Ultimate A-Z Glossary of Hiking Terms

A-Z Glossary of Hiking Terms

Welcome to the ultimate A-Z glossary of hiking terms from Trail Hiking Australia. Whether you’re a seasoned thru-hiker or just starting to explore your local trails, the world of hiking is filled with its own unique language. Understanding these terms is the first step to planning better, hiking safer, and connecting with the vibrant community of fellow adventurers.

This comprehensive glossary is your go-to resource for demystifying the jargon of the trail.

(Jump to a section)

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

• Acclimatisation: The process of the body adjusting to a significant change in altitude, which involves physiological changes to cope with lower oxygen levels.
• Altitude: The height of a point on the earth’s surface measured from sea level.
• Alpine Zone: The region on a mountain above the treeline, characterized by low-growing vegetation, rocky terrain, and harsh weather conditions.
• Approach Trail: A path that leads from a trailhead or access point to a main trail, feature, or climbing route.
• Avalanche: A large mass of snow, ice, and rock that slides rapidly down a mountainside. A serious hazard in alpine regions during winter.

B

• Backcountry: A remote, undeveloped area of land where there are no maintained facilities and travel is on unmarked routes.
• Backpacking: The practice of hiking on multi-day trips while carrying all necessary gear, food, and shelter in a backpack.
• Bailout Point: A pre-planned escape route in a hiking itinerary that allows for a shorter, faster exit in case of an emergency, bad weather, or injury.
• Base Weight: The weight of a hiker’s backpack including all gear except for consumables like food, water, and fuel. A key metric in ultralight hiking.
• Bearing: A specific direction of travel, measured in degrees on a compass ($0°$ to $360°$), from one point to another.
• Bivouac (Bivvy): A temporary, often improvised, shelter used for an overnight stay, typically without a tent. A “bivvy bag” is a minimalist, waterproof sack used in place of a tent.
• Blaze: A painted mark on a tree or rock used to officially mark a trail’s route. The colour and shape can be specific to a particular trail.
• Blisters: Painful, fluid-filled sacs on the skin caused by friction from footwear. A common and preventable hiking ailment.
• Blowdown (or Deadfall): A tree or trees that have been knocked over by wind or storms, often obstructing a trail.
• Boulder Field (or Talus Slope): A sloped area of land covered in large, broken rocks, requiring careful footwork to cross.
• Bush-bashing (or Bushwhacking): The skill of navigating and pushing through dense, off-trail vegetation where no path exists.

C

• Cache: A pre-placed and hidden supply of food, water, or gear along a long-distance trail.
• Cairn: A man-made pile of stones used to mark a trail, especially in open, rocky, or alpine areas where blazes are not possible.
• Canopy: The upper layer of a forest, formed by the crowns of the tallest trees.
• Carabiner: A metal loop with a spring-loaded gate, used for attaching gear to a pack. Not to be confused with load-bearing climbing carabiners.
• Cathole: A hole dug in the soil, typically 15-20 cm deep, for burying human waste. A key Leave No Trace skill.
• Col (or Saddle): A low point or pass on a ridge between two higher peaks.
• Contour Lines: Lines on a topographic map that connect points of equal elevation. The closer the lines are, the steeper the terrain.
• Creek: A small, flowing body of water, often a tributary to a river.
• Crampons: Metal frames with spikes that are attached to hiking boots to provide traction on ice and hard-packed snow.
• Cuben Fibre (Dyneema Composite Fabric): An extremely lightweight, strong, and waterproof material used in high-end ultralight tents, tarps, and backpacks.

D

• Day Hike: A hike that is completed within a single day, without the need for overnight camping gear.
• Declination (Magnetic): The angle of difference between Magnetic North (where a compass needle points) and True North (the geographic North Pole). This value is printed on topographic maps and is used to make precise bearing calculations.
• Dehydration: A dangerous condition where the body loses more water than it takes in, leading to impaired physical and mental function.
• Dirt-bagging: A slang term for living a minimalist lifestyle that prioritises time for outdoor pursuits like hiking and climbing, often involving living in a vehicle.
• Double-Walled Tent: A tent that consists of two separate parts: a breathable inner tent (often with mesh) and a waterproof outer flysheet. This design provides the best ventilation and condensation management.

