Learn about the odd trail slang thru-hikers like to speak

Trail slang

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I thought I’d finally explain some of the terms, acronyms, initialisms, and slang that are used by long-distance hikers on the great American trails. This list is in no way comprehensive. It’s just a sampling of some of the more popular nomenclature that I’ve encountered.

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SLANG	DESCRIPTION
Aqua Blaze	To use a boat (usually a canoe or a kayak) to bypass part of the main trail. This is becoming more common now that guides and outfitters are offering thru-hikers a more diverse trail experience.
AT	Appalachian Trail—the approximately 2200 mile trail that runs from Maine to Georgia.
AYCE	All-you-can-eat buffet restaurants. This is like dying and going to heaven when hiker hunger kicks in.
Base Weight	The total weight of your gear minus food, fuel, and what you're currently wearing. Hikers, especially ultralight hikers, obsess over base weight. The lighter the kit, the easier the hike.
Bear-Bagging	The act of hanging your food bag in a tree far away from camp so as not to attract bears and other pests.
Bear Box	A metal locker that is sometimes provided at trail shelters for hikers to store their food. It keeps everything from bears to mice away.
Blaze	A marking—usually painted—on a tree, rock, or cairn that shows you which trail you're on and where to go next.
Blue Blaze	To take advantage of shortcut trails or easier sections to bypass part of the main (white blaze) trail. Not everyone cares about being able to say they hiked every foot of a long distance trail.
Bog Bridge	A wooden walkway laid over a wetland area of the trail to protect the ecosystem—and your socks and shoes. (a.k.a. Puncheon)
Brown Blaze	To leave the trail to poop in the woods.
Cache	A hidden stash of food or supplies that have been left for a specific hiker or group of hikers. If you're in a place where resupply is difficult, you might ask/pay a local trail angel to hide a cache halfway through that section for you to pick up during your hike.
Cairn	A pile of stones erected to mark the trail in places where it is difficult to otherwise leave a blaze, usually above the tree line.
Cat Hole	A poop hole you dig with your trail trowel when you're Brown Blazing.
CDT	Continental Divide Trail—the approximately 3100 mile trail that follows the Rocky Mountains from the USA/Canada border to the USA/Mexico border.
Contouring	When the trail follows a particular elevation of a mountain rather than pointlessly sending you over a viewless summit.
Cowboy Camping	Sleeping on the ground beneath the stars—and within easy reach of mosquitos.
Double Blaze	Two blazes next to each other, signifying that the trail is about to make a sharp turn. If you miss a white double blaze, you may continue walking on a blue blazed trail without even knowing it.
Flip-Flopper	Someone who completes half of a long distance trail and then changes direction to complete the other half. For example, you might hike from Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, to Maine before Baxter State Park closes for winter. Then you'd drive/fly back to your starting point in Harper's Ferry to hike south to Springer Mountain in Georgia.
GORP	Originally known as granola, oats, raisins, and peanuts (a.k.a. good 'ole raisins and peanuts). It's the slang for trail mix, usually homemade.
Hero	A near-zero day of hiking where you resupply in town but leave before allowing yourself to spend excess money at bars, restaurants, hotels, hostels, etc. The hero is the saving grace of budget-conscious hikers.
Hiker Box	A sort of "lost and found meets recycling box" on the trail. Hikers will leave and take supplies from the box. Trail angels will leave trail candy in the box.
Hiker Midnight	Hikers that walk all day tend to fall asleep very early. 9:00 pm is jokingly referred to as hiker midnight. Those not asleep by 9:00 are expected to be as quiet as they would after midnight.
HYOH	Hike your own hike. It means "good for you," "screw you," or "I don't care," depending on the situation. Outside of Leave No Trace, this is the most common refrain on the trail.
JMT	John Muir Trail—the approximately 211 mile trail that runs (mostly in conjunction with the PCT) from Yosemite Valley to Mt Whitney, California.
LNT	Leave No Trace. This is the guiding principle of good ecological stewardship. The idea is that the most basic preservation comes from leaving no trace that you were ever there in the first place.
Mail Drop	Packages sent to hikers at places along the trail, either by themselves in advance or by friends and family. Mail drops are often used in place of in-town resupplies, expecially if someone needs frequent medication or maintains a special diet.
Nearo	A near-zero-mile day of hiking where you allow yourself to recuperate. You might walk a few miles into town to resupply, but otherwise you're take a break from your usual pace.
NOBO	Someone who is hiking northbound on a long distance trail—usually referring to the AT, CDT,or PCT, which are all generally hiked in this direction.
