Funny AT Terms? [Archive] - WhiteBlaze

TJ aka Teej

06-03-2004, 13:44

Isn't there a website somewhere for funny terms coined on the AT? Does anyone know where it is?

Or perhaps we should start our own?

-Tank

Over on the at-l we put together an AT Glossary a few years back. The ATC decided to include it in the ALDHA Thru-Hiker's Companion and an issue of the ATN.
http://www.aldha.org/companyn/appndx04.pdf

From the at-l archives:
2000 miler
A hiker who has hiked the entire length of the Appalachian Trail
Ankle buster
A section of trail strewn with small unstable rocks
Aqua Mira
Two stage chemical water treatment containing chlorine dioxide
Bagable
A pool of water large enough to submerge your water bottle or
bag to ease filling it.
Bail out
To leave the trail by a side trail or likely passable route
Bald
Grassy field on the top of a mountain
Bad weather route
Also known as foul weather route or hazardous weather route, a
blue blazed trail,
offering an alternate route around a section of trail which is deemed
unsafe in certain severe weather conditions
Banana Flip
A type of fall in which your feet fly up in the air and you land on your
back as though
you stepped on a banana skin
Baseball bat
Wooden strips, attached to the sleeping deck in a shelter, designed
to define an individual hiker's "space".
Bear bait
Either a person new to hiking or the slowest hiker in the group.
Bear box
Metal box into which food bags are placed to prevent bear damage
Bear Cable
Cable from which food bags are suspended to prevent bear damage
Bear pole
Pole from which food bags are suspended to prevent bear damage
Bear Bagging
Practice of suspending a food bag in a manner meant to protect it
from bears,on a sturdy limb at least 15 feet from the ground and at
least 15 feet from the trunk. A bear bag is also known as a Bear Pinatas
Birdbath
A method of bathing using a rest room sink or on trail, using a limited
amount of water
Blaze
Method of marking a trail, generally a painted area on a tree, rock or
utility pole which indicates trail direction. On the AT the blazes are
painted white with blue blazes marking side trails to points of interest,
springs, shelters or campsites.
Blaze Orange
Specific bright orange color which is recommended attire during hunting
seasons. Wear a minimum of 100 sq in, front and back and a cap, to
be easily seen.
Bleach
Chemical water treatment using sodium hypo chlorite
Blowdown
Tree which has been storm damaged and is blocking the trail
Blue blaze
Blue colored blazed, used to indicate a trail to a shelter, water source,
view or other feature that is not actually on the AT
Blue blazer
Hiker who is not committed to passing every white blaze as in not a purist
Boardwalk
Wooden walkway placed to protect boggy areas
Bog
Wet spongy ground
Bog bridge
Wooden walkway placed to protect sensitive wetlands
Bog Log
Log, placed as a way to cross a wet area
Bouldering
Clambering and climbing along a boulder strewn section of trail
Bounce box
Box containing seldom used items such a repair kits, batteries, extra
glasses or excess quantities of stuff like coffee that you "bounce"
ahead by sending it to yourself at the next town stop you plan on.
Bunk
A built-in bed (as on a ship) that is often one of a tier
Brook
A natural stream of water normally smaller than and often tributary
to a creek
Bushwhack
To hike where their is no trail
Cairn
An obviously manmade pile of stones used to mark the trail in lieu of
a blaze
Camp
A cabin, either privately or publicly owned and generally used for
groups such as boy scouts or hunters. Or sleeping in the woods
or the place where you sleep in the woods.
Campsite
An overnight camping area without a shelter
Caretaker
Paid staff of a trail maintaining club who performs daily maintenance and
collects fees at a shelter or campsite
Chumm
Outdoor privy
Cistern
Water tank, usually at a shelter which is fed by the rain runoff from
the roof
Col
High valley between two summits
Composting privy
Privy designed to recycle solid wastes on site utilizing bacterial action.
Never pee in a composting privy as urine upsets the balance required to
promote bacteria action.
Cove
A rather level, often round area sheltered by mountains on all sides
Cliff
The top of a steep, vertical rock formation
Clear cut
Area that has been completely logged with all trees removed
Crick
"Southern" for creek
Creek
A natural stream of water normally smaller than and often tributary to a river
Croo
Paid staff at an AMC hut
Dipper
