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SOLODARE
09-03-2014, 11:10
Why are trail markers called "Blaze"
My son asked and I thought it was a interesting question. I seen some reasonable defintions but nothing linking it directly to why it was chossen or where it started.

tiptoe
09-03-2014, 11:16
Well, it's probably related to the idea of blazing a trail. After you make one, you mark it.

Tuckahoe
09-03-2014, 11:17
Merriam-Webster

Main Entry: blaze
Function: noun
Etymology: perhaps from Dutch or Low German bles;akin to Old Norse blesi white stripe on an animal and probably to Old English blæse torch
Date: 1639
1 a : a usually white stripe down the center of the face of an animal b : a white or gray streak in the hair of the head 2: a trail marker ; especially : a mark made on a tree by chipping off a piece of the bark

Rain Man
09-03-2014, 12:34
Dictionary.com

1655-65; akin to Old Norse blesi, Dutch bles, German Blässe - white mark on a beast's face, and to German blass - pale

atraildreamer
09-03-2014, 17:37
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/blaze

blaze 2 (blhttp://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/amacr.gifz)n.1. A white or light-colored spot or stripe on the face of an animal, such as a horse.
2. A mark cut or painted on a tree to indicate a trail.

tr.v. blazed, blaz·ing, blaz·es 1. To mark (a tree) with or as if with blazes.
2. To indicate (a trail) by marking trees with blazes.

[Of Germanic origin; akin to blaze (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/blaze).]

Best explanation from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_blazing

but quite a long article...here is an excerpt:

"Trail blazing, or trailblazing (waymarking (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waymarking) in United Kingdom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom) and Ireland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland)). The term trail marking is also used in North America, Australia and New Zealand.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_blazing#cite_note-1) This the practice of marking paths in outdoor recreational (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recreation) areas with blazes, markings that follow each other at certain — though not necessarily exactly defined — distances and mark the direction of the trail. Originally a tree would be blazed by hatchet chops (still the dictionary definition) but today other methods, have become more common, with environmental (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmentalism) and aesthetic concerns sometimes playing a part in the choice of blazing method.[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_blazing#cite_note-2) Other navigational aids. such as cairns (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairns), are used where blazes are unsuitable."...

jefals
09-04-2014, 21:43
interesting stuff!