Camping Vocabulary: Hiking Trails and Campsite Terms

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Camping Vocabulary

Camping is an outdoor activity that involves setting up a temporary shelter and spending time in nature. Like any hobby or pastime, camping has its own unique vocabulary. In this article, we will discuss some common camping terms related to hiking trails and setting up a campsite.

Hiking Trails

Section Hiker: A hiker who is only hiking a section/sections of a trail, rather than attempting to complete the entire trail in one go.
SoBo (Southbound Hiker): A hiker who is hiking south on a trail.
Stealth Camping: The term given to camping in an unestablished site or on land without permission from the landowner, with the intention of not leaving any trace of the campsite.
Sun Cups: An uneven surface of snow resembling a giant egg carton. As the snow melts in the spring, pockets of water form on the surface of the snow. This water warms up in the sun and causes the snow under it to melt faster than the surrounding snow. The resulting uneven surface is difficult to walk on.
Thru-Hike: Traditionally a contiguous hike from one end of a trail to another. Usually, the term is only applied to hikes longer than 1,000 miles (1,609 km).
Thru-Hiker: A hiker who is attempting to complete a Thru-Hike.
Trail Magic: Any random act of kindness that is offered or provided to hikers. These amazingly generous deeds are like magic because they seem to always occur at a time or in a place when they are most needed.
Cairn: A man-made stack of stones indicating where the trail continues.
Camel Up: The act of drinking as much water as you physically can when you are at a water source. The theory is that you over-hydrate yourself as much as possible to lessen the need for carrying heavy water.
Blaze: A mark or sign on a tree, rock, or trail marker that indicates the direction of a trail.
Double Blaze: A double blaze has two rectangles with the upper blaze offset slightly toward the direction the trail turns.
Boardwalk: In wetlands or other areas with fragile wildlife, a boardwalk may be built so hikers can traverse the area without causing harm.
Puncheons: More primitive boardwalks can be created out of logs, planks, or rocks so that hikers can pass wet areas or creeks.

Setting Up a Campsite

A-Frame: This term describes tents that resemble the letter "A" when viewed from the front. A-frame tents, also called "ridge tents," are an older style of tent that was originally built using a horizontal pole with vertical guy ropes for improved stability. A-frame tents are typically not very large and are best-suited for one or two people.
Bear Bag: Waterproof bags that campers use to protect their food and cooking supplies while camping in areas with bears. The practice of hanging bear bags is sometimes called "treeing," and a bear bag that is hung up is sometimes called a "bear bag."
Billy: A billy, or "billy can," is a small metal container used to boil water or cook food over a campfire. Billy cans typically have a handle on the top for convenient campfire cooking.
Guyline: A line or cord used to attach tent stakes to the tent, helping to hold the tent in place and prevent it from collapsing in the wind.
Bivy Sack: A lightweight, waterproof cover used to protect a camper and their sleeping bag from rain, wind, and insects while camping.
Rucksack: A type of backpack with shoulder straps that is often used by hikers, campers, and other outdoor adventurers. Rucksacks are usually made of canvas or other durable material and are designed to fit more gear than a regular backpack.
Leave No Trace: A set of principles encouraging outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the outdoors without leaving any trace of their presence. This includes not littering, disturbing plants, or leaving food items behind.

In conclusion, camping has its own unique vocabulary that can be confusing for beginners. Understanding these terms will help you better navigate the outdoors and enjoy your camping experience.

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Test your knowledge of camping terminology with this quiz on hiking trails and campsite vocabulary. Learn about section hikers, thru-hikes, trail magic, and more! Improve your understanding of camping jargon and enhance your outdoor adventure.

Camping Vocabulary: Hiking Trails and Campsite Terms

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Questions and Answers

A hiker who is only hiking a ______________ of a trail, rather than attempting to complete the entire trail in one go.

The term given to camping in an unestablished site or on land without permission from the landowner, with the intention of not leaving any trace of the ______________.

An uneven surface of snow resembling a giant egg carton is referred to as ______________.

Traditionally, a contiguous hike from one end of a trail to another is called a ______________.

Any random act of kindness that is offered or provided to hikers is referred to as ______________.

A man-made stack of stones indicating where the trail continues is called a ______.

A mark or sign on a tree, rock, or trail marker that indicates the direction of a trail is known as a ______.

A type of backpack with shoulder straps that is often used by hikers, campers, and other outdoor adventurers is called a ______.

A lightweight, waterproof cover used to protect a camper and their sleeping bag from rain, wind, and insects while camping is known as a ______.

A set of principles encouraging outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the outdoors without leaving any trace of their presence is called ______.

Study Notes