PCT – Trail Lingo

As with anything different, there are many words and acronyms distinct that hikers use while on the trail. Here is a short list of the most common used words.

• Thru-hiking: and end-to-end backpacking trip on a long distance trail.

• Long distance trail:  the National Parks defines a long distance trail as a backpacking trip longer than 100 miles.

• Trail Angel (TA): anyone who does something kind for a hiker such as providing food along the trail, providing rides to town from the trail head, providing a place to stay, etc

• Trail Magic: anything that a stranger provides that is not expected. For example, finding a cooler with cold beverages along the trail, finding a water cache in a remote waterless section of trail, a ride to and from town, etc. 

• Trail Name: a hiker that is often renamed while hiking with a “trail name.” It is typically more like a one-word description of who he/she is  or a funny event that they were involved in. Usually the trail name is given by your fellow hikers.  

• Tramily: Trail Family – a group of strangers that become friends and end up hiking together and staying in town together.  

• Town Day: the day on trail when a hiker goes to town for resupply, showers, “real” food, etc. 

• Zero: typical a day spent in town and zero miles are hiked on the trail.

• Nero: hiking less than 10 miles on the trail.

• The “red” line: the actual trail as defined by the National Trails system. 

• Triple Crown: when a hiker completes all three long distance trails: the Pacific Crest Trail (2,650 miles), the Appalachian Trail (2,192 miles) and the Continental Divide Trail (3,100 miles).

• HYOH: Hike Your Own Hike. Stay true to what you want out of the hike. Do your own thing if it means losing your hiking friends.