January 16, 2025 • 54 mins
Join Shawn and Mike as they break down the essential hiking and backpacking terms every new adventurer needs to know in this episode of Shawn & Mike Take A Hike. Hiking can feel like a whole new world, complete with its own language—but don’t worry, we’re here to help you speak “trail.”
We’ll dive into:
• Hiking vs. Backpacking vs. Trekking: What’s the difference, and why does it matter?
• Ultralighters: Who are they, and what’s their minimalist philosophy?
• The Backcountry: What defines it, and what should you know before you venture in?
• Trail Angels, Bear Poles, and more: Unique terms that every hiker will encounter.
Whether you’re wondering what a “thru-hike” really entails or what people mean by “Leave No Trace,” we’ve got the explanations you need to hike confidently and connect with the outdoor community.
Tune in to expand your vocabulary, level up your trail knowledge, and ensure you’re never left scratching your head during your next adventure.
Adventure awaits—let’s speak the language of the wild together!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
I'm Sean and I'm Mike and you're listening to Sean and Mike take a hike
(00:16):
Welcome to another episode of Sean and Mike take a hike. What do you want to talk about today Sean today?
I thought we could talk about
As nerdy as this might sound but bear with me
like vocabulary terms related to hiking related to backpacking related to being out on the trail and
kind of kind of my thought process was
(00:41):
You and I
use a lot of terms and just kind of expect people to know what those terms are or
Really where it came from is like I was on Facebook the other day
in one of the hiking groups and like they're using terms in there and it's like
Everybody in these groups kind of uses the same terms and just assumes everybody knows what they mean
(01:04):
Right, but it's a packing group or hiking group or whatever. So they just assume
Yeah, just assume everybody knows and realistically like you can kind of use context clues
But I wasn't entirely sure I knew what all the terms meant. So I thought maybe we could just hit like
some key
Backpacking terms that people use all the time that maybe people don't know exactly what those terms mean
(01:31):
Okay, and we may have covered some of these when I was doing my research and everything and looking up some terms
That would be good to cover we have
Blatantly talked about some of these I know for a fact on recent episodes
I don't know if we did a great job of explaining what they are. Oh for sure
So so sure some of these terms we use like I mean right you and I use them in the podcast
(01:55):
quite often
Regularly. Yeah, but I kind of figure like
We were new once and also even absolutely honestly some of the terms we use I wasn't entirely sure we were using them, right?
if I'm being totally
Irregardless, right, so I thought we could just kind of like run down some of the popular terms
(02:18):
Talk about what they actually mean
I'll be honest like in my research that I did because I was looking up some of these like
Probably the same lists you were doing where it's like what are some common backpacking terms that people should know or you know
like looking through those things I
I'll be honest. I learned what some things were like. Yeah, what the difference between a couple of words that I
(02:40):
Historically have used interchangeably like I use hiking and backpacking
interchangeably
Yes, I think a lot of people probably do
right
In realistically for the most part, that's fine. But technically they're different things
So yeah, yeah, so it's like that sort of what?
(03:00):
Like that sort of what I was gonna say, why don't we start there then and like what is the difference between hiking and backpacking?
Okay, so and again when you and I Mike are talking usually we kind of interchange these things but technically speaking
Hiking is gonna be your like you're out on a trail walking on a trail
(03:22):
Right, it becomes backpacking when you have a backpack
So it's like it is the same thing but like hiking is usually like you're not taking gear and stuff with you
Right, like you might have a water bottle or you might have like a fanny pack with snacks or any of that sort of stuff
But you are not to the point where you have enough gear that you need to have an entire backpack with you
(03:49):
So if you have a day pack with a bladder is that considered?
backpacking or would that be hiking I
Mean, I know you know, I guess I don't really know like what's your take on that?
For me that still probably falls into your hiking category
(04:09):
Probably. Yeah, cuz that's a day pack, right? Like so you're not walking
You're not taking that's just an easier way to carry your water and your supplies
It's it is a backpack, but it is it's not your you're not hauling gear
I think gear is the thing. I think it's when you get to the point
(04:30):
And you could call a water bladder gear sure but like I'm talking like camp stove
10 or 10. Yeah clothes food sleeping bag. Yeah, right. That is where to me
It gets more out of the realm of hiking and more into the realm of backpacking
(04:56):
Right
But then you get into like so I mean even related to that so then
So there's hiking and then there's backpacking and then there's also another term that I'll be honest
I kind of threw in to like that same category and that is trekking
(05:18):
Right, like we talk. I mean, you know, you and I love talking about trekking poles
But like trekking is technically a separate thing from my understanding
Again, you and I use that word like kind of to mean the same thing as hiking or backpacking
But realistically, apparently trekking is like a long distance challenging terrain thing
(05:48):
Yeah, I'm a little bit confused still I'll be honest with you on exactly what trekking means
But it does definitely seem to be a longer distance thing because I read somewhere
That trekking usually involves like cultural exploration
Okay, which I did not read a good description of what exactly that meant
(06:09):
I think that's more like you're hiking up the Andes or you're hiking up the Himalayas or something
like that and you're having a guide or something like that like the people that live in that area
Like Everest you have your your guides. Yeah that take you up. I think that is more along the lines of a trek
I'm gonna agree with you even though neither one of us actually know
(06:31):
Wait, right, right. We're using the term I think
That certainly falls in line with what it sounded like to me when I was reading this stuff
And I, the term is failing me at the moment but like especially like Everest they have their guides
And I forget the the official term for the people. Is it Sherpas? Is that the word you're looking for?
(06:56):
I think it's Sherpas. I think it is Sherpas. But those are the locals like and they take people up and down the mountain
Well some mostly up sometimes down
Mostly up. There's a lot of up on that. There's a lot of up. Well I mean and some people don't come back down like
Honestly, I don't think you're supposed to say that. I mean it's true but
(07:22):
But yeah, so those are your big like three right? So you got your hiking which is like your shorter
I'm gonna say day trip like your day trip type stuff. That's hiking
Backpacking is when you throw a backpack. You're taking a bunch of gear probably a longer trip
Probably multiple multiple day and then trekking is like your next tier up from what you and I understand
(07:49):
Where it's like you're doing like
Trekking through the Himalayas or trekking through the Andes or like it's like
I'm not gonna say you always need a guide with you for it to be trekking
But like you're it's like that type of a hike where you're like you're like you're like you're like
But like you're it's like that type of a hike where you need or want because a guy would you consider it?
(08:14):
Are you backpacking the Appalachian Trail or are you trekking the Appalachian Trail?
Like if you're doing the through hike, you're going the full distance
Okay, so that's where it gets confusing to me because that word that you said right there or that term
I guess that you said right there through hike, right? Right. Why is it a through hike and not a through backpack?
(08:35):
Because I would consider that backpacking
Right, okay, because you are not it's not a daypack situation. You're carrying a backpack
But they do call it through hiking
This is why it's confusing and I thought we could talk about it so
(08:57):
What I am seeing is that a through hike
Is a specific to long distance trails particularly in one continuous journey
but
That they also include through hiking as in hiking the Appalachian Trail and hiking the North Country Trail
You're doing the full 4,800 miles of the NCT. You're not doing that in
(09:22):
I'm using air quotes here one continuous journey in the sense that you have to stop to sleep
You have to stop to eat, you have to you know all that kind of stuff
My opinion of through hike is just I'm starting at this trailhead
We've parked a vehicle at another trailhead. We're hiking through the trail through we're not doing a circle or an out and back
(09:45):
I know but I don't think technically that's what that means. Like I do agree with what you said like at the beginning of that statement
A through hike. That I veered to the wrong? Well no but my understanding of what a through hike is is like you're saying
You start at the southern tip of the Appalachian Trail and in one journey
Obviously you're stopping to sleep and you might even take rest days and you might even take a day where you run into town but like
(10:10):
You are going from the southern tip all the way to the northern tip
In one
You're not going home. You're not going home. You're not going home. Like you are doing a start to finish one end all the way to the other
That is what a through hike is to me. Okay. And I agree I think you and I this gets into one of those things where I think you and I use a term
(10:35):
And we're probably not the only ones because I agree you and I consider a through hike where you're going
The entire hike in one quote unquote one direction where you're not doing a loop you're not doing an out and back
You're going from spot A you're ending at spot B
You and I call that a through hike I don't think technically that's what a through hike is
I think it's like if you're doing the whole thing. That's just a backpacking trip. Right now like you and I maybe did for
(11:03):
What trail was that that we did was it the Muskegon River Trail
MRT what's up there by MISC that you and I did it runs that is to the North Country Manas the Manasir trail Manasi River Trail you and I
(11:28):
I think technically quote unquote through hiked the Manasir trail because we started at one end
We had it all in one shot to the other end now. It's not that long. So I mean, you know, but like I think that is considered a through hike
Right. Is it considered a through hike if we plan this section of the NCT? I don't think so
(11:54):
Because it's not the tip to tip. It's not tip to tip. That is what my understanding that is called a section hike
Okay, that makes sense I hadn't heard that term and that didn't come up in my my research
Yeah, so my understanding and I don't believe that I'm making this up because I saw it on the internet
(12:17):
That is what they call a section hike. So you're doing a section of the trail
Because then there's this other term that I came across too, which was flip-flopping
so
Flip-flopping so you could maybe do and this is where it gets confusing too and you know
Take all this with a grain of salt and do your own research and all the things but
You could do a flip-flop through hike theoretically
(12:42):
Flip-flopping is doing like you're gonna do this section and then you're gonna do this section and then you're gonna come back and do the section that you missed
Okay, so they call that flip-flopping
But you're still not going home but you're still not going home
So you are in total while you know from when you start to when you finish you are doing the total
(13:05):
But maybe in sections and maybe not all the sections one right after another like in a straight line
Would that be where you maybe come across a trail angel to take you to a different place?
