Remote areas away from roads and developed facilities. Usually requires a permit to camp.
The weight of your pack without consumables (food, water, fuel). Serious hikers track this obsessively.
A hard-sided container used to store food and scented items away from bears. Required in many Sierra Nevada areas.
Short for bivouac. A minimalist shelter — often just a waterproof bag that fits around your sleeping bag.
A hole dug 6–8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, for human waste. Covered after use.
Sleeping outside without a tent, under the stars. Great in dry weather.
Fallen trees or branches blocking a trail.
The total amount of uphill climbing on a route, measured in feet or meters.
Fastest Known Time. The record for completing a route as fast as possible.
Hike Your Own Hike. A trail philosophy meaning: do what works for you, not what works for others.
The John Muir Trail — 211 miles through the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite to Mount Whitney.
Seven principles for minimizing human impact in the outdoors. The foundation of backcountry ethics.
Total distance of a hike. Usually measured round-trip (RT) or one-way (OW).
Sinking through snow with each step — exhausting. Gaiters and snowshoes help.
A shorter trip to test your gear and fitness before a longer one.
A zigzag trail pattern used to climb steep terrain.
Hiking a long trail end-to-end in a single continuous journey.
Topographic map showing elevation contours. Essential for off-trail navigation.
The starting point of a trail, usually where the parking area and register are.
A style of backpacking that prioritizes minimizing pack weight, usually below 10 lbs base weight.
Waste Alleviation and Gelling bag — used in areas where cat holes aren't allowed (like Mount Whitney Zone). Pack out your waste.