A pool of water too small to submerge your water bottle, requiring you to
dip from it
Ditch
A long narrow trench or furrow dug in the ground, as for irrigation, drainage,
or a boundary line Or to leave the Trail as in "He ditched and went to town"
Draw
Small valley or gap
Dripper
A slow source of water. Also know as a seep or oozer
Duck
An obviously manmade pile of stones used to mark the trail in lieu of a blaze
Or what you need to learn to do as you pass over the threshold of certain
southern shelters
Face plant
Type of fall which plants your face in the ground
False summit
A high point that seems to be the summit until you get close enough to see
that you are not yet done climbing. Why is that last 200 foot climb twice as
hard as the 1200 feet that preceded it?
Filter
Device to separate suspended matter from water based on size ie. microns.
Water is passed thru carbon, or ceramic or metal screen. See also in-line
and gravity filters
Fire tower
Structure placed and designed to allow a broad view in order to look for
smoke. At one time these structures were manned but now are used
primarily as viewing platforms.
Floaties
Suspended matter in water, consisting of leaf fragment and assorted dead
and live micro-critters which will hasten the death of your filter. Best
screened out with a bandana or pre-filter to extend the life of your filter
Ford
A shallow part of a body of water that may be crossed by wading
Forest Protection Area
A formal term for places in the White Mountain National Forest that
prohibit all camping such as the area within 1/4 mile of the Huts in
the White Mountains
Frost heave
Irregular shaped, lumps of soil which have been raised, up to 4 inches
above the surrounding soil, into frozen, ankle turning hunks. Occurs
in saturated soil when the temperature plunges suddenly
Foul weather route
Also known as bad weather route or hazardous weather route, a blue
blazed trail, offering an alternate route around a section of trail which
is deemed unsafe in certain severe weather conditions
Full service hut
Hut which provides meal service by paid staff
Game Lands
Areas owned by States which have been designated primarily as
hunting or conservation grounds
Gap
A break in the continuity of a ridge
Gas Line
Area cleared of trees over buried petroleum product pipes
Gated
Road which is closed to unauthorized vehicular traffic
Glacial Pond
Water filled depression caused by the gouging action of glaciers
Glen
A narrow valley
Granny gear
Slow but sure pace, like low gear in a car, useful for the big ups
Gravity filter
Device that is inserted into the tubing of a water bag which filters
the water as it drains into another container.
Green tunnel
Term used to describe densely vegetated trail with tree branches
meeting overhead and heavy side growth of bushes which creates
a tunnel effect.
Gulf
A large, deep, steep sided valley
Gully
A small narrow steep-sided depression which is smaller than a
ravine; usually caused by erosion
Gully washer
Heavy rain
Gusher
A strong source of water/ good flow
Hand over hand
Extremely steep trail or section which requires climbing rather
than hiking
Half wall privy
Outdoor privy with no roof and low walls
Hazard tree
Any tree whose condition and location represent a hazard to hikers. A prime
target for a maintainer's chain saw. Remember to always hug the Trail
maintainers. It's good luck
Hazardous weather route
Also known as bad weather route or foul weather route, a blue blazed trail,
offering an alternate route around a section of trail which is deemed unsafe
in certain severe weather conditions
Hiker box
May be a cabinet, bin or actually box in a shelter, hostel or
outfitter. Hikers
leave what they don't want and take what they do. Usually full of instant
oatmeal packets in the south.
Hollow
A small valley or basin, surrounded on three sides by hills
Or the condition of a thruhiker's belly on the way into town.
Hoser
Hiker who uses a hydration bag
Hostel
An establishment usually offering bunks, showers and sometimes meals or
kitchen facilities to hikers and other travelers. It is usually low cost
or may
even operate on contributions. Don't be a cheapskate. Support the hostels
that support the hikers
Hut
Large enclosed structure which offers a bunk and meals for a fee. No extra
charge for the crowds.
Hydration Bag
Water bag fitted a hose through which you can drink also known as hoser
Hydraytion Pack
Pack designed to hold a hydration bag system
Hydration Bag
Soft sided water bag, fitted with a connection to a tube from which you drink
Hypothermia