A trail angel to take you to a different section. Well, and that's I got that on my list too. So, okay
Let's talk about trailing. Well, that's that's what i'm like. How do you get how do you skip a section?
(13:26):
I think you would have to I think that's how or you have your own chase vehicle or you have you know, right?
Okay, whatever your situation is
But yeah
So, okay, let's talk about trail angel because that's one i'll be honest that term confused the shit out of me for a long time
I
(13:49):
So the concept of trail angel confuses me
Um
The term doesn't necessarily confuse me like I I know it's basically someone
who
lives around or near a trailhead
That is willing to pick people up take them to their vehicle
(14:09):
Take them to get lunch like take them to get supplies. Whatever helps people that are backpacking or hiking
and
they offer their services to to the the
the people you need so
And that that term never really
Confused me. It's just
Is there a site to go find these trail angels?
(14:31):
Like is there like how do you how do you get hooked up with a trail angel? That's my my confusion
My confusion. Okay, so let me expand on that for just a minute. So
My understanding of a trail angel a trail angel does do all of the things that you just mentioned
But could also
(14:55):
Have you came across the term trail magic like is that one of the terms that you think that's that's one of my terms too
Yeah, okay. So let's maybe talk about trail magic for a minute before
We go on with trail angel so
so
Go ahead. Okay. So my understanding of what trail magic is
Is all of the things that you just mentioned like giving a ride
(15:19):
You know picking up that i've got a different understanding of it then yeah, okay. Well, then you tell me
so trail magic is from what I have
Have come across as unexpected acts of kindness or surprises on the trail. So like
Those cans of tuna that we found in that bear locker
Yeah, that would be considered trail magic because it's food that was left for somebody that maybe didn't have food
(15:44):
So that's trail magic. That's trail kindness
Okay
Yes, I agree food
Okay, maybe we need to talk to a trail angel then to figure this out for sure
But my because okay from what I was reading
At least in the one article that I read so it's like food
(16:05):
or like
Really to me it sounded like most of the time like these people like their property probably
Butts up or the trail goes through their property because it could also be
Like hey, we've left a spot for you to set up camp on our property. That's right along the trail or hey
Here's some fresh water that you can have access to while you're on the trail or
(16:27):
Okay
So the in that for those right there, I would say the the spot to set up camp would be the act of a trail angel
whereas
The water left in a cooler or snacks left in a cooler would be trail magic
See my understanding is that trail
(16:47):
Magic is all encompassing of all of those things and all of those things are
Trail magic is provided by trail angels is my understanding
So you and I see even on this episode so you and I have different understandings of how it goes
right so like
I don't think you have to be a trail angel to provide trail magic
(17:07):
like
So you found a
random
tent stake at our last
On our last trip I would consider that trail magic. That's a random
Act or a random find on the trail or at your campsite
That came in very useful for you and you even paid it forward. You did not actually become a trail angel
(17:34):
you
I agree. That was certainly magical to me
I don't know. Here's why I don't know if I count that as trail magic
Because realistically that was trash like it was somebody forgot their tent stake
It it wasn't trash. It was perfectly fine. They just left it but they forgot it. They missed it. I know it was unintentional but like
(17:59):
I don't know. Maybe I guess if we've got any trail angels that listen
And you will allow Mike and I to ask you questions. Will you please write in because we have questions
So maybe this one we are not explaining super well
Right, but then yes, I mean so back to your trail angels
So this is where our understanding differs, but like so my understanding is trail angels
(18:23):
Are who is providing trail magic you are your understanding is different
You're saying a trail angel. Tell me what you're saying a trail angel
Well, a trail angel is is someone who helps hikers with
Well, see even my definition that I have here is unexpected kindness
But trail angels in my thought is like it's somebody you can contact ahead of time like
(18:50):
in the up
Around the lakes not Lake Superior, but um, the pictured rocks national lake shore. You can call all train
They're all all train or whatever. Yeah, you can
Call them pay for a ride
Whereas other parts of the north country trail. You don't have those services. You don't have a shuttle service to provide you
(19:12):
From different trail heads and whatnot. Yes
So you can contact somebody that is considered a trail angel
To say I want to leave my vehicle here
Can you pick me up and drop me off at this trail head and they are offering that service?
Okay, so I will fully agree with that like that is for sure
I think we can agree on that like that trail angels for sure
(19:37):
I don't think it has to be unexpected for it to be a trail angel. I think trail magic is unexpected
Okay
That's that's where I think that's maybe where uh, me personally mike draws the line
Well, and then I mean just to mind the sand one of the things that you had mentioned is like, okay
Where do you find a trail angel?
(19:59):
Um, like you know
Let's pretend that you needed a ride or something
The only place I have ever seen that sort of stuff and maybe there's a whole website don't dedicated to it
I don't know could be it
I see it a lot in the different facebook groups that I follow and well you and I talk about like the north country trail a lot
Because that's the trail that you and I are quite often on
(20:20):
Well, we're in michigan and that's the only trail that goes through michigan. Well, I mean the only national major one, right?
Yeah, yeah, there is a trail angels of the north country trail facebook group
So, oh, yeah, I guess I didn't realize that
I see a lot of requests in that group. It seems to be a place for and again, i'm sure it's not just facebook, but
(20:44):
There's a lot of like hey, i'm hiking here. Are there any trail angels angels in this area that could give you know, like
Me plus one a ride or whatever
Um, but yeah, there's a whole facebook group dedicated to that and again, we're sure that's not gonna be stinky
Like all that kind of stuff, you know, like oh for sure. They truly are angels if they were to pick us up like during
(21:09):
In the middle of our ride or our hike or whatever. They truly are angels because it is we are not pleasant
Like i'm thinking if I
I mean, I kind of wish I lived by the trail because I feel like I would be a trail angel if I live by the trail
I'm gonna show off
I'd be picking you up with a bronco with the top off like oh, yeah, it'd be a great time
(21:30):
I'd be showing up with towels on the seat, right? Like
I mean no offense, but you're gonna be stinking and dirty
I'll come and pick you up
I'm also putting a protective barrier down
Right. You can ride in the bed of the truck, right?
Right
I'm picking you up like you're on safari
Okay
But seriously though if we have any listeners that are trail angels
(21:52):
Or no trail angels, I seriously would like a trail angel like how did you? Yeah. Yeah
Like how did you go about that? Like I would love to talk
To anybody more familiar than Mike and I about that specific one
Right because I have more questions not necessarily vocabulary related
Right because
(22:13):
Coming up in August we may need a trail angel. I know right so
Okay, so back to the trail angels
I know right so okay, so back to terms
Do you have any related to like trail angel or trail magic that you would like to hit?
um
That I don't think I do other well
(22:36):
No, nothing like related to the the trail angel or trail magic thing. No, okay
Do you I I don't have one related to that but I kind of have one okay adjacent to
All of the topics that we've been talking about
So one of the terms that you and I use
That I'll be honest. I wasn't entirely sure I knew the meaning of or wasn't sure that we were using correctly
(23:00):
We use the term back country a lot
Right. Yeah, we're not entirely sure that I knew what that meant to be honest with you
And I didn't even think to look that up because I thought I knew what that meant. Okay. I thought I did
Thought I did wasn't positive that I did and okay again
(23:21):
We use it as though we know what it means
And it turns out my understanding of it is pretty close
But so when I look up like the definition of back country
It says quote the remote wilderness areas away from roads or urban development requiring
self-sufficiency
(23:42):
So that to me is the key to what?
