Non-Hikers Guess What These Bizarre Hiking Terms Mean

Whether it's your first time hiking or you're preparing for a "fourteener," you might not know what this trail lingo means.

1.

"A 'fourteen' is a large canteen (the size of four canteens). The fourteener is the unlucky hiker who carries it." —Justin

"A 14-mile hike, for hardcore boys only." —Sam

"A young hiker who zooms past you on the trail." —Casey

The actual definition: A mountain peak with an elevation of at least 14,000 feet (4,267 meters).

2.

"Fancy-walkin’ alligators" —Mandy

"Big ol’ boots." —Casey

"Things you wear when fly-fishing that look attractive on no one." —Eileen

The actual definition: A cloth or leather garment worn on the lower part of the leg that keeps the legs and ankles dry while you're hiking.

3.

"Never Open Bear’s Orifices!" —Mandy

"An expensive and exclusive Asian fusion restaurant found in the woods." —Kyle

"When you run into a popular Irish pop-rock singer on the trail but you’ve had a headache all day and really just don’t need this rn." —Will

"No One Bleed, OK?" —Casey

The actual definition: A “northbound” hiker.

4.

"The day between Sunday and Monday." —Kyle

"The day where you realize that wandering through the woods was a terrible idea and you’re definitely going to have to kill and eat your hiking buddies to survive." —Justin

"In the city, we have 'leg day.' In nature, 'zero day' is a form of exercise in which you focus on being nowhere, nothing, no one, simply communing with nature." —Sam

"The day you start a big hike up a mountain, when you’re at the lowest elevation." —Casey

"The day before an event. Like, Event Eve." —Eileen

The actual definition: A day in which you hike zero miles.

5.

"Portable furniture that you can take on a hike so you can sit down and take a break whenever you want." —Jasmin

"A backpack, but cute and slacky." —Sam

"A contraption you wear that corrects poor posture — and is also a bag!" —Casey

The actual definition: Having to only carry a small amount of food, water, and gear because someone else in your group is carrying everything else.

6.

"A deep, narrow cavern at the beginning of a hiking trail where one deposits a live cat as a sacrifice to the nature gods." —Justin

"No, I’m not falling for this one." —Casey

"A trap for catching dogs." —Eileen

The actual definition: A pit for human feces. Catholes must be located away from water sources.

7.

"A place in Australia (minus the 'S')." —Jasmin

"It’s how you say 'corn' when you’re so tired that your mouth can’t form vowel shapes anymore.” —Justin

"A crevice between two rocks that, if you shimmy into it enough, feels like a bed." —Sam

"Something that has to do with fire. But I might be thinking of kiln." —Eileen

The actual definition: A pile of stones serving as a memorial or a landmark.

8.

"A mythical creature who greets you and gives you a seat at the end of a hike." —Jasmin

"It’s like trail mix, but instead of nuts and raisins and stuff, it’s just a whole angel food cake." —Justin

"When you hallucinate and see a deer or other animal." —Casey

The actual definition: A person who helps a hiker by providing transportation, lodging, or food.

9.

"It’s like Hump Day, but it’s an entire season that sucks as much as Wednesdays. —Justin

"The season when you are most prone to getting shoulder tans from all that sexy bare-shouldered hiking?" —Sam

"When the trails get so overcrowded that it feels like you’re hiking shoulder-to-shoulder with everyone else." —Casey

The actual definition: The time for traveling between peak and off-peak seasons.

10.

"The word you use when you are asking the stars for orienteering guidance. The full phrase is actually 'talus where to go.'" —Sam

"When you sweat so much and it starts to make you itch." —Casey

"A single talon, but detached and hung on a chain for good luck." —Eileen

The actual definition: A field of boulders or rock debris at the bottom of a cliff.

11.

"I know this one! I think. It’s where you pack all the stuff for your trip into garbage bags and then barrels and squeeze all the air out. And then you’re ready to go hiking." —Sam

"Like a fist bump, but when two hikers bump backpacks instead of fists." —Casey

"Leave no trace, ya dirty jerks." —Eileen

The actual definition: Not leaving anything behind on a backpacking trip.

12.

"Delirium caused by extreme exhaustion, usually happens right before someone resorts to cannibalism and starts eating their hiking buddies to survive." —Justin

"The leader of your hiking group." —Casey

The actual definition: The place where the trail begins.

Whatever your skill level, Merrell has all the gear you need for getting out on the trail.