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Campnab’s Pretty Darned Useful Glossary of Camping Terms

Ever looked at some camping-related term and wondered what the heck it meant? Fear not! Campnab’s Pretty Darned Useful Glossary of Camping Terms covers all the essential terminology from the worlds of tenting, car camping, RVing, and even overlanding (because it’s rad). Let us begin!

A

B

back tack
back-in site
backcountry
backcountry accommodation
backcountry bidet
backcountry camping
backcountry cooking
backcountry rescue
backcountry sanitation
backcountry skiing
backcountry toilet
backpack
backpack pocket
backpack weight
backpacker
backpacker tan
backpacker trash
backpacking
backpacking essentials
backpacking food
backpacking gear
backpacking life
backpacking meals
backpacking stove
backpacking trail
backup monitor
bad weather day
baffle
bag cooking
ball cap
bannock
base layer
base weight
basement
baseplate
basic medical care
bathroom break
bathroom tissue
bathtub floor
bear alarm
bear alert
bear anxiety
bear awareness
bear bag
bear banger
bear barrel
bear box
bear cable
bear cache
bear canister
bear deterrent
bear fear
bear hang
bear horn
bear locker
bear mace
bear pole
bear precautions
bear repellant
bear safety
bear scare
bear spray
bear spray safety container
bear storage
bear vault
bear whistle
bear wire
bear-proof bag
bear-proof cache
bear-proof storage
bear-resistant bag
bear-resistant cache
bear-resistant container
bear-safe cache
bearanoia
bearing
beaten path
beaver fever
bellows tongue
bench
benchmark
beta
big three
billy
biner
bio break
biodegradable soap
biodiversity
bite
bivouac
bivy sack
bivy shelter
black water
bladder
blaze
blister prevention
blisters
BLM
block release window
blowdown
blue bag
blue blazer
blue-blazed hiker
bluebird day
boardwalk
boat carry-down access
boat launch
boat ramp
bog bridge
bomber
bombproof
bonk
booking window
boondocking
boot glissade
boot packing
boot path
boot ski
boot sliding
boots
bothy
boulder field
boulder hopping
bouldering
bounce box
bowl
boxing the needle
brain
break
break camp
break trail
breathable
bridge
bridle path
brush busting
buff
bug jacket
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
burning ban
bushfire
bushwalking
bushwhacking

C

cabin
cable car
cache
cairn
call center fee
camel up
CamelBak
camp
camp chores
camp coffee
camp cooking
camp duties
camp fuel
camp host
camp hygiene
camp kitchen
camp stove
camp tasks
camp toilet
camper
camper cabin
campfire
campfire ban
campfire coffee
campfire cooking
campfire meals
campfire permit
campfire ring
campground
camping
camping beverages
camping cookware
camping fee
camping fuel
camping gear
camping lantern
camping lanterns
camping latrine
camping mattress
camping meals
camping pad
camping permit
camping pillow
camping preparation
camping setup
camping stove
camping table
camping toaster
camping trip
Campnab
campsite
campsite alert
campsite availability checker
campsite booking website
campsite fee
campsite notifier
campsite reservation
campsite scan
campsite tracking tool
cancellation fee
cancellation locking policy
cancellation policy
canopy
canopy tent
cap
car camping
car key exchange
car shuffle
car shuttle
car spotting
carabiner
cardinal points
cargo retriever hook
carpooling
cast-iron grill
cat hole
cathole
CDT
chafing
chairlift
challenge
challenging
change fee
chaparral
charcoal chimney
check-in
check-in and check-out policy
check-in/check-out procedures
check-out
chert
choss
chossy
chuck box
circuit hike
cirque
citronella
class (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
class 3, 4 climbing
Class A Motorhome
Class B Motorhome
Class C Motorhome
classification
cleanliness
clear
clear day
clearcut
cliff
cliff out
climate
climb
climbing
climbing grade
clip
closed site
closure
clouded in
cloudless
cloudless day
coach
cockpit
col
cold-soaking
Coleman fuel
combined site
compass
composting toilet
compression bag
compression sack
compression stuff sack
concurrent scan
conduction
conifers
connector trail
conservation
Continental Divide Trail (CDT)
continuous hiking
contour
contour interval
contour lines
contour map
controlled burn
controlled slide
convection
cooked
cooking equipment
cooking fuel
cooking gear
cooking utensils
cookware
cooler
Cordura®
corduroy road
corrie
cot
course
course record
cowboy camping
cowboy coffee
cozy
crampon use
crampons
crash
creek crossing
crescent wrench
crevasse
critter bag
cross
cross-country hiking
cross-country skiing
crown land
crumbly
crux
cuben fiber
cutting steps
cwm