Like that last three
Words is to me what makes it back country requiring self-sufficiency
right
to where you
You can't you're not close enough to civilization
To find a house to call for help or whatever you you have to know that you're gonna have to set up camp
(24:06):
You are gonna have to set up your own camp
You are gonna have to make your own fire. You are gonna have to make your own bathroom
You you know, like you are away from the finer things in life
You are out being
Self-sufficient or at least bringing the things with you to be self-sufficient because there are not amenities there
(24:27):
For you to utilize so there's not you know, there's not a water pump. There's not
Bathrooms like that sort of stuff is what makes it back country
Yes, okay. So I just looked it up because I
Hadn't for my research and yeah, I'm finding all of that like it limited access. There's no facilities. Yep
(24:50):
self-sufficiency
Yeah, so
A remote section of the North Country Trail far from trailheads or towns is an example
There you go
And then conversely, there's a term that I have never even heard
But apparently there's a term called front country so like makes sense because if there's back country then there's also front country
(25:15):
Front country just sounds dirty. I know and it's not a term that I have ever heard
But it came up like when I was looking up what back country was it's like oh the opposite of that is front country
So, I mean opposite of back country literally is front country. It's areas closer roads and developed campgrounds
So I've never actually heard that term used. Okay, but if anybody does hear that term
(25:36):
That's what front country means
not back country
So
Let me see if I have this correct
The hike we did we just did a day hike
I don't even think we took our gear. We just took our day packs. We did a day day hike
(25:56):
JJ dropped us off at a trailhead or
Somewhere in Miesic. I believe it was and we
Met up with the North Country Trail. Yep, walked walked through came back around by
The I think it's Fletcher's Cove and like all those little mini campgrounds that are right by
(26:18):
Northern exposure where we were staying
Not to name drop anything but like but so where we were walking
We were walking along the road. There were campsites. There were people there were cars
Like there was a gas station, there was a little corner store. That's all front country that
We were on the trail, but that's front country. Correct. Okay. That is my understanding. Yes
(26:41):
And even I'll be honest. So like I would even consider front country. So when we did our
mouth of the two-hearted to taquamana on
I would even say we were in a mixture of backcountry and front country because
We stayed at a state forest campground one night
Which had a water pump in a bathroom and I would consider that being front country
(27:08):
For sure. Yeah, I would definitely not consider that backcountry. It is
Definitely roughing at camping but is not backcountry
Camping. Correct. It is not backcountry camping because I mean we were in designated camp spots like it was
Right. You know not that you can't have a designated spot in the backcountry because you know for like
(27:28):
preservation reasons they sometimes have
You know like how they do the porkies where it's like, okay, you're in the backcountry
But but yeah, please you've got BC one here
To preserve nature, right? So I would say
Here to preserve nature, right? So I think you can have a designated spot, but like these were
(27:49):
State forests like square
Camps, so let me get your take on this
The we just stayed at taquamana in the backcountry sites of taquamana
But we were less than three miles from
We were in the state park for one
We were less than three miles
(28:12):
from
The brewery for one that has full full facilities. I'm counting that as
backcountry
Me personally because we we weren't close enough to like we couldn't we're not gonna walk the three miles to go to the bathroom
Correct, right. Okay
And we had to go to a stream to get water
(28:36):
Okay, you know what i'm saying like there wasn't yep now I think had there been
20 spots right around there
Like there was you know, what two nights before that how we were in the state forest
The next closest campsite was another three quarters of a mile or whatever
Right, so I think what you're referring to that quote unquote backcountry site in taquamana on state park
(29:01):
I think that is truly backcountry. I think that's far enough out that that makes sense because we did have to walk almost a
Mildly of water. Yeah
So, okay. Yep. Yeah
We had we had to we backpacked
through
to get to our campsite
Had to hike back to get to our uh,
(29:22):
Corrector source. Yes. Yes
Right
I mean in hindsight
I wish I would have known where that camp spot was going to be because we would have just stopped and gotten a bladder full of water
If I I was expecting it to be another mile or more. Yeah
Well, I just thought it was gonna be a couple more miles a couple more miles or whatever
So we're just like no, we're not filling up water here blah blah blah in hindsight
(29:44):
I wish we would have just stopped and filled up our bladder
Hey, we had we had to get firewood anyway, yeah, we had to get firewood anyway, so um
Um, let's see. So do you got another term handy?
um
speaking of
I guess
getting firewood
(30:05):
Um one term that I have is deadfall. Oh, I have that on my list. Yeah. Yeah
So deadfall is that's basically what you want for your firewood. Yes is
You don't want to be chopping down trees. You don't want to be killing nature, correct deadfall
And it's in its name deadfall. The tree is already dead
I understand there are ecosystems you are interrupting because there could be things living underneath that whatever
(30:30):
um
But you don't want to be killing a live tree though. Anyway, plus live trees don't burn as well
Um, so if you're collecting your firewood, make sure you're collecting it from deadfall, which is fallen trees or branches
uh
Well, it's not necessarily that covers the uh, the trail but like a deadfall is just anything that's down
(30:53):
that
Fell on its own or or it died and fell whatever
Down down and dead. I mean that's the other down down to dead. You know, I mean it says it right in the name, but like
Even if it's down, but it's not dead
Like if it's downish or leaning like that's not deadfall like you want your stuff that's down and dead
(31:14):
That is what you should be using for your trash park taught us that nature finds a way if it's not dead
It could still sprout somewhere. So right exactly
Um, I want to bring this one up just because in my list it is right next to deadfall even though it doesn't necessarily relate to that
um
And i'm bringing this up because you we have talked about it before but you don't necessarily have to listen to all of our episodes
(31:36):
Even though we hope you all do
um
The term switchback which we covered in just a couple episodes ago
So just looking at that one that was gonna be my next one. Okay. Well perfect
So we're like we're right on with each other. So switchbacks
Is
Hard to explain without visualizations, but it is really
(31:56):
Think of it. Like if you are going up a steep hill
But instead of going straight up that hill you zigzag up the hill so that you are walking
further
But not as steep of an incline right?
So you are zigzagging like back and forth up the face of that hill
(32:17):
Instead of walking straight up. That is what a switchback is
right it
You're gonna look at it and say why am I doing this when I could just go that way and get up there?
Easier it's not easier. It's not
Like mike and I are guilty of saying that every time it happens like
Uh, I could just walk straight up this hill. Why am I walking so far? Well?
(32:42):
I still don't understand why
If you've got a decent down to the river
And then you've got to go across the river and then go back uphill like why can't they just build a bridge there?
Like why do I got to go downhill and uphill?
Um, because nature oh that would that that that would be me that would have to build that bridge. Okay, I think
(33:07):
No, but yeah
The switchback like you said it just zigzags back and forth
you feel like
You feel like you're wasting a lot of steps you feel like you're wasting energy getting up there
But you're actually saving a lot a lot of energy by not taking those giant like uphill steep like basically
(33:29):
They use them more on straight up hills type stuff. Yeah to where
uh
You're you're basically going to be like crawling like to get
You're going to be using your hands to get up and everything
So it's going to be you're going to be walking back and forth along this edge to get up there
But it does make it a lot more manageable
It's like it's like the same concept is like a pulley right like with a pulley
(33:53):
You're right. You're pulling a lot a longer length of rope
To move something but it's not nearly as strenuous because you're like spreading out over the length of that
So same concept just hiking basically, right?
Um another term that i'll I mentioned in this episode that um
(34:16):
Some people might not know but a trailhead
I've thrown out that that term out there trailhead is basically a a starting or a a
parking lot like type of a uh
situation on a trail to where
The it might be in the middle of of a section of trailer. Well, I guess it marks the end of a section like you
(34:40):
Have
Uh, the the term the definition is the starting point but it isn't always I know but it's not always the start
Right, like it's the start or the end of a section
Right. There you go
I guess I don't know
You're struggling to explain it and i'm struggling to explain it to like how you just put it into words
(35:01):
But like yeah, it's it's I mean think of it like a parking lot, right?
Like mainly you're gonna if you're going to a trailhead you're gonna have a parking lot there
You're probably gonna have signage there
And it is right probably probably
I'm using air quotes. You and I are using air quotes a lot this episode that nobody can see you because it's audio but
It's it's probably the start or end of a section
(35:24):
um
It's they they're great for meetups
So like if you've got a group that are backpacking with you or or even just day hiking or whatever
Everybody can meet at that trailhead and then you go from there, right? Instead of trying to
Trying to park along some random road
Okay, so i'm gonna use i'm gonna combine another word into there to maybe make this make more sense, too
(35:48):
So another word that you might hear a lot, especially when people are talking about like maps and figuring out, you know
Where they're gonna go?
