Thru-Hiker / Appalachian Trail Glossary
The Thru-Hiker / Appalachian Trail Glossary (Trail Terminology)
Click any of the links on the below terms to get a fuller description, images, and relevant articles.
ALDHA (noun, organization) – Abbreviation for the Appalachian Long Distance Hiking Association.
AT (noun, place) – Abbreviation for Appalachian Trail or the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
ATC (noun, organization) – Abbreviation for Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the organizatino that oversees the maintenance of, conservation on, and advocacy for the preservation of the AT. The headquarters in Harpers Ferry is also often referred to as “the ATC.”
AYCE (phrase) – Acronym for “all you can eat.”
Banana-blaze (verb) – To follow a man down the trail out of romantic interests, usually done by a woman.
The Bubble (noun, concept) – The denser cluster of northbound thru-hikers who embark from Springer Mountain the last week of March and the first week of April. Sometimes also refers to the much smaller cluster of southbound thru-hikers who embark from Mount Katahdin the first week of June.
Cairn (noun, thing) – A small tower of rocks used as a trail marker in areas where trees are scarce, or used sentimentally as a monument.
CDT (noun, place) – Short for the Continental Divide Trail or Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, which runs 3,100 miles across the the U.S.’ western continental divide, from Mexico to Canada. See Triple-Crown.
Green-blaze (verb) – To hike while high on marijuana or to follow/hike with someone in order to obtain it.
The Green Tunnel (noun, place) – A nickname for the AT, referencing the tree cover that encloses the trail corridor most of the way during the summer and late spring months.
Hiker trash (adjective or noun, people) – A term for or describing long-distance hikers whose absence from civilization has led them to abandon certain social norms and expectations, becoming disheveled in appearance. It is sometimes said as an insult, but usually taken as a compliment.
Hike Your Own Hike or HYOH (phrase) – A motto of sorts that means anything from “to each his own” to “stay out of my business.”
Hut – In the White Mountains National Forest, a hut is a fully enclosed lodge with running water, wood stoves, and other amenities.
Leave No Trace or LNT (phrase) – A phrase representing the seven principles of outdoor ethics: (1) Plan ahead and prepare, (2) travel and camp on durable surfaces, (3) dispose of waste properly, (4) leave what you find, (5) minimize campfire impacts, (6) respect wildlife, and (7) be considerate of other visitors.
LT or The Long Trail (noun, place) – A national scenic trail running 273 miles through Vermont, which shares it’s southernmost 100 miles with the AT.
Noro (noun, thing) – Short for Norovirus, a disease that spreads easily in the backcountry. Outbreaks in 2012 and 2013 were particularly harsh on the AT.
PCT (noun, place) – Short for the Pacific Crest Trail or Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which runs 2,600 miles across the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountain ranges in the western United States. See Triple-Crown.
Pink-blaze (verb) – To follow a woman down the trail out of romantic interests, usually done by a man.
Privy (noun, thing) – An outhouse or compostable toilet at a backcountry campsite.
PUDS (phrase) – Short for “pointless ups and downs,” meaning a series of climbs and descents without a view.
Purist (noun, person) – A thru-hiker who endeavors to walk every inch of the AT, typically also without assistance. The term is often used condescendingly.
Ridge-runner (noun, person) – An ATC volunteer who monitors the AT, especially in heavily-trafficked areas such as state and national parks.
Section Hiker (noun, person) – A 2,000 miler who hiked or is currently hiking the entire AT in over a year, in any order.
Shelter (noun, thing) – A structure for backcountry lodging, typically three-sided.
Slack-pack (verb) – To leave the bulk of one’s belongings elsewhere and hike with a day pack during a long-distance backpacking trip.
The Shennies (noun, place) – Short for Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.
The Smokies (noun, place) – Short for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina.
Springer (noun, place) – Short for Springer Mountain, Georgia, the southern terminus of the AT.
Thru-Hiker (noun, person) – Any long-distance hiker who walks the length of a particular trail in one setting or within one year.
Trail Angel (noun, person) – Someone who gives trail magic.
Trail Clubs – local organizations, primarily consisting of volunteers, that are responsible for the maintenance and protection of sections of the AT, in affiliation with the ATC.
Trail Crew (noun, people) – A group of Trail Maintainers.
Trail Magic (noun, thing) – Any act of kindness or gift bestowed on hikers, including water, meals, transportation, lodging, or even money.
Trail Maintainer (noun, person) – Someone who cares for a tract of the AT, usually as a volunteer.
Trail Name (noun, concept) – A special nickname adopted by long-distance backpackers, which has become a tradition on the AT and many other trails.
“The Trail Provides” (phrase) – A phrase meaning that, in emergencies or difficult situations, a hiker’s needs will be met somehow.
Triple-Crown (noun, concept) – Collectively, three American national scenic trails, over 2,000 miles each, that run, more or less, north to south: the Appalachian Trail (AT), Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and Continental Divide Trail (CDT).
Vitamin I (noun, thing) – Ibuprofen, the “drug of choice” for many long-distance hikers.
Yellow-blaze (verb) – To skip a section of the AT by motor vehicle.
Yogi (verb) – To charm, persuade, or otherwise convince locals and day hikers to provide trail magic.
Yo-yo (verb) – To hike the entire AT from one terminus to the other and then immediately turn around and hike back again (i.e. two back-to-back thru-hikes).
Zero – A day off during a long-distance hike in which zero miles are walked.
2,000 Miler (noun, person) – Any individual who has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, regardless of time spent doing so, and regardless of the AT’s exact length upon completion.
What about Brown Blazing? Camping privy to privy.
LASH: long ass section hiker. Hiking 100+ mile sections at a time.
NERO: hiking less than 5 miles (usually to town) and taking the rest of the day off.
Hiker midnight: 9 P.M. (sun typically sets by 9 and everyone is bedded down for the night)
Crud didn’t see NERO on original list, sorry.
I am so grateful to The Trek and it’s glossary, it’s helping me prepare my 2018 Thru-Hike. As a novice to hiking my research expanded my vocabulary exponentially. I still thought folks carried metal canteens, lol! How about adding to the glossary a section devoted to gear terminology? Words like: denier, cuben fiber, brain, fly, ridge line, A frame, to name a few. As a newcomer I was thinking it would be nice having one place to go to to learn what these terms mean in the hiking world.
I’m with ya Sport Jensen!