Hyperthermia

In-line filter
Device inserted into the drinking tube of a hydration system allows you to
filter the water
as you drink
Intermittent spring
Unreliable water source which is highly dependent on recent rain and always
further downhill than you thought it was
Krumholtz
Area of stunted, twisted trees, characteristic of the tree line
Knob
A rounded hill or mountain
Lake
A considerable inland body of standing or slowly flowing water
Lean-to
Three sided shelter
LNT (Leave No Trace)
Backwoods ethics requiring minimal impact
Loft
The upper floor of a shelter often accessed via a ladder
Or the degree of fluffiness in the fill of a sleeping bag
Long distance hiker (LD hiker)
We tried to decide the minimum distance to be considered a long
distance hiker but we couldn't agree. what is a long distance for
one hiker may not be for another so the best definition we have
come up with is a hiker on a hike of such duration that it requires
at least one resupply
Long term supply
Larger convenience stores or grocery stores offering a good variety
of hiker friendly food
Notch
Pass or gap
Maildrop
Food or sundry resupplies sent via USPS, UPS or other carrier
Marsh
Soft, wet, usually grassy land
Meadow
Grassy area
Moldering Privy
Privy designed to recycle solid wastes on site using both bacterial
and insect action. Dung beetles snatch little hunks of solid waste
and cart them off for supper. Never pee in a moldering privy as
it's very rude to the beetles. Pee in the woods and poop in the privy.
Mouse hangers
Also known as a mouse trapeze, these are lengths of string, line or
wire on which an empty can or can lid is strung. One end is attached
to the shelter ceiling and you hang your food bag from the other end.
The lid or can is intended to prevent mice from crawling down the line
and getting to your food. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't
but the mice really seem to enjoy them so...what the heck...we use them.
MUD
Mindless ups and downs
Notch
A deep, narrow pass
Nut Cracker
A type of fall which occurs as you are half way over a blowdown
or fence rail
Open air privy
Outdoor toilet with no wall. Yes, I'm serious...no walls...honest
Outfitters
Store specializing in outdoor gear
Pass
The somewhat lower area between two mountains
Peak
High point of a mountain or hill, also know as the pay-off or reward
because of the views it affords. Except that it will probably be cloudy
when you get there
Piped
Water that has been directed to flow from a pipe. ***Warning*** pipes
may contain spring water or they may be run-off/drainage water that
has been piped for the ease of filling your bottle. Do not assume a
piped source is spring water.
PSC (Pointless stream crossings)
The tendency of a trail to zig and zag across the same icy stream to
no known purpose other than creating blisters.
Polar Pure
Chemical water treatment; iodine in crystalline form
Pond
A body of water usually smaller than a lake except in New England
where it probably is a lake. No one knows why they call lakes, ponds.
They just do.
Postholing
Hiking through deep snow which is not frozen solidly enough to support
your weight and allows your leg to plunge to the ground doing really nasty
things to your knees
Potable Aqua
Chemical water treatment iodine in tablet form
Power line
Cleared area beneath high tension power lines. Cleared of trees, that is.
They are usually full of brambles and sometimes
raspberries....yum...raspberries.
Privy
Outdoor toilet
Portajohn
Portable privy
PUD
Pointless ups and downs
Puncheon
Wooden walkway placed to protect boggy areas
Purifier
Usually refers to a filter which employs an iodine impregnated medium
to kill water born viruses.
Purist
Hiker who has committed to hiking past every white blaze
Railtrail
Former railroad right of way which has had the rail bed removed and
converted to recreational use
Rapids
A part of a river or stream where the current is fast and the surface is
broken by rocks or boulders
Ravine
A narrow steep-sided valley that is larger than a gully and smaller
than a canyon
Red Blazing
A particularly nasty fall where by you leave a trail of blood
Rest Step
On the theory that it is best to keep moving up a hill, rather than to
hike a while, stop and rest a while and hike some more, this technique
is step, pause for a second and then step again
Ridge
An elongate crest or a linear series of the crests of hills or mountains
Ridgerunner
Person paid to hike and oversee a specific section of trail
Right of way (ROW)
Land set aside for gas lines or power lines
River
A natural stream of water of usually considerable volume
Register
Technically, a notebook in which hikers leave messages to other hikers
or to maintainers. Actually, the depository of some of the funniest, most
poignant literature and art in the western world. """"Warning"""" if you read
every entry in every register you find, you will never get to Maine.
Road crossing
Intersection of trail and road and maybe the most danger you will face as
they are often located on ridge top, blind hills and hairpin turns, so look
both ways like your momma taught you
Rock scrambles
Loosely connected table rocks which shift as you hike over them
Rollercoaster
Section of trail with constant up and downs
Run
The bed of an intermittent stream fed by springs and often swollen by run off
Or what you do when the hiker ahead of you stirs up a hornet's nest
Seasonal spring
Unreliable water source which is dependent on snowmelt and spring rains
Section hiker
A hiker who is hiking the entire trail over a period of years
Seep
A spot where water oozes from the ground and forms a puddle which looks
pretty darn good on a dry trail in August
Self service hut
Hut which provides kitchen equipment but no cooks
Shelter
Wooden or stone structure that affords protection from weather
Short term supply
Convenience marts, gas stations or small stores which offer just enough
selection of food to get you on down the trail to a bigger grocery
Shoulder
Flatland located part way down from the ridge line
Shuttle
A ride to or from the trail or from one road crossing to another
Side hill
Trail that runs perpendicular to the slope of the terrain