Another term people are going to use as waypoints, right?
so
waypoints are like
Spots along the trail that you're using as a guidepost basically. So like mike and I have talked about like when we
(36:13):
Plan our trips. We always say like, okay when we get to
The four mile mark we should be at a river
When we get to the six mile mark, we should be at this road and be crossing this road
So like we use those as waypoints
Along our trip to a to make sure that we're like on the right path
(36:34):
And where we're supposed to be when we're supposed to get there
Trailheads can also be waypoints along your way. So you might use a trailhead
Like maybe you're going to go through several trailheads along your route and you can use them as waypoints to be like, okay
(36:55):
on day two
we should get to
XYZ named trailhead
And then on day four of our section hike we should get to ABC named trailhead
Like they're just there's spots along the trail where you can hop on or hop off
(37:16):
The trail or be used as waypoints to do like smaller sections of a larger trail system
Yeah for sure. No, I agree with everything on that
Like and we we use them all the time to help us not get lost for sure
Uh, you know all that so the whether it's a trailhead like most trailheads
(37:36):
That I have come across we have come across anyway are more or less like parking lots. There's a road nearby
Yeah, something like that to where people can start their their hike and or backpack
king trip
However, you want to call that but um
so
But we use those along the way just so we know like you said we're we're not lost like right
(38:01):
And if we don't come up to that
We're like, okay, maybe within the next three quarter mile
There were a couple where it was like we were a mile off or so and we're just starting to get nervous about it
But once you find you're like, okay, we know where we're at but
So and I know people use them like I mean even I know this isn't about walking
(38:23):
I know this isn't about planning but like when you're planning your
your trip
To say like it's an easy way to say like, okay
I am going to start at this trailhead
And then especially if you're going with a buddy and you have the ability to take two vehicles
Like we're gonna start at this trailhead. So we're gonna park one vehicle there
And we're gonna end
(38:45):
At this trailhead and we're gonna park another vehicle there and like that
By default is gonna make like okay. This is how far we're gonna go
Over this amount of days. So like to make that work
right
And then you know
It it just works well usually here in michigan where we're at they're right next to a road
(39:07):
And that's why they're there and all the things that right by where the trail is crossing the road. But yeah, I mean so
trailheads
Mike and I usually get a selfie in front of the trailhead because there's usually like uh,
the you know, the trailheads have names usually so like this is the
Red bridge trailhead or this is the you know, your marilla road or whatever road trailhead or whatever
(39:30):
so like mike and I usually just because we're
Nerdy like that. We'll get a selfie in front of the
In front of the map in front of the name so that we know like okay
We did this section that goes in our memory book, you know
but yep
So another one um that
I mean we've talked about
(39:51):
On most episodes
But and I think we've explained it but another term would be blazes
Oh, yeah, yeah
On navigation so along your trail to get to your waypoints
You're going to see blazes or trail markings till you know, you're on the right path
We have come across where the trail is where we've
(40:12):
Not not even sure we're on the right trail or we're even on a trail just it gets overgrown that much or whatever
Mm-hmm, but if you keep following the north country trail has the beautiful blue blazes. So um
As long as you're following those
you're you're not going to get lost but uh
You know, but that's what that is. It's just a a marker of some sorts
(40:35):
Usually paint we found yeah, sometimes it's a it's a metal sign or some kind of but it's it's indicating that you're on the on the path
Yeah, so yeah
And then I guess so another term
Not really related to that but it made me think of it for some reason
So kind of like adjacent to that and this is another term that you and I use
(40:56):
But again, because you don't have to listen to all of our episodes. You maybe have never heard us explain it
You will see the term blazes
And you will see the term cat hole a lot
Without getting too gross about it
We've got a whole episode about pooping in the woods if you want to listen to that
But basically a cat hole you will see like oh dig a cat hole
(41:19):
To bury your waste or you know, like related to that somehow
For anybody that is not familiar with what a cat hole is or keep seeing it, but doesn't know who to ask
Basically a cat hole is and I don't know why they call it a cat hole
So don't ask that but it's a hole that you dig to go to the bathroom in that you can then cover up
(41:40):
So it's usually you know kind of small just big enough to for your business to go inside
You know six to eight inches wide six to eight inches deep little little cat hole
So if you see a cat hole or see the term cat hole
That is what that means. It's a little self-made bathroom that you're going to bury your waste in
(42:04):
So then I only I only personally have a couple of terms left mike
So do you mind if I just read them off real quick and then if you go to me left?
So the other two that I just want to mention real quick another term that mike and I have used in previous episodes
That in case you don't know what it is. I just wanted to get it out there
So one of the terms is ultralight or ultralight like if you hear us talk about ultralighters and
(42:30):
I'll be honest. Usually we laugh when we're talking about them
But I could see the point where mike and I would maybe get someday to being wanting to be ultralighters, but so an ultralighter is
basically anyone who like is
Weight conscious like as their main thing about backpacking
So like they're gonna buy the lightest gear take the least amount of stuff like you are doing this
(42:58):
Literally ultra light you are it's it's all about weight like down to the ounces you are
Minimizing your gear you're minimizing the what gear you do take you are buying the lightest weight stuff of it
Usually the most expensive if i'm being honest
Expensive if i'm being honest
(43:21):
But yeah, that's what an ultralighter is it's the same as you and me
It's just they're very focused on the weight that they're carrying so least amount of stuff least heavy stuff
So that's one term that I had on there
Did you have anything to add to ultralighter before I rattle off my next one?
It's the lightest uh equipment, but the most expensive right generally. I mean I can't say every time
(43:45):
Usually it's going to be the most expensive but then so then the next one that I have
And then this is my last one that I have on my list is base weight
So this again is a term that I did not know for sure if I knew what meant
But you will see like when people talk about stuff on Facebook or they talk about things
In the different groups and stuff you will see people quite often talk about
(44:07):
What's your base weight or whatever?
I wasn't sure if I knew what base weight was it turns out I did not know what it was
So according to the internet
What base weight is is it is your
the weight of your backpack
Excluding consumables
So consumables like your food or your water or your fuel those don't count in your base weights
(44:33):
Okay, so it's everything that is not going to lose weight everything that is not going to lose weight
So it still includes your tent. So I thought it was just your base weight was just your but that's your backpack weight
I thought it was just your backpack weight here, but that would be your dry weight basically
Well, so I don't have just the weight of your or it would just be the weight of your backpack
(44:55):
Okay, maybe i'm not sure because I don't have that one on my list and I don't let that one up but base weight
is your
Your i'm gonna say your gear weight so it's like everything that you're carrying on you
minus those consumables
Right. That is what your base weight is minus the things that decrease as you use them. Correct. Okay, right
(45:18):
That makes sense. I I was completely wrong on that too. I was wrong on that. Like I thought your base weight was like
I don't know like in my head your base weight was
Okay
Day one you're setting out onto the trail. What is the weight of your backpack at that point?
That's what I thought base weight was was like what is your right?
(45:38):
Right. Yeah, your starting weight your styer. Yes, that's probably a better way to completely. What is your starting weight?
That's what I thought base weight was
To me, I almost think your basement base weight might be closer to what your end weight is
Like when you are coming off the trail 100 well, yeah, it'll be closer. I mean because you
If you're like us, you probably have I mean, hopefully you still have gas less than your can of gas
(46:03):
Less than your canisters like you know, so you still have
song
You have a little bit of consumables left. Hopefully right
But not but it's not nearly as much right?
Right, so you'll be a lot closer to your base weight at the end of the truck than you are at the start
Yep, right. That makes sense. Okay, I didn't know that
(46:26):
One thing I didn't know that even existed until I think our third or fourth trip and I am going to get one
I got a new tent for Christmas
Is a tent footprint
Basically a ground tarp or a thicker
Material that goes underneath your tent. You don't necessarily need it
(46:50):
But it helps protect the the integrity of your tent the floor of your tent. Yeah
And it takes a lot less wear
Making your tent take a lot less wear
When you're going in the backcountry and everything it does help protect from moisture from the ground as well. So yeah
We talked about that. I don't remember what episode it was that we were talking quite a bit about tent footprints
(47:16):
That is for sure a term. I did not understand what it was when we started buying gear
So I thought it just meant like this the space that your tent took up, right?
Exactly. I kept seeing all this thing about like oh tent footprints tent footprints and like right like you i'm thinking like okay
It's like the amount of space that your tent covers like that's the foot right, right?
(47:36):
I
Think I I kind of get it. You and I are close to like being five years in on like our hiking
activity
I'll be honest four years ago
Totally didn't get the point of a tent footprint
No, no, I didn't either our first couple of trips i'm like why would you want to carry that extra a little bit like all it
(47:57):
Well, it takes up no space. It's it's very very collapsible
Very lightweight. You are setting up your tent
If you're backcountry camping you are setting up your tent on
Not manicured ground. So your tent is getting wear and tear on the ground. You're on the bottom side
(48:17):
On the bottom side. Yeah more rock sticks
More so even than you would like think like if you even let's say you grew up tenting, right?
But you're always in a state park or whatever
Your tent in the backcountry is going to get a lot more wear and tear than it does even in like a normal
What most people do at for a tenting camping type thing?
(48:41):
Just because like you're gonna be on pine cones. You're gonna be on needles. You're gonna be on like all this stuff
You're gonna get wear and tear. I totally get the point of a tent footprint now
Yeah
so and I guess the last one i'm going to bring up is um
Just again because you don't have to listen to all of our episodes but bear pull
Well, I guess this is gonna be three in one bear pull bear bag bear canister
(49:05):
um
a bear bag
Is a bag that you put your consumables in
At night to keep bears and critters away from you
So if they smell it
It's supposed to be um
It's supposed to be scent proof, I guess supposed to be but just in case it's not um you
(49:32):
Wrap it up and then there will be a bear pull somewhere hopefully or you can
Do a bear sling. I guess that's another term
Over the tree over a tree branch, but basically getting your bear bag off the ground if your bear bag is on the ground
Well and a bear finds it then you don't have a bear bag anymore, right?
um, but so that's why you you sling it over a tree with some paracord or rope or whatever you'd got with you or
(49:57):
Uh, we've been fortunate enough when we had our bear bags. We had a lot of bear pulls
Um in the backcountry there and a bear pull. I mean, I guess just to make a point about like what a bear pull is even
Yeah, even if you see the term bear pull, which you will quite a bit, especially if you're like making reservations for
Backcountry camp sites. They will usually say if there's like a bear
(50:19):
Locker or a bear pull at the site like a bear pull is literally just I mean, how tall do you think those poles were?
