more remote, high-altitude locations in Yosemite's High Sierra Camp network.
Walk-upA high altitude summit that requires no climbing skills to reach the top; a "class 2.0" at most. Mt. Rainier is one of the best known "walk-ups." This term is often used derisively by accomplished climbers to describe the mountains the rest of us are hopefully able to climb.
Walla rock face angled 60º or more.
Waterbarrocks, logs, or whatever angled across a trail to divert rain or meltwater, to protect the trail below from excessive erosion.
White-BlazerAT and PCT hikers who rigidly follow the trail, and if forced to detour, will retrace his steps so that every foot of the "true" trail has been covered, then berate those of us who can't be bothered. These are the people who were hall monitors and whining tattle-tales when they were kids.
Yellow-BlazingThe practice of hitch-hiking or driving somewhere to cut off part of a longer hike.
Yo-yodescribes the concept whereby a thru-hiker gets to the end...and then turns around and hikes back to the beginning. (see also: "lunatic")
Zero-Mile MarkThe spot where a measured trail begins; may or may not be the trailhead.
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