E

• Ecosystem: A community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment.
• Electrolytes: Salts and minerals (like sodium and potassium) in the body that are lost through sweat. They must be replaced during strenuous hiking to prevent cramps and fatigue.
• Elevation: The height of a geographical location above a fixed point, usually sea level.
• Elevation Gain (or Ascent): The total vertical distance climbed during a hike. A key indicator of a trail’s difficulty.
• Emergency Marker: A sign with a unique alphanumeric code placed on a trail, allowing a hiker to give their exact location to emergency services (000).

F

• False Peak (or False Summit): A hilltop that appears to be the summit but, upon reaching it, reveals the true summit to be further and higher away.
• Fire Ban (Total Fire Ban or TFB): A government-issued restriction on lighting any open fires to prevent bushfires. In Australia, this almost always includes the use of portable fuel stoves.
• First Aid Kit: A collection of medical supplies for treating common injuries and ailments on the trail.
• Footbed (or Insole): The insert inside a hiking boot or shoe that provides cushioning and support.
• Footprint (or Groundsheet): A separate sheet of waterproof material placed under a tent’s floor to protect it from abrasion and moisture.

G

• Gaiters: Protective coverings worn over the top of boots and lower legs to keep out rocks, sand, mud, water, and leeches.
• Giardia: A common waterborne parasite that causes severe gastrointestinal illness. All untreated water in the backcountry should be considered a potential source.
• GPS (Global Positioning System): A satellite-based navigation system that provides location and time information. A dedicated GPS device or a smartphone app can be used for navigation.
• Grade (Trail Grade): A standardised system (typically Grades 1-5 in Australia) that classifies a trail’s difficulty based on its surface, steepness, signage, and required experience.
• Gully: A narrow, steep-sided channel or ravine formed by water erosion. It may be a dry channel or contain a stream.

H

• Hammock Camping: A style of camping that uses a suspended hammock and a tarp for shelter instead of a tent.
• Handrail (Navigational): A large, linear feature (like a river, coastline, or distinct ridgeline) that runs parallel to your direction of travel, used as a guide to stay on course.
• Headlamp: A small, powerful light worn on the head, leaving hands free. An essential piece of safety gear for any hike.
• Hydration Bladder (or Reservoir): A flexible water container that sits inside a backpack, with a hose and bite-valve for easy, hands-free drinking.
• Hypothermia: A dangerous drop in core body temperature caused by exposure to cold, wet, and windy conditions. A major risk in alpine environments.

I

• Ice Axe: A specialised tool used by mountaineers for safety and traction when travelling on snow and ice.
• Itinerary: A detailed plan for a hike, including the route, daily distances, campsite locations, and timings. A copy should be left with a trusted contact as a Trip Intention Plan.

J

• Junction: A point where two or more trails intersect.

K

• Knoll: A small, rounded hill or mound of earth.

L

• Leave No Trace (LNT): A set of seven internationally recognised principles that provide a framework for enjoying the outdoors responsibly and minimising environmental impact.
• Leeward: The side of a mountain, hill, or object that is sheltered from the wind (opposite of windward).
• Logbook: A register, often in a book or weatherproof box, at a trailhead or remote hut where hikers can record their details and intentions. A crucial safety feature.
• Loop Trail: A trail that begins and ends at the same point, forming a circuit without retracing steps.
• Lug Sole: A thick, deeply-indented rubber sole on a hiking boot, designed for excellent traction on varied terrain.

M

• Map: A two-dimensional representation of the landscape. For hiking, a topographic map is the standard.
• Merino Wool: A type of fine wool prized for hiking apparel due to its excellent temperature regulation, moisture-wicking properties, and natural odour resistance.
• Microspikes: A traction device with small metal spikes attached to a flexible harness, slipped over hiking boots for grip on icy trails.
• Moraine: A landform made of rock and sediment deposited by a glacier.
• Multi-day Hike: Any hike that involves at least one night of camping on the trail.

N

• Navigation: The skill of determining your position and planning a route, using tools like a map, compass, and GPS, as well as natural features.
• No-Cook: A food strategy, popular with ultralight hikers, that involves carrying only food that requires no cooking, saving the weight of a stove, pot, and fuel.
• Notch: A narrow pass or gap in a ridge or between two peaks.

O

• Off-trail: Hiking in an area where there is no marked or established path, requiring advanced navigation skills.
• Out-and-Back Trail (or In-and-Out): A trail that follows a single path to a destination and returns by the same route.
• Overnighter: A short backpacking trip that involves just one night out.