15 feet 10 feet
15 ish 20 ish feet
Yeah
Literally just a pull out in the middle of nowhere
With a hook at the top that you put your bag on like it ain't nothing fancy
When you hear with limited tree limbs like so bears and critters can't right, you don't climb a jump. So yeah
(50:47):
so and then uh a bear canister, um, it's basically the same thing, but it is a
uh
A tub for lack of better words. It's a tub. Yes a tub with a locking closing lid
um that they have designed that it takes
(51:09):
Thumbs and uh, it it takes
I mean, I guess for lack of better thinking at this point, uh, uh, it takes human thinking and human knowledge how to
How to open it? Um
It's almost like a certain spot. I mean, it's not a puzzle, but it's like almost like a puzzle to open it
So but you throw you there they come in all different shapes and sizes
(51:31):
but you throw your your perishables and or your uh,
consumables in there
set them a couple hundred feet away from camp and uh,
You know that way if a bear does find it or whatever, it's not gonna be able to
Grab it and run with it. It's not gonna be able to it's gonna be safe. So
Um, well, yeah, I think that's the last and then just to add on to your thing
(51:52):
One of the things that I mentioned that I guess I mean to to explain when I said you'll either usually see a bear
hole
Or a bear locker. So a bear locker just so people understand what a bear locker is
It's basically a metal box
that
Again kind of has like a puzzle mechanism to open like you got to stick your hand up into this latch and then push on it
(52:16):
And then pull on it a certain way
Right. It's a metal box that you can put all your stuff in instead of hanging up on a pole
Some places will have a bear locker for you to be able to put stuff in
And it's just a big metal box like nothing. Yeah, nothing too fancy
I did think of one more. Okay, and it would we would be remiss if we if we did not mention this on this episode
(52:39):
Leave no trace. Oh, there it is. Yep
Good job for sure
Uh leave no trace is basically the principle for minimizing of environmental impact on the trail
Uh, if you pack it in you pack it out
Don't don't leave your garbage out on the trail assuming that it's just gone
(53:00):
Um, it stays there for for the animals and we don't want to do that
So please please anybody listen pick up after yourself pick up after yourself. Leave it nicer than you found it
Mike and I I mean or at least as nice as you found it at least as nice as you found it
Mike and I bring it up. I'm darn near every episode but like please
(53:21):
Leave it as nice or nicer than you found it. If you take it in with you take it back out with you
Yeah
Yeah, I was scrolling through and I just I was just like oh crap. We haven't mentioned leave no trace. So
We mentioned it on 90 of our episodes so we need to make sure that we got it on on this one
Yeah, for sure. And I think that is a great note to leave off on so
(53:44):
As always if anybody has any questions comments or concerns about any of our episodes
Any questions comments or concerns about anything that Mike and I have said over the course of this episode
You can always reach us on our email which is seanmikehike.com
On most of the major socials at seanmikehike or directly on our website, which is seanmikehike.com
(54:05):
Um, please rate review and subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast and until next time
go take a hike
Go take a backpack. Yeah, there you go. Go take a backpacking. It doesn't have the same rank
It doesn't have the same rank. Thanks everybody. See you in a couple weeks. See ya
I'm Sean and I'm Mike and you're listening to Sean and Mike take a hike
(00:16):
Welcome to another episode of Sean and Mike take a hike. What do you want to talk about today Sean today?
I thought we could talk about
As nerdy as this might sound but bear with me
like vocabulary terms related to hiking related to backpacking related to being out on the trail and
kind of kind of my thought process was
(00:41):
You and I
use a lot of terms and just kind of expect people to know what those terms are or
Really where it came from is like I was on Facebook the other day
in one of the hiking groups and like they're using terms in there and it's like
Everybody in these groups kind of uses the same terms and just assumes everybody knows what they mean
(01:04):
Right, but it's a packing group or hiking group or whatever. So they just assume
Yeah, just assume everybody knows and realistically like you can kind of use context clues
But I wasn't entirely sure I knew what all the terms meant. So I thought maybe we could just hit like
some key
Backpacking terms that people use all the time that maybe people don't know exactly what those terms mean
(01:31):
Okay, and we may have covered some of these when I was doing my research and everything and looking up some terms
That would be good to cover we have
Blatantly talked about some of these I know for a fact on recent episodes
I don't know if we did a great job of explaining what they are. Oh for sure
So so sure some of these terms we use like I mean right you and I use them in the podcast
(01:55):
quite often
Regularly. Yeah, but I kind of figure like
We were new once and also even absolutely honestly some of the terms we use I wasn't entirely sure we were using them, right?
if I'm being totally
Irregardless, right, so I thought we could just kind of like run down some of the popular terms
(02:18):
Talk about what they actually mean
I'll be honest like in my research that I did because I was looking up some of these like
Probably the same lists you were doing where it's like what are some common backpacking terms that people should know or you know
like looking through those things I
I'll be honest. I learned what some things were like. Yeah, what the difference between a couple of words that I
(02:40):
Historically have used interchangeably like I use hiking and backpacking
interchangeably
Yes, I think a lot of people probably do
right
In realistically for the most part, that's fine. But technically they're different things
So yeah, yeah, so it's like that sort of what?
(03:00):
Like that sort of what I was gonna say, why don't we start there then and like what is the difference between hiking and backpacking?
Okay, so and again when you and I Mike are talking usually we kind of interchange these things but technically speaking
Hiking is gonna be your like you're out on a trail walking on a trail
(03:22):
Right, it becomes backpacking when you have a backpack
So it's like it is the same thing but like hiking is usually like you're not taking gear and stuff with you
Right, like you might have a water bottle or you might have like a fanny pack with snacks or any of that sort of stuff
But you are not to the point where you have enough gear that you need to have an entire backpack with you
(03:49):
So if you have a day pack with a bladder is that considered?
backpacking or would that be hiking I
Mean, I know you know, I guess I don't really know like what's your take on that?
For me that still probably falls into your hiking category
(04:09):
Probably. Yeah, cuz that's a day pack, right? Like so you're not walking
You're not taking that's just an easier way to carry your water and your supplies
It's it is a backpack, but it is it's not your you're not hauling gear
I think gear is the thing. I think it's when you get to the point
(04:30):
And you could call a water bladder gear sure but like I'm talking like camp stove
10 or 10. Yeah clothes food sleeping bag. Yeah, right. That is where to me
It gets more out of the realm of hiking and more into the realm of backpacking
(04:56):
Right
But then you get into like so I mean even related to that so then
So there's hiking and then there's backpacking and then there's also another term that I'll be honest
I kind of threw in to like that same category and that is trekking
(05:18):
Right, like we talk. I mean, you know, you and I love talking about trekking poles
But like trekking is technically a separate thing from my understanding
Again, you and I use that word like kind of to mean the same thing as hiking or backpacking
But realistically, apparently trekking is like a long distance challenging terrain thing
(05:48):
Yeah, I'm a little bit confused still I'll be honest with you on exactly what trekking means
But it does definitely seem to be a longer distance thing because I read somewhere
That trekking usually involves like cultural exploration
Okay, which I did not read a good description of what exactly that meant
(06:09):
I think that's more like you're hiking up the Andes or you're hiking up the Himalayas or something
like that and you're having a guide or something like that like the people that live in that area
Like Everest you have your your guides. Yeah that take you up. I think that is more along the lines of a trek
I'm gonna agree with you even though neither one of us actually know
(06:31):
Wait, right, right. We're using the term I think
That certainly falls in line with what it sounded like to me when I was reading this stuff
And I, the term is failing me at the moment but like especially like Everest they have their guides
And I forget the the official term for the people. Is it Sherpas? Is that the word you're looking for?
(06:56):
I think it's Sherpas. I think it is Sherpas. But those are the locals like and they take people up and down the mountain
Well some mostly up sometimes down
Mostly up. There's a lot of up on that. There's a lot of up. Well I mean and some people don't come back down like
Honestly, I don't think you're supposed to say that. I mean it's true but
(07:22):
But yeah, so those are your big like three right? So you got your hiking which is like your shorter
I'm gonna say day trip like your day trip type stuff. That's hiking
Backpacking is when you throw a backpack. You're taking a bunch of gear probably a longer trip
Probably multiple multiple day and then trekking is like your next tier up from what you and I understand
(07:49):
Where it's like you're doing like
Trekking through the Himalayas or trekking through the Andes or like it's like
I'm not gonna say you always need a guide with you for it to be trekking
But like you're it's like that type of a hike where you're like you're like you're like you're like
But like you're it's like that type of a hike where you need or want because a guy would you consider it?
(08:14):
Are you backpacking the Appalachian Trail or are you trekking the Appalachian Trail?
Like if you're doing the through hike, you're going the full distance
Okay, so that's where it gets confusing to me because that word that you said right there or that term
I guess that you said right there through hike, right? Right. Why is it a through hike and not a through backpack?
