Date: 2007-03-25
To: Hiker Lingo
Miles today: 0.0

I decided it might be a good idea to get my family and friends up to speed on the language of thru-hikers. So here is a list of some of the commonly used terms and abbreviations.AT--Appalachian TrailBanana Flip--A fall in which your feet fly up in the air and you land on your rear end (hopefully the only thing hurt is pride!).Bear Bagging-- The common practice of hanging your food bag from a tree. Usually about 12 feet in the air and 6-8 feet out on a limb, to keep it away from bears and other critters.Blaze--A white rectangle painted on trees, rocks and posts to mark the official route of the trail. Blue Blaze--A side trail marked in blue leading to a shelter, spring, campsite, or other points of interest. Also used to mark hiking trails that bypass sections of the AT.Blue-Blazer--A hiker that follows a Blue Blazed side trail instead of the AT, usually to avoid a mountain or hard section of the trail. (I will not be doing this!!)Bouldering--Climbing up and over large rocks Bounce Box--A box that you send ahead to yourself from one town to the next. Contains items not needed yet, such as batteries, repair kits or extra food.Bushwhack--Hiking a section where there is no trail. This usually means you aren't where you are suppose to be. (sound familiar Nicole?)Cairn--A pile of stone used to mark the trail instead of a blaze.Cameling Up--Drinking as much as you can, while at a water source, so you carry less with you in your pack. Although the obvious draw back is more frequent stops!!Cat hole--A hole dug to dispose of human waste. Hopefully it has been covered back up!Col--A high valley between 2 summits.Face Plant--A face first fall. Not good, unless you like the taste of dirt.False Summit-A high point of a mountain that looks like the top, until you get there and realize there is still more to climb.Flip-Flopper-A thru-hiker who begins at one end, hikes toward the middle, then jumps ahead to the other end to hike back and finish where they got off.Gear Head--A hiker who obsesses over gear and is still talking about it halfway through the trip! This type usually owns several of the same item just because there are slight differences in them (or builds a new house to make room for all their gear!!).   Granny Gear--A slow but steady hiking pace used to go up steep sections. (No offense Grandma!!)Hand over Hand--This refers to a steep section of trail that requires you to use your hands to help you climb through it.Hiker Box--A box in a shelter or hiker hostel where hikers can leave items they don't want and take items they need.Hostel--A business, house or church offering a bunk-room and shower for hikers. Usually for a small fee or donation. Most towns near the trail have at least one.Huff and Up--Hiking up a steep section of trail without switch-backs, the trail goes straight up.Lean-To--Another name for a shelter. This is what we call them in N.Y.Mail Drop--A box of supplies (food, money, fuel, gear, goodies from home(HINT,HINT), and any other items needed) sent to a hiker to be picked up at the local post office. These mail drops are usually scheduled and listed on the mail drop section of the hikers journal. People can also send letters to the hikers at the post offices where they will be receiving their drops.MUDS--Mindless Ups and Downs. Also used to describe several PUDS in a row.NOBOer-North Bounder--A hiker doing a thru-hike starting in Ga. and ending in Me.Porkies--Porcupines. They like to chew boots, packs, coats or anything that is salty from sweat.Privy--OuthousePUDS--Pointless Ups and DownsPurist--A thru-hiker that makes it a point to hike every mile of the white blazed (official) trail.Purist Extreme--A hiker that hikes past every single white blaze without missing even a small section of trail. For example shelters may have a blue blazed trail leading off the AT that is U shaped. This would mean missing a section of the AT if you don't go out the same way you came in. I am definitely a Purist even if it means only missing a few feet.Rainbow Blazer--A hiker that does a combination of blue, yellow and white blazing. This type of hiker is NOT a Purist!! I'm not judging, to each their own. Or as hikers would say "Hike your own hike"Red-Blazing--Leaving a trail of blood behind you. Not good!!Register--A notebook left in shelters and Hostels for hikers to write in. Many hikers write their thoughts about the weather, an experience they had, what the section of trail was like, warnings for hikers in the opposite direction, or simply to leave a mark that they were there. This is the source of much trail gossip!Roller-coaster--Section of trail with constant up and downs.Section-Hiker--A hiker who is hiking the entire trail in sections over several yearsShelter--A Three-sided wooden structure that provides a roof over your head and a wooden floor to sleep on. Notice I said it has only 3 sides!! Yes, the wind and rain still blow in. The shelters are noisy, with people going in and out all night to water the leaves, snoring and that all too familiar sound of critters scurrying. There are a lot of mice in the shelters that like to run across your head while you sleep. They have even been known to get into peoples sleeping bags with them. I prefer to sleep ALONE in my tent.Slack-packing--Hiking without your pack. Some people will allow someone to take their pack up ahead to a town or Hostel so they can hike without it for the day.I don't believe in this method. (yes, we already discussed I'm a Purist!)SOBOer--South bounder--A hiker starting a thru-hike in Maine and ending in Georgia.Stile--Steps that go up and over a fence or wall.Switch-back--A zigzag trail designed as an aid in climbing steep sections and to reduce erosion. These are more common in the south (the north is mostly "Huff and Up"). Unfortunately switch-backs add to the distance. Thru-Hiker--A hiker that hikes the entire trail in one hiking season. This is generally from about Feb. until Oct.Trail Angel--A person who helps hikers by providing rides, food, or drinks and doesn't expect anything in return. An example is a person leaving a cooler of sodas and snacks on the trail for hikers to enjoy. Trail Magic--Term used to describe acts of kindness extended to hikers by strangersTrail Name--A nickname a hiker is known as by other hikers. The name may be chosen by the hiker or given to them by other hikers. Everyone ends up with one eventually, like it or not.Trail Head--The point where a trail begins, usually near a road crossing.Turtle-ing--The type of fall that lands you on your pack struggling to get to back on your feet.Web-Walking--The first hikers on the trail each morning get to clear the spider webs from the trail. This won't be me, not because i don't like webs, but i really don't like mornings!! Who's got the coffee???Yellow-Blaze--The yellow line of the highway.Yellow Blazer--A hiker that hitch hikes around sections of the trail. Yogi-ing--The good natured art of getting strangers to offer you food without asking for it. Yo-yo-ing--Completing an AT thru-hike and then turning around to thru-hike back the other direction. Zero Day--A day in which zero miles are hiked. A day or multiple days of much needed rest! Also used is the term "Nero"- this is a very low mileage day usually coming or going from a town when there isn't much time to hike.Zombie Zone--The type of hiking where your body is hiking without you. I'm there a lot!!