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

s’more
saddle
safety
sailing
sand-bagging
sandals
sanitation
sanitizing gel
satellite communicator
satellite messenger
scan frequency
scarf
scarp
scat
scheduled release time
scrambling
scree
scree skiing
screen room
scroggin
seam tape
seam-sealer
search and rescue (SAR)
second breakfast
secondary trail
section hike
section hiker
section hiking
secure
seed tree cutting
segment hiker
segmented hiking
selection cutting
self-arrest
self-contained
self-sufficient hiking
self-supported hiking
separating toilet
serviced campsite
serviced double campsite
serviced half-double campsite
set up camp
shell
shell layer
shelter
shelterwood cutting
shock-corded pole
shoe spikes
shoes
shore cord
shore power
short cuts
short hike
short trip
shortcut hiker
shoulder-season
shovel
shuttle
shuttle hike
side pocket
side trail
side-by-side
sidecountry
silicone nylon
silicone-impregnated nylon
silnylon
silviculture
single-wall construction
single-wall tent
skate skiing
sketchy
ski lift
ski mountaineering
ski run
ski touring
skiing
skill level
skimo
skin irritation
skin out weight
skin track
skin-out weight
slackcountry
slackpacking
sleep
sleep schedule
sleep system
sleeping bag
sleeping mat
sleeping pad
sleeping setup
slickrock
slide-out
sliding
sliding descent
slipping
slog
slot canyon
smoko
snack
snack break
snack time
snow accumulation
snow climbing
snow compaction
snow conditions
snow consolidation
snow cover
snow descent
snow plunging
snow stake
snow travel
snowbird
snowboarding
snowfield
snowpack
snowshoeing
snowshoes
soaker
SoBo
SoBo hikers
social trail
socked in
softshell jacket
solid
southbound hikers
space blanket
speed hiking
speed record
spigot
split
split log bridge
spoor
spork
SPOT
SPOT tracker
spur trail
squeeze tube
stake puller
stakes
stamina
stand-to-pee device
standard campsite
standard day use campsite
standard double campsite
standard electric
standard group campsite
standard half-double campsite
state park
stay
stealth camping
step cutting
step-kicking
sternum strap
stile
stoked
stomping
storm day
storm-flap
stormproof
stove
stove fuel
stream crossing
strength
strenuous
strike camp
stuff sack
stumble
sturdy
subalpine
sucker hole
sufferfest
summer camp
summit
summit day
summiting
sun exposure
sun protection
sun stroke
sun-kissed
sunburn
sunny
sunny day
sunrise
sunscreen
suntan
supplies
supply stash
supported hiking
surveyor’s tape
survival
swamps
sway
switchback
synthetic fabrics
synthetic insulation
synthetic jacket

T

tableland
talus
tan
tank up
tarn
tarp
technical
tele skiing
telemark skiing
temperate rainforest
temperature
temperature rating
ten essentials
tent
tent body
tent camping
tent footprint
tent pad
tent peg
tent pegs
tent pins
tent pole
tent site
tent stake
tent trailer
terrace
Therm-a-Rest
thermal layer
thermal pad
thermal underwear
three-season tent
thrilled
throne
thru-hike
thru-hike trail
thru-hiker
thru-hiking
thru-trail
thunderbox
tick
tick bite
timberline
tinder
tip-out
tips
tissue
tissue paper
toad
toilet paper
top pocket
top-out day
topo
topo lines
topo map
topographic map
topography
topping out
toque
torch
total weight
toughest section
touron
tow car
toy hauler
TP
track
tracking
tracks
traction devices
trad climbing
trail
trail angel
trail angel box
trail blaze
trail break
trail building
trail bum
trail care
trail classification
trail clearing
trail construction
trail cooking
trail crew
trail crossroads
trail culture
trail cutting
trail development
trail difficulty
trail enthusiast
trail entrance
trail ethics
trail etiquette
trail family
trail friends
trail guide
trail hazard
trail hiking
trail infrastructure
trail intersection
trail junction
trail life
trail magic
trail maintenance
trail map
trail marker
trail marking
trail marking tape
trail mix
trail name
trail network
trail philosophy
trail restoration
trail runners
trail running
trail shortcuts
trail sign
trail support
trail tan
trail type
trail weight
trail work
trailblazing
trailer
trailhead
tramily
tramping
transaction fee
transitional season
transport
transportation
trash bag
travel trailer
traverse
tread
treat
treefall
treeing
treeline
trek
trekker’s tan
trekking
trekking poles
trip plan
Triple Crown
triple towing
tripod
truck bed
trudge
true north
tub floor
tube scarf
tubing
tumpline
tunnel tent
type 1 fun
type 2 fun
type 3 fun

U

V

W

X

Y

Z