(08:35):
Because I would consider that backpacking
Right, okay, because you are not it's not a daypack situation. You're carrying a backpack
But they do call it through hiking
This is why it's confusing and I thought we could talk about it so
(08:57):
What I am seeing is that a through hike
Is a specific to long distance trails particularly in one continuous journey
but
That they also include through hiking as in hiking the Appalachian Trail and hiking the North Country Trail
You're doing the full 4,800 miles of the NCT. You're not doing that in
(09:22):
I'm using air quotes here one continuous journey in the sense that you have to stop to sleep
You have to stop to eat, you have to you know all that kind of stuff
My opinion of through hike is just I'm starting at this trailhead
We've parked a vehicle at another trailhead. We're hiking through the trail through we're not doing a circle or an out and back
(09:45):
I know but I don't think technically that's what that means. Like I do agree with what you said like at the beginning of that statement
A through hike. That I veered to the wrong? Well no but my understanding of what a through hike is is like you're saying
You start at the southern tip of the Appalachian Trail and in one journey
Obviously you're stopping to sleep and you might even take rest days and you might even take a day where you run into town but like
(10:10):
You are going from the southern tip all the way to the northern tip
In one
You're not going home. You're not going home. You're not going home. Like you are doing a start to finish one end all the way to the other
That is what a through hike is to me. Okay. And I agree I think you and I this gets into one of those things where I think you and I use a term
(10:35):
And we're probably not the only ones because I agree you and I consider a through hike where you're going
The entire hike in one quote unquote one direction where you're not doing a loop you're not doing an out and back
You're going from spot A you're ending at spot B
You and I call that a through hike I don't think technically that's what a through hike is
I think it's like if you're doing the whole thing. That's just a backpacking trip. Right now like you and I maybe did for
(11:03):
What trail was that that we did was it the Muskegon River Trail
MRT what's up there by MISC that you and I did it runs that is to the North Country Manas the Manasir trail Manasi River Trail you and I
(11:28):
I think technically quote unquote through hiked the Manasir trail because we started at one end
We had it all in one shot to the other end now. It's not that long. So I mean, you know, but like I think that is considered a through hike
Right. Is it considered a through hike if we plan this section of the NCT? I don't think so
(11:54):
Because it's not the tip to tip. It's not tip to tip. That is what my understanding that is called a section hike
Okay, that makes sense I hadn't heard that term and that didn't come up in my my research
Yeah, so my understanding and I don't believe that I'm making this up because I saw it on the internet
(12:17):
That is what they call a section hike. So you're doing a section of the trail
Because then there's this other term that I came across too, which was flip-flopping
so
Flip-flopping so you could maybe do and this is where it gets confusing too and you know
Take all this with a grain of salt and do your own research and all the things but
You could do a flip-flop through hike theoretically
(12:42):
Flip-flopping is doing like you're gonna do this section and then you're gonna do this section and then you're gonna come back and do the section that you missed
Okay, so they call that flip-flopping
But you're still not going home but you're still not going home
So you are in total while you know from when you start to when you finish you are doing the total
(13:05):
But maybe in sections and maybe not all the sections one right after another like in a straight line
Would that be where you maybe come across a trail angel to take you to a different place?
A trail angel to take you to a different section. Well, and that's I got that on my list too. So, okay
Let's talk about trailing. Well, that's that's what i'm like. How do you get how do you skip a section?
(13:26):
I think you would have to I think that's how or you have your own chase vehicle or you have you know, right?
Okay, whatever your situation is
But yeah
So, okay, let's talk about trail angel because that's one i'll be honest that term confused the shit out of me for a long time
I
(13:49):
So the concept of trail angel confuses me
Um
The term doesn't necessarily confuse me like I I know it's basically someone
who
lives around or near a trailhead
That is willing to pick people up take them to their vehicle
(14:09):
Take them to get lunch like take them to get supplies. Whatever helps people that are backpacking or hiking
and
they offer their services to to the the
the people you need so
And that that term never really
Confused me. It's just
Is there a site to go find these trail angels?
(14:31):
Like is there like how do you how do you get hooked up with a trail angel? That's my my confusion
My confusion. Okay, so let me expand on that for just a minute. So
My understanding of a trail angel a trail angel does do all of the things that you just mentioned
But could also
(14:55):
Have you came across the term trail magic like is that one of the terms that you think that's that's one of my terms too
Yeah, okay. So let's maybe talk about trail magic for a minute before
We go on with trail angel so
so
Go ahead. Okay. So my understanding of what trail magic is
Is all of the things that you just mentioned like giving a ride
(15:19):
You know picking up that i've got a different understanding of it then yeah, okay. Well, then you tell me
so trail magic is from what I have
Have come across as unexpected acts of kindness or surprises on the trail. So like
Those cans of tuna that we found in that bear locker
Yeah, that would be considered trail magic because it's food that was left for somebody that maybe didn't have food
(15:44):
So that's trail magic. That's trail kindness
Okay
Yes, I agree food
Okay, maybe we need to talk to a trail angel then to figure this out for sure
But my because okay from what I was reading
At least in the one article that I read so it's like food
(16:05):
or like
Really to me it sounded like most of the time like these people like their property probably
Butts up or the trail goes through their property because it could also be
Like hey, we've left a spot for you to set up camp on our property. That's right along the trail or hey
Here's some fresh water that you can have access to while you're on the trail or
(16:27):
Okay
So the in that for those right there, I would say the the spot to set up camp would be the act of a trail angel
whereas
The water left in a cooler or snacks left in a cooler would be trail magic
See my understanding is that trail
(16:47):
Magic is all encompassing of all of those things and all of those things are
Trail magic is provided by trail angels is my understanding
So you and I see even on this episode so you and I have different understandings of how it goes
right so like
I don't think you have to be a trail angel to provide trail magic
(17:07):
like
So you found a
random
tent stake at our last
On our last trip I would consider that trail magic. That's a random
Act or a random find on the trail or at your campsite
That came in very useful for you and you even paid it forward. You did not actually become a trail angel
(17:34):
you
I agree. That was certainly magical to me
I don't know. Here's why I don't know if I count that as trail magic
Because realistically that was trash like it was somebody forgot their tent stake
It it wasn't trash. It was perfectly fine. They just left it but they forgot it. They missed it. I know it was unintentional but like
(17:59):
I don't know. Maybe I guess if we've got any trail angels that listen
And you will allow Mike and I to ask you questions. Will you please write in because we have questions
So maybe this one we are not explaining super well
Right, but then yes, I mean so back to your trail angels
So this is where our understanding differs, but like so my understanding is trail angels
(18:23):
Are who is providing trail magic you are your understanding is different
You're saying a trail angel. Tell me what you're saying a trail angel
Well, a trail angel is is someone who helps hikers with
Well, see even my definition that I have here is unexpected kindness
But trail angels in my thought is like it's somebody you can contact ahead of time like
(18:50):
in the up
Around the lakes not Lake Superior, but um, the pictured rocks national lake shore. You can call all train
They're all all train or whatever. Yeah, you can
Call them pay for a ride
Whereas other parts of the north country trail. You don't have those services. You don't have a shuttle service to provide you
(19:12):
From different trail heads and whatnot. Yes
So you can contact somebody that is considered a trail angel
To say I want to leave my vehicle here
Can you pick me up and drop me off at this trail head and they are offering that service?
Okay, so I will fully agree with that like that is for sure
I think we can agree on that like that trail angels for sure
(19:37):
I don't think it has to be unexpected for it to be a trail angel. I think trail magic is unexpected
Okay
That's that's where I think that's maybe where uh, me personally mike draws the line
Well, and then I mean just to mind the sand one of the things that you had mentioned is like, okay
Where do you find a trail angel?
(19:59):
Um, like you know
Let's pretend that you needed a ride or something
The only place I have ever seen that sort of stuff and maybe there's a whole website don't dedicated to it
I don't know could be it
I see it a lot in the different facebook groups that I follow and well you and I talk about like the north country trail a lot
Because that's the trail that you and I are quite often on
(20:20):
Well, we're in michigan and that's the only trail that goes through michigan. Well, I mean the only national major one, right?
Yeah, yeah, there is a trail angels of the north country trail facebook group
So, oh, yeah, I guess I didn't realize that
I see a lot of requests in that group. It seems to be a place for and again, i'm sure it's not just facebook, but
(20:44):
There's a lot of like hey, i'm hiking here. Are there any trail angels angels in this area that could give you know, like
Me plus one a ride or whatever
Um, but yeah, there's a whole facebook group dedicated to that and again, we're sure that's not gonna be stinky
Like all that kind of stuff, you know, like oh for sure. They truly are angels if they were to pick us up like during
(21:09):
In the middle of our ride or our hike or whatever. They truly are angels because it is we are not pleasant
Like i'm thinking if I
I mean, I kind of wish I lived by the trail because I feel like I would be a trail angel if I live by the trail
I'm gonna show off
I'd be picking you up with a bronco with the top off like oh, yeah, it'd be a great time
(21:30):
I'd be showing up with towels on the seat, right? Like
I mean no offense, but you're gonna be stinking and dirty
I'll come and pick you up
I'm also putting a protective barrier down
Right. You can ride in the bed of the truck, right?
