By Robin Esrock

Every activity evolves a lingo, with words and phrases that describe or shorthand equipment, techniques and experience.  From Alpenglow to Zero-day, we’ve gathered 42 popular hiking terms to turn you into a pro.

Alpenglow
You’re in the mountains at dusk or dawn, watching the sky turn shades of peach, red, pink, yellow or purple.  Wow, you think, that’s some beautiful alpenglow! Technically, alpenglow describes the colour of the sky when the sun is just below the horizon, with rays reflecting off particles or moisture in the atmosphere.

Alpine
Alpine originally referred only to the Alps but is now used worldwide. In the high mountains, it describes an area where trees no longer grow.

Backcountry
You often hear about the backcountry, which generally refers to the wilderness without road access. If you can drive up to the trail, you’re in frontcountry, although trails can quickly lead you into backcountry. The further away you are from the road, the deeper you are in the backcountry.

Base Layer
Wearing layers is crucial to the success of an outdoor adventure (I discuss this in more detail in this post). The base layer sits against your skin and should be warm while wicking sweat.

Base Weight
This is the total weight of your backpack and gear, minus food, water, and other consumables like stove gas. Pro hikers aim for a base weight of 15 lbs to 20 lbs (6.8kg to 9kg).   

Bearanoia
Beware the bears in your head! Bearonoia is slang for an irrational fear that a bear is waiting to pounce from every shadow or shrub, ruining your hike in the process.

Bear Banger
That said, backcountry hikers should be bear-aware and take the necessary precautions, like being aware of their surroundings, making some noise, and carrying bear bangers.  These pen-style flares launch a loud firecracker in the sky, spooking bears that get too close.

Bivy Sack
A bivy (bivouac sack) is a waterproof sack that can cover sleeping bags and hikers and is used in emergencies to provide extra warmth. It's also used in lieu of a tent in ultra-light backpacking and mountaineering expeditions.

Blaze
When you’re hiking along and see colour markings on the trail, you’re looking at a blaze. Sometimes, this takes the form of bright-coloured plastic tape, also known as flagging tape.  Since flagging tape is also used in mining and forestry, it’s less reliable than a well-marked blaze.

Book Time
Using a typical formula of 30 min per mile (1.6km) plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft (304m) elevation gain, book time refers to the estimated time of your hike. This does not include many variables like trail conditions, gear load and hiker fitness.

Cable Car
Not to be confused with gondolas that shepherd people to the top of mountains, these cable cars are small boxes attached to a metal line with pulleys, which hikers can use to pull themselves across difficult river crossings.

Cairn
Rock stacks are used to mark trails, usually in rocky areas above the treeline (see below) when blazes or flags can’t be used.

Carabiner
More common in the world of rock climbing, carabiners are convenient metal clips used to attach gear to backpacks or safely secure food at campsites.

Contour Lines
When looking at topographic maps, thin lines represent elevation change. The tighter the lines, the higher the elevation and the steeper the ascent.

Cowboy Coffee
No time to dilly-dally; let’s just throw the coffee grounds into a billy, put the billy on the fire, and pour ourselves a cup of gritty joe.

Detritus
Refers to thickets or scrubs on the forest floor, such as branches, pine cones and needles, leaves, rocks and mud. Also known as duff, detritus can be thick, wet, and tricky to navigate.

Elevation Gain
Measured in metres or feet, this refers to the total amount of climbing on the hike, typically from the lowest point on the trail to the highest. Cumulative elevation gain differs as it measures every climb along the trail.  

False Summit

The hiker’s mirage. The false summit or peak only looks like it’s the top when, in fact, there’s another climb (or three) waiting above it.   

Ford
A river or stream crossing with no bridges or cable cars, meaning hikers have to get across on foot (probably with their boots off). 

Game Trail
Animals (and people) often create their own thin trails through the wilderness, which others can follow. For example: “It looks like there’s a game trail down to the river.”

