Plain-English dictionary
Glossary
16 everyday terms explained simply, no jargon.
B
- Base layer
- The clothing worn closest to the skin that manages sweat and helps keep you dry.
- Bivouac
- A simple, temporary camp made with minimal shelter, often without a full tent.
- Blaze
- A painted mark or symbol on a tree or rock that shows the route of a trail.
C
- Cairn
- A stack of stones built to mark a path where the trail is hard to see.
D
- Day hike
- A walk in nature that is completed within a single day without camping overnight.
- Dehydration
- A harmful loss of body water that happens when you drink less than you sweat out, causing fatigue and dizziness.
E
- Elevation gain
- The total amount of uphill climbing on a route, added up over all the rises.
F
- Footprint
- A groundsheet cut to fit under a tent to protect its floor from rocks and moisture.
L
- Layering
- Wearing several adjustable clothing layers so you can add or remove them as the weather and effort change.
- Leave No Trace
- A set of outdoor principles for enjoying nature without damaging it or leaving waste behind.
P
- Pitch
- To set up and stake out a tent at a campsite.
R
- R-value
- A rating of how well a sleeping pad resists cold from the ground, where a higher number means more insulation.
S
- Switchback
- A zigzag turn in a trail that makes a steep slope easier to climb.
T
- Topographic map
- A map that uses contour lines to show the shape, height, and steepness of the land.
- Trailhead
- The point where a trail begins.
W
- Waypoint
- A saved location or landmark used to navigate along a route.
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