Right
I'm picking you up like you're on safari
Okay
But seriously though if we have any listeners that are trail angels
(21:52):
Or no trail angels, I seriously would like a trail angel like how did you? Yeah. Yeah
Like how did you go about that? Like I would love to talk
To anybody more familiar than Mike and I about that specific one
Right because I have more questions not necessarily vocabulary related
Right because
(22:13):
Coming up in August we may need a trail angel. I know right so
Okay, so back to the trail angels
I know right so okay, so back to terms
Do you have any related to like trail angel or trail magic that you would like to hit?
um
That I don't think I do other well
(22:36):
No, nothing like related to the the trail angel or trail magic thing. No, okay
Do you I I don't have one related to that but I kind of have one okay adjacent to
All of the topics that we've been talking about
So one of the terms that you and I use
That I'll be honest. I wasn't entirely sure I knew the meaning of or wasn't sure that we were using correctly
(23:00):
We use the term back country a lot
Right. Yeah, we're not entirely sure that I knew what that meant to be honest with you
And I didn't even think to look that up because I thought I knew what that meant. Okay. I thought I did
Thought I did wasn't positive that I did and okay again
(23:21):
We use it as though we know what it means
And it turns out my understanding of it is pretty close
But so when I look up like the definition of back country
It says quote the remote wilderness areas away from roads or urban development requiring
self-sufficiency
(23:42):
So that to me is the key to what?
Like that last three
Words is to me what makes it back country requiring self-sufficiency
right
to where you
You can't you're not close enough to civilization
To find a house to call for help or whatever you you have to know that you're gonna have to set up camp
(24:06):
You are gonna have to set up your own camp
You are gonna have to make your own fire. You are gonna have to make your own bathroom
You you know, like you are away from the finer things in life
You are out being
Self-sufficient or at least bringing the things with you to be self-sufficient because there are not amenities there
(24:27):
For you to utilize so there's not you know, there's not a water pump. There's not
Bathrooms like that sort of stuff is what makes it back country
Yes, okay. So I just looked it up because I
Hadn't for my research and yeah, I'm finding all of that like it limited access. There's no facilities. Yep
(24:50):
self-sufficiency
Yeah, so
A remote section of the North Country Trail far from trailheads or towns is an example
There you go
And then conversely, there's a term that I have never even heard
But apparently there's a term called front country so like makes sense because if there's back country then there's also front country
(25:15):
Front country just sounds dirty. I know and it's not a term that I have ever heard
But it came up like when I was looking up what back country was it's like oh the opposite of that is front country
So, I mean opposite of back country literally is front country. It's areas closer roads and developed campgrounds
So I've never actually heard that term used. Okay, but if anybody does hear that term
(25:36):
That's what front country means
not back country
So
Let me see if I have this correct
The hike we did we just did a day hike
I don't even think we took our gear. We just took our day packs. We did a day day hike
(25:56):
JJ dropped us off at a trailhead or
Somewhere in Miesic. I believe it was and we
Met up with the North Country Trail. Yep, walked walked through came back around by
The I think it's Fletcher's Cove and like all those little mini campgrounds that are right by
(26:18):
Northern exposure where we were staying
Not to name drop anything but like but so where we were walking
We were walking along the road. There were campsites. There were people there were cars
Like there was a gas station, there was a little corner store. That's all front country that
We were on the trail, but that's front country. Correct. Okay. That is my understanding. Yes
(26:41):
And even I'll be honest. So like I would even consider front country. So when we did our
mouth of the two-hearted to taquamana on
I would even say we were in a mixture of backcountry and front country because
We stayed at a state forest campground one night
Which had a water pump in a bathroom and I would consider that being front country
(27:08):
For sure. Yeah, I would definitely not consider that backcountry. It is
Definitely roughing at camping but is not backcountry
Camping. Correct. It is not backcountry camping because I mean we were in designated camp spots like it was
Right. You know not that you can't have a designated spot in the backcountry because you know for like
(27:28):
preservation reasons they sometimes have
You know like how they do the porkies where it's like, okay, you're in the backcountry
But but yeah, please you've got BC one here
To preserve nature, right? So I would say
Here to preserve nature, right? So I think you can have a designated spot, but like these were
(27:49):
State forests like square
Camps, so let me get your take on this
The we just stayed at taquamana in the backcountry sites of taquamana
But we were less than three miles from
We were in the state park for one
We were less than three miles
(28:12):
from
The brewery for one that has full full facilities. I'm counting that as
backcountry
Me personally because we we weren't close enough to like we couldn't we're not gonna walk the three miles to go to the bathroom
Correct, right. Okay
And we had to go to a stream to get water
(28:36):
Okay, you know what i'm saying like there wasn't yep now I think had there been
20 spots right around there
Like there was you know, what two nights before that how we were in the state forest
The next closest campsite was another three quarters of a mile or whatever
Right, so I think what you're referring to that quote unquote backcountry site in taquamana on state park
(29:01):
I think that is truly backcountry. I think that's far enough out that that makes sense because we did have to walk almost a
Mildly of water. Yeah
So, okay. Yep. Yeah
We had we had to we backpacked
through
to get to our campsite
Had to hike back to get to our uh,
(29:22):
Corrector source. Yes. Yes
Right
I mean in hindsight
I wish I would have known where that camp spot was going to be because we would have just stopped and gotten a bladder full of water
If I I was expecting it to be another mile or more. Yeah
Well, I just thought it was gonna be a couple more miles a couple more miles or whatever
So we're just like no, we're not filling up water here blah blah blah in hindsight
(29:44):
I wish we would have just stopped and filled up our bladder
Hey, we had we had to get firewood anyway, yeah, we had to get firewood anyway, so um
Um, let's see. So do you got another term handy?
um
speaking of
I guess
getting firewood
(30:05):
Um one term that I have is deadfall. Oh, I have that on my list. Yeah. Yeah
So deadfall is that's basically what you want for your firewood. Yes is
You don't want to be chopping down trees. You don't want to be killing nature, correct deadfall
And it's in its name deadfall. The tree is already dead
I understand there are ecosystems you are interrupting because there could be things living underneath that whatever
(30:30):
um
But you don't want to be killing a live tree though. Anyway, plus live trees don't burn as well
Um, so if you're collecting your firewood, make sure you're collecting it from deadfall, which is fallen trees or branches
uh
Well, it's not necessarily that covers the uh, the trail but like a deadfall is just anything that's down
(30:53):
that
Fell on its own or or it died and fell whatever
Down down and dead. I mean that's the other down down to dead. You know, I mean it says it right in the name, but like
Even if it's down, but it's not dead
Like if it's downish or leaning like that's not deadfall like you want your stuff that's down and dead
(31:14):
That is what you should be using for your trash park taught us that nature finds a way if it's not dead
It could still sprout somewhere. So right exactly
Um, I want to bring this one up just because in my list it is right next to deadfall even though it doesn't necessarily relate to that
um
And i'm bringing this up because you we have talked about it before but you don't necessarily have to listen to all of our episodes
(31:36):
Even though we hope you all do
um
The term switchback which we covered in just a couple episodes ago
So just looking at that one that was gonna be my next one. Okay. Well perfect
So we're like we're right on with each other. So switchbacks
Is
Hard to explain without visualizations, but it is really
(31:56):
Think of it. Like if you are going up a steep hill
But instead of going straight up that hill you zigzag up the hill so that you are walking
further
But not as steep of an incline right?
So you are zigzagging like back and forth up the face of that hill
(32:17):
Instead of walking straight up. That is what a switchback is
right it
You're gonna look at it and say why am I doing this when I could just go that way and get up there?
Easier it's not easier. It's not
Like mike and I are guilty of saying that every time it happens like
Uh, I could just walk straight up this hill. Why am I walking so far? Well?
(32:42):
I still don't understand why
If you've got a decent down to the river
And then you've got to go across the river and then go back uphill like why can't they just build a bridge there?
Like why do I got to go downhill and uphill?
Um, because nature oh that would that that that would be me that would have to build that bridge. Okay, I think
(33:07):
No, but yeah
The switchback like you said it just zigzags back and forth
you feel like
You feel like you're wasting a lot of steps you feel like you're wasting energy getting up there
But you're actually saving a lot a lot of energy by not taking those giant like uphill steep like basically
(33:29):
They use them more on straight up hills type stuff. Yeah to where
uh
You're you're basically going to be like crawling like to get
You're going to be using your hands to get up and everything
So it's going to be you're going to be walking back and forth along this edge to get up there
But it does make it a lot more manageable
It's like it's like the same concept is like a pulley right like with a pulley
(33:53):
You're right. You're pulling a lot a longer length of rope
To move something but it's not nearly as strenuous because you're like spreading out over the length of that
So same concept just hiking basically, right?
Um another term that i'll I mentioned in this episode that um
(34:16):
Some people might not know but a trailhead
I've thrown out that that term out there trailhead is basically a a starting or a a
parking lot like type of a uh
situation on a trail to where
The it might be in the middle of of a section of trailer. Well, I guess it marks the end of a section like you
(34:40):
Have
Uh, the the term the definition is the starting point but it isn't always I know but it's not always the start
Right, like it's the start or the end of a section
Right. There you go
I guess I don't know
You're struggling to explain it and i'm struggling to explain it to like how you just put it into words
(35:01):
But like yeah, it's it's I mean think of it like a parking lot, right?
