As a Wyoming caller noted in an earlier episode, through-hikers on routes like the Appalachian Trail give each other trail names — jocular appellations that stick throughout their trek. The origin stories of several of these are told in the book...
According to Journeys North: The Pacific Crest Trail (Bookshop|Amazon) by Barney Scout Mann, the term Hike Naked Day is rumored to have arisen among hikers along the Mexico-to-Canada route. It’s June 21, a day when many through-hikers...
Among ultralight backpackers, a gram weenie is someone who weighs gear with almost comic precision, trying to trim every possible gram from a pack. The habit can mean cutting a toothbrush in half, trimming foil blister packs around individual pills...
gimme cap n.— «They tell you just before you crouch down for the first time in your little touristo huddle, with your gimme cap tucked in your pocket to keep it from flying away.» —“A helicopter, then a hike: Canada’s five-star...
bikewhack v.— «The trail we proceeded down was overgrown and required us to hike-a-bike / bikewhack a bit. This section made me think of a similar trail in a race.» —“Eco-Challenge North American Championships” by John...