Trail Names

[Watson]

How do people get their trail names? Do they choose them for themselves or are they given to them, or both? Do trail names change or do they stay with you?

[Lone Wolf]

i chose for myself

[Whack-a-mole]

A lot of people get named by something that happens or some circumstance, but it's not uncommon for someone to name them selves. I think they may be afraid of getting tagged with something that they don't really care for. I earned my name and carry it with pride.

[Watson]

Just curious. When I joined White Blaze, I chose Watson because I was an elementary school principal. You know, "Elementary my dear ________" Now, 3 short months later, I'm moving to a middle school, so I got to wondering if I should choose a new name of just wait and see what happens.

[kayak karl]

i got KAYAK because of kayaking. it never changed when i hiked. it really isn't important to me. my friends from childhood still call me "ROTE" after Kyle Rote. my dad calls me "MURPH" after Murph the Surf.
many login names are not these peoples trail names.

[rocketsocks]

Some start with a screen name,get out on the trail and are given/or pick there own trail name,and some will get a new trail name on each year they hike the trail/or write a journal,but not usally.I do not have a trail name,or would just use my screen name or just use john,it's whatever you want really.

[Spokes]

..... With a name like Watson, the first thing that popped in my mind was "Sherlock".

See its already starting.

[rocketsocks]

..... With a name like Watson, the first thing that popped in my mind was "Sherlock".

See its already starting.

Or No **** for short.


Mr/Ms. Watson,I too had a principal named Mr.Watson....good guy he was.

[Minnitonka]

I took the name Minnetonka, because I lost a Moccasin on the AT.

When my husband was searching for water sources, he hiked down the mountain a bit and found my moccasin- to bad it was not the original one I lost. Little did we know that we lost both of the moccasins along the trail :-)

So much for carrying extra shoes for comfort around camp....

[Watson]

LOL. My real name isn't Watson. I just chose that because it finishes Sherlock Holmes' famous saying, "Elementary my dear...." and I'm an elementary principal.

[msupple]

I got mine because I was sporting a Kangle Bamboo Mowbray porkpie hat.

The Cat in the Hat

[msupple]

I recently met a dude on the trail who's trailname was "Knoxville". I asked him if he was from TN...specifically Knoxville. He said no...it's because I'm a Jackass ala Johnny Knoxviile in the show. I thought it was pretty clever. He wasn't BTW.

Cat in the Hat

[Patton]

I had planned on section hiking the AT and invited a friend to hike with me the first year. I had picked a name out so I would not be dubbed with an unwanted name....well, he quickly dubbed me with a name (Belcher) that was not what I had picked. It wasnt the best name, but I rolled with it and it was all good. Then in my fifth year on the trail, I was dubbed yet another name (Patton). Now I dont know what to go by, but the latest name will probably work for a while. It really is up to you how you want to obtain your name and iff you want to go with the flow of your fellow hikers.

[Feral Bill]

Just curious. When I joined White Blaze, I chose Watson because I was an elementary school principal. You know, "Elementary my dear ________" Now, 3 short months later, I'm moving to a middle school, so I got to wondering if I should choose a new name of just wait and see what happens.

Running a middle school? Should be plenty happening. Just wait. Or settle for "You Poor S.O.B."

[Tinker]

I used to help people figure out how to use their stoves (before alcohol was used widely in this country), and often would clean clogged Whisperlites for long term hikers while I was on section hikes. I also like to figure out multiple uses for the same item, often by modifying it a bit. My hiking partner on the AT and Long Trail in VT. gave me the name (actually, it was originally "Gadget" because I would buy and try the latest gadgets, but we met a young woman who was called Gadget who was hiking the LT with her dad, so we made a change which has stuck since the mid 1990s.

[steve43]

Got my trail name from my kayaking buddies in NC. Fifo......f#ckin idiot from Ohio. I just like to beat people to the punch when they meet me.

[Lemni Skate]

I was going for "Stryder" or "Sgt. Rutter," but ended up getting christened "Stats" my second night on the trail, because I tend to inject numbers into any conversation.

I liked the idea of being Christened by the other hikers. My wife is Tenderfoot due to her first overnight on the trail being right after she recovered from ankle surgery.

[Llama Legs]

given to me on AT by staff from White Mt High Adventure Base. After they saw photos from my llama trek in NM...and my hairy skinny legs

[imscotty]

Sounds like 'The Nine Circles of Hell" would be appropriate, or maybe just Inferno for short...

Now, 3 short months later, I'm moving to a middle school, so I got to wondering if I should choose a new name of just wait and see what happens.

[WIAPilot]

given to me on AT by staff from White Mt High Adventure Base. After they saw photos from my llama trek in NM...and my hairy skinny legs

LOL. I think you have one of the best trail names ever!!! ​I'm jealous!!