For a more comprehensive list of terms visit this glossary site
Alpine - Of or relating to high mountains.
Ascender - Person bringing up the rear of a hiking group.
Bearing - A specific direction.
Blaze - A mark usually on a tree, to indicate a trail.
Bushwhacking - Going off the trail and through dense undergrowth.
Cairn - Stone piles, which mark the direction of a trail.
Crest - A high point along a trail.
Declination - The difference between true North and magnetic North.
Exploratory - A hike designed to test a new route plan.
Exposure - A hazardous section of a hike in which a fall could lead to serious injury or death, e.g. rock faces, mountains, ledges etc.
Gaiters - Nylon or leather covering that reaches from the top of the boots to the knee, stops debris from getting into the boots.
Height of Land - The elevation at which a trail begins.
Internal Frame Pack - Backpack that uses internal supports to distribute and support its weight.
Notch - a ‘v’ shaped pass between two high points.
Orienteering - A trek using a compass to find your way
Post-holing - When a hiker punches through snow or loose earth with every step.
Rambling - One established meaning of this word is ‘to wander’. Rambling is similar to hiking but is generally less intensive, e.g. a countryside rather than a mountainous activity.
Route Finding - Finding new routes for a hike, i.e. the result of going off trail.
Runoff - Water flowing over saturated earth.
Scrambling - This isn’t as technical as rock climbing but it is a steep hike that will require you to use your hands on the rocks for balance.
Scree - Loose stones near the base of a hill or mountain.
Switchback - A trail that moves diagonally and goes back on itself in order to move up a steep incline. Trail - An established route for hikers clearly marked on maps or with signposts.