Somewhere on the Appalachian Trail - Definitions

We have been learning a few new words specific to the AT and would like to share. They are not alphabetical.

Whiteblaze - a white usually rectangular mark distinguishing the Appalachian Trail.

Thru-hiking - term debated often but generally someone who travels from one end to the other either from south to north (NOBO), north to south (SOBO), or a combination of the two ( flip flopping).

Slack packing - hiking with a pack without overnight items such as a tent and sleeping bag. Really more like a series of day hikes.

Blueblazing - taking a trail other than the AT to get passed a certain place such as a steep mountain ascent.

Yellowblazing - taking a road either by walking or hitch hiking to bypass some of the trail.

Aqua blazing - taking a water route to bypass some of the trail, usually done for a section of the Shenandoahs.

Purist - someone who passes every white blaze (doesn't do any other blazing). May even be so crazy as to cross the road twice if they were picked up on the opposite side of where they were dropped off.

Trail names - eventual names given to every hiker often when they do something stupid or extra memorable. Done for various reasons.

Trail magic - unexpected good things found on the trail such as people with food, shuttle rides, offers to take trash (we hate hauling around trash), or even memorials.

Trail angel - someone conducting trail magic.

Privy - an outhouse would be an improvement.

Yogi - to talk someone into giving you something (typically food) without them knowing it. Favorite activity around picnicking day hikers.

Nero - walking only a few miles on a town day.

Zero - a day of no miles, all rest and relaxation. Too many zeros means no progress and gets expensive.

Bear hang - every night we are supposed to hang food at least 10 feet off the ground and away from the trunk of the tree to prevent a bear from stealing the food.