AT/ CDT/ JMT/ PCT

These are all acronyms for the most popular thru-hikes in the U.S. Traversing the AT, CDT, and PCT will earn you the Triple Crown.

AT = Appalachian Trail

AT = the Appalachian Trail, a 2,200 mile hiking trail extending across the Eastern US from Georgia to Maine. 

CDT = Continental Divide Trail

 A 3,100 mile hiking trail that traverses the Colorado Rockies and spans from New Mexico to Montana. 

JMT = the John Muir Trail

A 214-mile trail within the Sierra range that passes through Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks.

PCT = Pacific Crest Trail

A 2,650 mile trail that follows the Sierra and Cascade ranges, beginning at the US-Mexico border and ending at the Canadian border.

BASE WEIGHT

The combined weight of your essential gear, excluding consumables (food, water, fuel) and other misc. items, like clothes. An average base weight could range from 15-25 pounds, depending on how light your gear is.

Bivy sack

An individualized, waterproof cover for your sleeping back, meant to replace a typical tent when backpacking. They are incredibly lightweight, rolling up to the size of a burrito.

Cairn

A stack of rocks used to mark the trail when navigation becomes more difficult and the correct path may be unclear. They are often left by other hikers, and stick out against the landscape.

Cat hole

A hole you dig to dispose of human waste in the backcountry. It should be 6-8 inches below ground, and recovered with the same dirt once you are done with your *business*. 

Cold soaking 

A stove-less method of cooking in the backcountry that involves rehydrating meals with cold water.

Cowboy camping

A style of backpacking that refers to camping without a tent over your head -- just you, your sleeping bag (or quilt), and the stars.

Dispersed Camping

A method of camping that refers to camping in an undeveloped campground, following Leave No Trace principles. Typically, this is possible in most National Forest or BLM-owned land (public lands), but always consult local guidelines before setting out on your adventure. You often trade off amenities, such as a bathroom, camp-fire ring, picnic bench, etc. for solitude and a more bare-bones experience.

Footprint

A waterproof tarp sized to your tent, providing an extra layer of protection from the ground and the elements (sharp rocks may puncture the bottom of your tent, or rain may pool under your floor if water is not diverted away). Ultimately, it extends the lifespan of your tent. Most often, they come included with your tent, but double check to be sure. 

LNT - "Leave No Trace"

A set of 7 guiding principles for enjoying outdoor spaces safely and respectfully. They include information on planning ahead & preparing, traveling/ camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly, leaving what you find, minimizing campfire impacts, respecting wildlife, and finally, being respectful of other visitors. 

Nero day

A ‘near-zero’ day consisting of almost no mileage gained on a backpacking route. 

NOBO/ SOBO

Acronyms that stand for Northbound or Southbound, in reference to which direction a person is thru-hiking. Depending on the backpacking route, different directions may offer different benefits (ex. On the JMT, starting at a higher elevation means less time to acclimate, but more downhill hiking). 

Out-and-back vs. loop 

Two common types of hiking trails often indicated when looking at the distance stats. An out-and-back hike begins and ends at the same place, however, you hike out to a location and take the exact same route back. Distances listed in this format can be assumed to be presented as round trip (ie. there and back). A looped hike also begins and ends at the same place, but you only hike one direction - ie. in a loop. 

Scramble

Refers to a less maintained and more DIY path up a particularly steep section of a hike. May involve more crawling or call for the use of one’s hands more often than the typical portion of a hike. 

Switchbacks

A series of back and forth paths that gradually climb up a steeper section of a hike. While they lengthen actual mileage, they are helpful in that they reduce erosion over time by keeping the trail at a lower gradient. 

THRU-HIKING VS. SECTION HIKING

A thru hike refers to the completion of an extensive backpacking trail in one go (such as the AT, typically taking 5-7 months to complete). A section hiker would complete the same trail in smaller sections over time.

TRAIL ANGELS

Kind, beautiful souls who live nearby popular backpacking routes and often leave treats on portions of the trail for grateful passerbys. This may include various tastes of civilization, such as some candy or a cold beer. Some may even offer rides to and from trailheads into town/ to pack stations -- always be kind and thankful for all that they are doing!

traverse

A best practice for ascending/ descending a mountain, as it provides a way to crosscut a steep face. It is a lateral movement, as opposed to simply climbing straight up or down. 

zero day

A day consisting of zero mileage on a backpacking route. A zero day may be taken at the beginning of your trip to allow your body to acclimate to a higher elevation. It could also be taken in the middle of a particularly long thru-hike for the sake of rest and relaxation (but only when you’ve got enough food to do so).