Types of Backpackers
A person attempting to hike an entire long trail
Thru Hiker
When a hiker goes into town to get more food.
Resupply
sleeping under the stars without a tent
Cowboy Camping
a tree that has fallen across the trail
Blow-down
a cabinet or box at hostels or places of business where hikers donate unwanted food and gear for other hikers to use
Hiker Box
A person who hikes part of a long trail
Section Hiker
a continuous, deep hunger that allows you to eat amazing amounts of food in town. This usually happens after a few weeks of hiking as a result of low body fat.
Hiker Hunger
Usually right when it gets dark. The time when most hikers go to sleep.
Hiker Midnight
to hike where there is no trail or where the trail is overgrown
Bushwhack
the people that you meet on the trail and hike with. This may change during a hike
Trail Family
When the backpacker's base weight is under 10 pounds
Ultralight Backpacking
What hikers call Ibuprofen
Vitamin I
hiking zero miles in a day, usually when you go into town and stay 2 nights
to sink deep into snow, usually up to your knees or even your waist
Posthole
a person who treats hikers nicely and offers food, drinks, or other helpful resources to them while they hike
Trail Angel
NOBO
to drink a lot of water at a water source before continuing to hike and/or carrying a lot of water with you on a dry stretch of trail
Camel Up
hiking almost zero miles in a day, often associated with staying one night in town
Nero
a sharp turn in the trail, found when ascending or descending a steep portion of the trail
Switchback
unexpected food or help on the trail from someone
Trail Magic
Someone who hitchhikes around many sections of trail
yellow blazer
a supply of food, water, or other supplies hidden for later retrieval
Cache
Man-made structures provide a place to sleep that protects the hiker from the rain and wind. They do not need to put their tent up at these.
Shelters
a trailside outhouse
Privy
Fastest Known Time – the fastest “official” time that anyone has completed a trail
FKT