P

• Pace: The speed at which a hiker walks, often measured in kilometres per hour.
• Pass: A low point on a mountain range or ridge that provides a route to cross from one side to the other.
• Peak: The pointed top of a mountain.
• PLB (Personal Locator Beacon): A satellite-based emergency device that, when activated, transmits a distress signal with your location to rescue authorities. For life-threatening emergencies only.
• Post-holing: The exhausting act of sinking deep into soft snow with every step.

Q

• Quick-dry Clothing: Apparel made from synthetic fabrics (like polyester or nylon) that wick moisture away from the skin and dry very quickly. Cotton should be avoided.

R

• Rain Shell: A waterproof and breathable outer jacket designed to protect a hiker from rain and wind.
• Ridge (or Ridgeline): A long, narrow crest of elevated land, such as along the top of a mountain or range.
• River Crossing: The act of fording a river or large creek. A potentially hazardous activity requiring careful assessment and technique.
• Route: The planned path of travel from the start to the end of a hike.
• Route-finding: The skill of identifying and following a route, especially in off-trail or poorly marked areas.

S

• Saddle: A low point on a ridge between two peaks, generally wider and more rounded than a col.
• Scramble (or Scrambling): A form of movement on steep, rocky terrain that is a mix of walking and basic rock climbing, requiring the use of hands for balance and support.
• Scree: A slope covered in small, loose, broken rocks.
• Section Hike: Hiking a specific, long section of a thru-hike trail, as opposed to completing the entire trail in one go.
• Shelter: Any structure that provides protection from the elements, such as a tent, tarp, hammock, or backcountry hut.
• Single-Walled Tent: A tent constructed with a single layer of waterproof, breathable fabric. They are generally lighter than double-walled tents but require more skill to manage condensation.
• Situational Awareness: The crucial skill of being constantly aware of your surroundings, your physical condition, and your group’s morale to anticipate problems before they arise.
• Spur: A smaller ridge that descends from a main ridge or mountain.
• Summit: The highest point of a mountain.
• Sweep (or Whip): An experienced hiker designated as the last person in a group, responsible for making sure no one is left behind.
• Switchback (or Zigzag): A trail that follows a zigzag pattern up a steep incline, designed to reduce the gradient and prevent erosion.

T

• Tarp: A simple sheet of waterproof material used as a minimalist, lightweight shelter.
• Ten Essentials: A standardised list of ten categories of essential safety and survival gear that every hiker should carry.
• Thru-hike: The act of hiking a long-distance trail from end to end in a single, continuous journey (e.g., the Australian Alps Walking Track).
• Topographic (Topo) Map: A detailed map that shows the shape and elevation of the land using contour lines.
• Track Notes: Detailed written descriptions of a trail, including directions, landmarks, and potential hazards.
• Trail Angel: A person who provides unexpected help or kindness (“trail magic”) to long-distance hikers, such as offering food, water, or a ride.
• Trailhead (or Trackhead): The official starting or ending point of a hiking trail.
• Treeline (or Timberline): The elevation on a mountain above which trees are unable to grow due to cold temperatures and harsh conditions.
• Trekking Poles (or Hiking Poles): A pair of adjustable poles used to improve stability, reduce impact on joints, and assist with propulsion.

U

• Ultralight Backpacking: A philosophy of backpacking that aims to reduce the base weight of a hiker’s gear as much as possible, often below 5kg.
• Undergrowth (or Underbrush): The dense layer of vegetation growing beneath the main forest canopy.

V

• Valley: A low-lying area of land between hills or mountains, typically with a river or stream flowing through it.
• Viewpoint (or Lookout): A designated spot along a trail that offers a scenic vista.

W

• Water Filter/Purifier: A device used to remove or neutralise harmful bacteria, protozoa, and viruses from backcountry water sources to make it safe to drink.
• Waterfall: A cascade of water falling from a height.
• Waypoint: A specific, fixed coordinate used in GPS navigation to mark a location on a route.
• Wilderness: A large, remote, and undeveloped natural area.
• Windbreaker (or Wind Shell): A very lightweight jacket designed primarily to block wind, offering minimal insulation or waterproofing.
• Windward: The side of a mountain or object facing into the wind (opposite of leeward).

X

• Xerophyte: A type of plant that is adapted to survive in extremely dry environments, such as a desert.

Y

• Yurt: A portable, round tent covered with skins or felt, traditionally used by nomads in Central Asia. Sometimes used as a form of “glamping” accommodation near hiking areas.

Z

• Zero Day: A day on a multi-day or thru-hike where no kilometres are walked. Used for rest, recovery, and resupply in a town.