Sipper
Hiker who uses a hydration bag
Slab
Sidehill trail which maintains a more or less constant elevation rather
that the ups and downs of the ridgeline
Slackpack
Hiking without your pack which is transported ahead for pickup
Sleep deck
Raised wooden area in the shelter, sometimes divided into sections
meant to delineate a hiker's sleeping space
Solar Composting Privy
Toilet designed to recycle solid wastes on site, utilizing a photo voltaic
array to power a fan which increases the air flow over the waste in
order to encourage bacterial action and accelerate decomposition or
a passive heat absorbing to heat the waste for the same effect
Spring
A source of water issuing from the ground
Stagnant
Water which is trapped as in a ditch after a rain. Just barely better than
nothing
Stamp
Very level area
Stile
A step or set of steps for passing over a fence or wall
Stealth camping
Camping in an undeveloped area in a manner which leave no indication
that you were there.
Stream
A body of running water
Stumpage
Old logged area which requires hiking through stumps and bumps
Summit
The high point of a mountain or hill
Suspension bridge
A bridge that has its treadway suspended from two or more cables
securely anchored at the ends. If the concept makes you nervous,
make sure you are the only one on the bridge as you cross.
Swamp
Wet spongy land saturated and sometimes partially covered with water
Switchback
A zigzag trail, built as an aid in climbing a steep area and/or to reduce
erosion. More commonly found in the south. Someday the northerners
will learn of this technique but until then, it's' huff and up' in the north.
Tableland
High flatland or plateau
Tea
Water that is clear but brown colored, often from a high level of rotting
plant material
Tent pad
Cleared dirt area on which to pitch a tent.
Tent platform
A raised wooden deck on which to pitch a tent.
Tent site
An overnight camping area without a shelter
Thru-hiker
A hiker who is hiking from Maine to Georgia or Georgia to Maine in on
trip or generally accepted, a person who has done same.
Also Thru or Thruhiker
Tincture of Iodine
Chemical water treatment using liquid iodine
Tourons
A term used for tourists, usually applied after you have sweated blood
climbing to a great view and find it over run with people who drove to
the peak and then ask you how far you have hiked or any of the other
dozen questions that you are sick of answering. Of course if tourons
offer you food they become magically transformed into nice folks and
if they offer you a ride into town they become the salt of the earth.
Weird how that happens....
Town clothes
Clothes carried specifically for use in towns, either to present a better
image or to wear while laundering everything else. Many hikers use
their rain gear while laundering to avoid the weight of an extra set of
clothes. Some hikers keep town clothes in their bounce box.
Trail angel
Person who seeks to help hikers by providing rides, food or drinks for
no fee
Trail corridor
Lands acquired to protect the Trail and it's wild nature. The width varies
but is typically 500 feet on either side of the footpath
Trail feed
Prearranged picnics designed to treat hikers
Trail head
The point at which a trail begins. Also the point at which a trail meets
a road if there is a parking lot
Trail magic
Originally, a term used to describe a situation where in the "universe"
seems to provide just what is needed at just the time it is needed most.
It could be a wildlife sighting which renews you or a break in the clouds,
allowing you the first good view you have seen in 800 miles or a section
hiker with excess food after a raccoon stole yours and you are facing three
hungry days until a resupply.
Or recently it has been used to describe organized hiker feeds as well
as food or drinks stashed by people along the trail as a treat
Tree line
Point of elevation of a mountain above which tree growth can no longer
be supported
Treadway
Actual, physical trail
Trench
Badly eroded trail in which the hiker walks in a ditch that may be knee
deep or deeper
Truck stops
Large gas station complex which generally offers a restaurant, phones,
occasional data ports, pay showers, bunks or rooms
Trudge mode
Manner of hiking that usually happens at the end of a day or a climb,
all effort required, just to keep going
Turbid
Muddy water, filled with sediments which will clog your filter. Best dealt
with by filling a container and waiting for the sediment to settle or by using
a prefilter
Turtleing
A type of fall in which you land on your pack and struggle to regain you
feet like a turtle
Valley
An elongated lower area between ridges of mountains
Vitamin I
Ibuprophen, an antinflamatory and analgesic drug
Wash
The bed of an intermittent stream which is caused by rain run off
Waterbag
Soft sided water container
Waterbar
A log or assemblage of rocks, placed to divert runoff water and to prevent
erosion
Waterfall
A perpendicular or very steep descent of the water of a stream
Water pump
Mechanical device used to raise water from the ground
Web walking
Being the first hiker on the trail in the morning which means you will be the
one clearing the spider webs from across the trail (usually with your face)
Weekend warrior
Hiker who is hiking for a couple days
Widow maker
A dead limb which could come down without warning. Always look up
before you set your camp
White out
Extremely heavy snow conditions with near zero visibility
Work for Stay
Practice of allowing Thru-hikers to work in exchange for bed and board
Yellow blaze
Term used to denote the center yellow line that is painted on a highway
Yellow blazer
Someone who hitch hikes around sections of trail
Yogi-ing
The art of getting other hikers, picnic-ers or others to offer you food, drink
or rides. It's a subtle art, requiring the hiker to communicate a need
without actually asking for something. Wistful staring or subtle drooling
is allowed but actually asking, begging or stealing is not, despite the
actions of Yogi Bear from who's name the term originates
Zombie Zone
Manner of hiking when your mind is somewhere else and you body is hiking
without you