Hiking Terms Part 1

Every sport has its lingo, shorthand and acronyms. Hiking, trekking, climbing and camping (we cover all) has tons. So, let's consider this a start. This partial list explains how this blog got its name. Once read, consider yourself a honorary member of The Blue Blazers.

Base weight: the weight of the gear a hiker is carrying, not including food, water, fuel, and the clothes on his or her back.

Blue blazer: a hiker who takes side trails, which are traditionally blazed in blue, instead of the main trail.

Camel up: to drink as much water at a water source as possible, so as to not have to carry as much water to the next source.

Cowboy camp: to camp out under the stars instead of in a shelter.

Flip flop: to hike a large portion of a trail and then flip up to another location and hike back to where the first portion ended. This can be done to ensure the best weather along certain stretches of trail or to avoid large groups of other hikers.

Hiker box: box kept at hiker locations (hostels, trail angel houses, etc.) wherein hikers can leave their unwanted items and pick up other hikers’ unwanted items.

Hiker funk: the smell of a long distance hiker who wears the same sweaty outfit every day, does not wear deodorant, and showers maybe once a week at best. This smell attaches itself to all of the hiker’s belongings.

Hiker hunger: a massive hunger which kicks in after a few weeks of burning large amounts of calories on trail. Hiker hunger cannot be satisfied. 

Hiker legs: the state a hiker’s legs reach after a few weeks on trail in which they are strong and accustomed to big miles; could be characterized by amazing calves.

Hiker midnight: the time at which most hikers go to sleep, usually at dark or even earlier.

Hiker trash: what thru hikers become after a certain amount of time on the trail, characterized by a complete lack of care for social niceties, a distinctive smell, and a pride in the aforementioned.

HYOH (Hike Your Own Hike): A saying meant to express the idea that a hiker should do what is best for them on the trail and not worry about how other hikers do things.

LNT (Leave No Trace): an ethics philosophy with seven principles that will leave the least impact on the land while recreating outdoors.

Nero: day in which a hiker goes nearly zero miles.

NoBo: person who hikes northbound.

Pink blazer: hiker who is more concerned with following women than following the trail.

Purist: hiker who hikes every foot of the trail they are on; these hikers don’t deviate by stepping even an inch off the main trail for side trails.

Register: a notebook kept at hiker locations (hostels, trail angel houses, etc.) wherein hikers can sign and leave notes for other hikers behind them.

Section hiker: someone who hikes just a section of a trail at one time.

Slack pack: carrying only the essentials instead of a full pack for a full day of hiking, then returning home or sleeping indoors for the night. The pack or the hiker is usually shuttled one direction to accomplish this. Slack packers often string together their day’s hikes to complete a longer trail.

SoBo: person who hikes southbound.

Stealth camp: to camp in a location with the intention of not being seen.

Thru–hike: to hike the entirety of a long–distance trail in one go.

Trail angel: someone who helps hikers out in any way, e.g. rides, food, or trail magic (see below).

Trail magic: random act of kindness or object found on the trail, anything from a cooler full of sodas sitting at a road crossing to someone inviting you to a home cooked meal and a chance to sleep in a real bed.

Trail name: pseudonym that a hiker takes on as his or her trail identity.

Triple Crowner: someone who has hiked all three “big” long-distance trails in the US: the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail.

Yellow blazer: a hiker who hitchhikes around sections of the trail, following the “yellow blazes” of the highway.

Yogi: to finagle treats from day hikers or picnickers, much like Yogi Bear.

Yoyo: to thru-hike a whole trail, and then turn around and go back to the beginning.

Zero: a day in which a hiker goes zero miles.