Outdoor Glossary
Plain-language definitions of the outdoor terms used across KnowOutdoor.
- Blaze
- A painted mark or tag on a tree or rock that marks a trail's route.
- Cairn
- A stack of stones marking a route where a trail is hard to follow, common above tree line. Do not build your own, as false cairns mislead others.
- Switchback
- A trail that zig-zags up a steep slope to keep the grade walkable. Cutting between switchbacks causes erosion and is discouraged.