OAB	Out and back. This never made sense to me. It's the same number of syllables? It's when someone is going somewhere (e.g. a supply run or a tourist attraction) on a blue or yellow blaze and is coming back to camp.
PCT	Pacific Crest Trail—the approximately 2660 mile trail than runs from the USA/Canada border to the USA/Mexico border.
Pink Blaze	To alter your hiking group, speed, or route to chase tail. This is often gender-specific, meaning a guy is chasing a girl.
Pot Cozy	Similar to a knitted tea cozy that wraps around a teapot. A pot cozy is a pouch, usually made from foil-based insulated wrap, that keeps a cooking vessel or freezer bag warm. This is most often used to rehydrate prepared meals.
PUD	Pointless up and down. For example, a trail that forces you to hike over a mountain peak when you could easily contour around it with no elevation changes. (a.k.a. MUD—mindless up and down)
Ridge Runner	Someone who frequently hikes or runs a section of a particular trail. This is the trail iteration of the adopt-a-highway program. Ridge Runners move debris from their section of the trail, clean up after sloppy hikers, and clear unapproved campsites.
Section-Hiker	Someone who is hiking a long-distance trail in several smaller sections over a long period of time.
Slackpacking	Hiking a section of a trail without the weight of a heavy or full pack. For example, you might climb Mt. Katahdin with just a CamelBak and snacks since you will be backtracking to the park where you left your real pack.
SOBO	Someone who is hiking southbound on a long distance trail—usually referring to the AT, CDT, or PCT, which are all generally hiked NOBO.
Stealth Camping	Camping in the wilderness away from prepared shelters and campsites, especially in areas where wilderness camping is not allowed.
Sweeper	The person who leads a group along the trail to clean it of spider webs. (a.k.a. Web Walking)
Thru-Hiker	Someone who is hiking a long-distance trail from start to finish.
Trail Angel	A person or people who do things that benefit hikers, especially thru-hikers. Angels give rides, receive and hold mail drops, prepare food, donate water, etc.
Trail Candy	The tangible offerings of trail angels and/or other hikers. This can take the form of free items left in hiker boxes, at shelters, or at trailheads.
Trail Family	A groups of fellow hikers that share a similar culture, speed, and desire for days off. They usually connect somewhere on the trail and stick together throughout the remainder of the hike if possible. (a.k.a Tramily)
Trail Goggles	When you've been on the trail so long that your gauge of physical attractiveness is relative rather than absolute. It's the isolation iteration of beer goggles.
Trail Magic	Good deeds and favors that benefit hikers, especially thru-hikers. Trail magic is often performed by Trail Angels.
Trail Name	A nickname adopted by, or given to, a hiker. This is part of a bonding process with other hikers and usually references something comical that has happened on the trail.
Trail Runners	Lightweight hiking shoes that are more akin to sneakers than boots. Trail runners have become popular with 3-season (especially ultralight) hikers because of the short break-in period, the light weight, and the quick drying time.
Trail Shelter	A three- or four-sided building meant to house hikers on the trail. The AT boasts enough shelters for hikers to spend almost every night in one if there is enough space. Other trails like the PCT and CDT have very few shelters.
Trailhead	The point where a trail (or a new section of a trail) begins. The trailhead often contains a sign post explaining which kinds of activities are allowed on the trail, such as hiking, camping, dog walking, biking, horseback riding, ATV riding, etc.
Triple Crown	The feat of hiking the AT, CDT, and the PCT.
Ultralight	A style of hiking that places a premium on a minimal weight of gear on the trail, usually a 10-pound base weight or less.
Vitamin B	Beer. Hostels use this moniker to coyly advertise that they sell/serve beer without a liquor license.
Vitamin I	Ibuprofen. This is taken like a daily vitamin to help ease the pain of aches, splints, and pulled muscles.
White-Blaze	To strictly follow the main trial (marked by white blazes). Very vocal White Blazers are often derided as the "purists" or "hall monitors" of the trail.
Widow-Maker	A dead tree branch that you want to look out for before pitching your tent/hammock beneath it.
Wind Screen	A small barrier, usually made of aluminum foil, that is used to block the wind from snuffing out cooking stoves.
Yellow Blaze	To hitchhike or otherwise use a car to bypass part of the main (white blaze) trail. Sometimes it's done to avoid harder sections and other times it's because you simply don't have the time necessary to hike the entire trail.
Yogi	Making oneself available for free food without actually begging for it. Named for the antics of Yogi Bear.
Zero	A zero-mile day of hiking where you allow yourself to recuperate. It's easy and beneficial to take a zero when you're in a town or at a hostel and it's storming outside.