Glissade
This one is for snowy situations unless you like torn pants. When faced with a steep descent, get on your butt and glissade, i.e. slide down the slope, using your hands or hiking poles to keep you steady.

Gorp
You don’t need to eat much for lunch, and many hikers find a welcome bag of gorp will suffice. Gorp stands for either Granola, Oats, Raisins, Peanuts, or Good Old Raisins and Peanuts.   

Hiker Tan
Hikers often look like they’ve been baked in the sun, especially between their socks and shorts. Jump into a river or lake, and that tan will wash away with the dirt.

Hot Spot
The twang you feel on your foot or toes alerts you to the possibility of a blister. It’s a good time to bust out the Moleskin (see below).

HYOH
Hike Your Own Hike is a popular mantra that encourages everyone to go at their own pace and deal with the challenge in your individual way.

LNT
Sticking with acronyms, Leave No Trace follows a fundamental outdoor principle that ensures hikers have minimal impact on their environment and leave the wilderness as they found it.

Moleskin
Better than a Band-Aid, moleskin is a soft adhesive fabric, often cut to size, that can reduce the friction that causes blisters or blister pain if it’s too late. 

Mummy Bag
Sarcophagi-shaped sleeping bags with a tapered cut to ensure extra warmth. No need to wrap yourself in bandages.

Out-and-Back
Some trails are Loops, Through trails are A to B, while Out-and-Back trails require you to reach a point, turn around, and head back to where you started.

Post-holing
Early spring or late fall hikers might know what it’s like to fall through thicker-than-expected snow, cursing the need for snowshoes as you sink up to your thighs.

PUDs
As in: “There has to be a more direct route to the campsite that avoids all these pointless ups and downs!”

Scree
Not to be trifled with, scree refers to loose rocks, typically on a hill, that can quickly crumble into a landslide. If the rocks are sharp or heavy, it can easily result in serious injury.

Slackpacking
Refers to the art or luxury of carrying minimal gear, food or water. Many GCT itineraries fall into this category, as your luggage is shuttled ahead, or you stay in huts or cabins.

Spork
That special and useful camping utensil that is neither a spoon nor a fork.   

Switchbacks
When it comes to steep inclines or descents, zig-zagging switchbacks may add some length to the trial, but they make it much easier to navigate.

Talus
Similar to scree, talus refers to terrain made up of large rocks and boulders, requiring hikers to carefully scramble or climb their way forward.

Trail Magic
You’re hiking along the trail, and chance along a bag of chocolates or a much-needed hiker’s pole. Congratulations, you’ve just stumbled upon some trail magic left behind (or lost) by trail angels.

Trailhead
Every trail has to start and stop somewhere, and we call that somewhere the trailhead. Major routes have multiple trailheads that join along the path. Trailheads are access points, often with a parking lot and information board.

Tramily
As you make your way along the trail, expect to bond with your fellow hikers. Whether they’re lifelong friends or people you met along the way, you’ve got yourself a trail family – or tramily – sharing the challenge and joys of your journey.

Treeline
You often hear about hiking above the tree line. Trees can no longer grow at high altitudes, and the environment becomes sparse, bare and rocky. Also referred to as Alpine (see above).

Trekking poles
A technical walking stick that can be easily adjusted for inclines and descents, with a comfortable grip and spring to provide balance and take pressure off the knees. It can be used as a single pole or a pair, depending on your preference.

Type 1, 2, and 3 fun
A scale of pleasure that emerged from the climbing world but can be applied to any activity.

Type 1:  you’re having fun the entire time. Type 2:  It’s not so great in the moment, but it was fun when you look back on the experience. Type 3:  It’s not fun in the moment, it’s not fun looking back, and you never want to do anything like it again!   

Zero Day
A day of rest on the trail, or a day to stay at the campsite and avoid bad weather. In either case, hikers will cover zero kilometres or miles. 

Robin Esrock is the bestselling author of The Great Canadian Bucket List.