Elevation gain is the total amount a hike climbs uphill, measured in feet or metres, summed across every ascent on the route. It's a key measure of a hike's difficulty — often more telling than distance — since a short trail with big elevation gain can be far harder than a long, flat one.
Trekking poles are adjustable, lightweight poles used in pairs to improve balance, reduce strain on the knees and legs, and add power on climbs and descents. They help on steep, uneven, or slippery terrain and when crossing streams, and are a popular aid for hikers and backpackers of all levels.
The Ten Essentials are a checklist of categories of gear hikers should carry to stay safe and self-sufficient in the backcountry: navigation, sun protection, insulation, illumination, first aid, fire, repair kit and tools, nutrition, hydration, and emergency shelter. They guard against the unexpected on any hike.
Leave No Trace (LNT) is a set of seven principles for enjoying the outdoors responsibly while minimizing your impact — including planning ahead, traveling on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly, and leaving what you find. It is the ethical foundation of modern hiking and camping.
A summit is the highest point of a mountain or hill — the top, and the goal of many hikes and climbs. Reaching the summit is called 'summiting' or 'bagging' a peak. A false summit is a high point that looks like the top from below but isn't, a common morale-tester on big climbs.
A blaze is a marker — usually a painted rectangle on a tree or rock, or a metal tag — used to mark a hiking trail's route. Different colors denote different trails, and a double blaze signals a turn or junction. Following blazes is a basic trail-navigation skill.
A cairn is a stack of stones built to mark a trail or route, especially above treeline or across rock where a worn path is hard to follow. Hikers use cairns to navigate; building unofficial ones can mislead others, so the principle is to follow established cairns rather than create new ones.
A switchback is a sharp zigzag in a trail that climbs a steep slope at a gentler angle, reversing direction repeatedly to ease the gradient. Switchbacks make steep terrain walkable and reduce erosion. Cutting straight across them — 'cutting switchbacks' — damages the trail and is discouraged.
Backpacking is multi-day hiking that involves carrying everything you need — shelter, sleeping system, food, and water — in a pack and camping overnight along the way. It lets hikers travel deep into the backcountry beyond the reach of day hikes, and is the foundation of long-distance hiking.
A day hike is a hike completed in a single day, without camping overnight. Day hikes range from short nature walks to long, strenuous summit pushes, and let hikers access trails and views with a light pack and minimal gear. They are the most popular and accessible form of hiking.