Like mainly you're gonna if you're going to a trailhead you're gonna have a parking lot there
You're probably gonna have signage there
And it is right probably probably
I'm using air quotes. You and I are using air quotes a lot this episode that nobody can see you because it's audio but
It's it's probably the start or end of a section
(35:24):
um
It's they they're great for meetups
So like if you've got a group that are backpacking with you or or even just day hiking or whatever
Everybody can meet at that trailhead and then you go from there, right? Instead of trying to
Trying to park along some random road
Okay, so i'm gonna use i'm gonna combine another word into there to maybe make this make more sense, too
(35:48):
So another word that you might hear a lot, especially when people are talking about like maps and figuring out, you know
Where they're gonna go?
Another term people are going to use as waypoints, right?
so
waypoints are like
Spots along the trail that you're using as a guidepost basically. So like mike and I have talked about like when we
(36:13):
Plan our trips. We always say like, okay when we get to
The four mile mark we should be at a river
When we get to the six mile mark, we should be at this road and be crossing this road
So like we use those as waypoints
Along our trip to a to make sure that we're like on the right path
(36:34):
And where we're supposed to be when we're supposed to get there
Trailheads can also be waypoints along your way. So you might use a trailhead
Like maybe you're going to go through several trailheads along your route and you can use them as waypoints to be like, okay
(36:55):
on day two
we should get to
XYZ named trailhead
And then on day four of our section hike we should get to ABC named trailhead
Like they're just there's spots along the trail where you can hop on or hop off
(37:16):
The trail or be used as waypoints to do like smaller sections of a larger trail system
Yeah for sure. No, I agree with everything on that
Like and we we use them all the time to help us not get lost for sure
Uh, you know all that so the whether it's a trailhead like most trailheads
(37:36):
That I have come across we have come across anyway are more or less like parking lots. There's a road nearby
Yeah, something like that to where people can start their their hike and or backpack
king trip
However, you want to call that but um
so
But we use those along the way just so we know like you said we're we're not lost like right
(38:01):
And if we don't come up to that
We're like, okay, maybe within the next three quarter mile
There were a couple where it was like we were a mile off or so and we're just starting to get nervous about it
But once you find you're like, okay, we know where we're at but
So and I know people use them like I mean even I know this isn't about walking
(38:23):
I know this isn't about planning but like when you're planning your
your trip
To say like it's an easy way to say like, okay
I am going to start at this trailhead
And then especially if you're going with a buddy and you have the ability to take two vehicles
Like we're gonna start at this trailhead. So we're gonna park one vehicle there
And we're gonna end
(38:45):
At this trailhead and we're gonna park another vehicle there and like that
By default is gonna make like okay. This is how far we're gonna go
Over this amount of days. So like to make that work
right
And then you know
It it just works well usually here in michigan where we're at they're right next to a road
(39:07):
And that's why they're there and all the things that right by where the trail is crossing the road. But yeah, I mean so
trailheads
Mike and I usually get a selfie in front of the trailhead because there's usually like uh,
the you know, the trailheads have names usually so like this is the
Red bridge trailhead or this is the you know, your marilla road or whatever road trailhead or whatever
(39:30):
so like mike and I usually just because we're
Nerdy like that. We'll get a selfie in front of the
In front of the map in front of the name so that we know like okay
We did this section that goes in our memory book, you know
but yep
So another one um that
I mean we've talked about
(39:51):
On most episodes
But and I think we've explained it but another term would be blazes
Oh, yeah, yeah
On navigation so along your trail to get to your waypoints
You're going to see blazes or trail markings till you know, you're on the right path
We have come across where the trail is where we've
(40:12):
Not not even sure we're on the right trail or we're even on a trail just it gets overgrown that much or whatever
Mm-hmm, but if you keep following the north country trail has the beautiful blue blazes. So um
As long as you're following those
you're you're not going to get lost but uh
You know, but that's what that is. It's just a a marker of some sorts
(40:35):
Usually paint we found yeah, sometimes it's a it's a metal sign or some kind of but it's it's indicating that you're on the on the path
Yeah, so yeah
And then I guess so another term
Not really related to that but it made me think of it for some reason
So kind of like adjacent to that and this is another term that you and I use
(40:56):
But again, because you don't have to listen to all of our episodes. You maybe have never heard us explain it
You will see the term blazes
And you will see the term cat hole a lot
Without getting too gross about it
We've got a whole episode about pooping in the woods if you want to listen to that
But basically a cat hole you will see like oh dig a cat hole
(41:19):
To bury your waste or you know, like related to that somehow
For anybody that is not familiar with what a cat hole is or keep seeing it, but doesn't know who to ask
Basically a cat hole is and I don't know why they call it a cat hole
So don't ask that but it's a hole that you dig to go to the bathroom in that you can then cover up
(41:40):
So it's usually you know kind of small just big enough to for your business to go inside
You know six to eight inches wide six to eight inches deep little little cat hole
So if you see a cat hole or see the term cat hole
That is what that means. It's a little self-made bathroom that you're going to bury your waste in
(42:04):
So then I only I only personally have a couple of terms left mike
So do you mind if I just read them off real quick and then if you go to me left?
So the other two that I just want to mention real quick another term that mike and I have used in previous episodes
That in case you don't know what it is. I just wanted to get it out there
So one of the terms is ultralight or ultralight like if you hear us talk about ultralighters and
(42:30):
I'll be honest. Usually we laugh when we're talking about them
But I could see the point where mike and I would maybe get someday to being wanting to be ultralighters, but so an ultralighter is
basically anyone who like is
Weight conscious like as their main thing about backpacking
So like they're gonna buy the lightest gear take the least amount of stuff like you are doing this
(42:58):
Literally ultra light you are it's it's all about weight like down to the ounces you are
Minimizing your gear you're minimizing the what gear you do take you are buying the lightest weight stuff of it
Usually the most expensive if i'm being honest
Expensive if i'm being honest
(43:21):
But yeah, that's what an ultralighter is it's the same as you and me
It's just they're very focused on the weight that they're carrying so least amount of stuff least heavy stuff
So that's one term that I had on there
Did you have anything to add to ultralighter before I rattle off my next one?
It's the lightest uh equipment, but the most expensive right generally. I mean I can't say every time
(43:45):
Usually it's going to be the most expensive but then so then the next one that I have
And then this is my last one that I have on my list is base weight
So this again is a term that I did not know for sure if I knew what meant
But you will see like when people talk about stuff on Facebook or they talk about things
In the different groups and stuff you will see people quite often talk about
(44:07):
What's your base weight or whatever?
I wasn't sure if I knew what base weight was it turns out I did not know what it was
So according to the internet
What base weight is is it is your
the weight of your backpack
Excluding consumables
So consumables like your food or your water or your fuel those don't count in your base weights
(44:33):
Okay, so it's everything that is not going to lose weight everything that is not going to lose weight
So it still includes your tent. So I thought it was just your base weight was just your but that's your backpack weight
I thought it was just your backpack weight here, but that would be your dry weight basically
Well, so I don't have just the weight of your or it would just be the weight of your backpack
(44:55):
Okay, maybe i'm not sure because I don't have that one on my list and I don't let that one up but base weight
is your
Your i'm gonna say your gear weight so it's like everything that you're carrying on you
minus those consumables
Right. That is what your base weight is minus the things that decrease as you use them. Correct. Okay, right
(45:18):
That makes sense. I I was completely wrong on that too. I was wrong on that. Like I thought your base weight was like
I don't know like in my head your base weight was
Okay
Day one you're setting out onto the trail. What is the weight of your backpack at that point?
That's what I thought base weight was was like what is your right?
(45:38):
Right. Yeah, your starting weight your styer. Yes, that's probably a better way to completely. What is your starting weight?
That's what I thought base weight was
To me, I almost think your basement base weight might be closer to what your end weight is
Like when you are coming off the trail 100 well, yeah, it'll be closer. I mean because you
If you're like us, you probably have I mean, hopefully you still have gas less than your can of gas
(46:03):
Less than your canisters like you know, so you still have
song
You have a little bit of consumables left. Hopefully right
But not but it's not nearly as much right?
Right, so you'll be a lot closer to your base weight at the end of the truck than you are at the start
Yep, right. That makes sense. Okay, I didn't know that
(46:26):
One thing I didn't know that even existed until I think our third or fourth trip and I am going to get one
I got a new tent for Christmas
Is a tent footprint
Basically a ground tarp or a thicker
Material that goes underneath your tent. You don't necessarily need it
(46:50):
But it helps protect the the integrity of your tent the floor of your tent. Yeah
And it takes a lot less wear
Making your tent take a lot less wear
When you're going in the backcountry and everything it does help protect from moisture from the ground as well. So yeah
We talked about that. I don't remember what episode it was that we were talking quite a bit about tent footprints
(47:16):
That is for sure a term. I did not understand what it was when we started buying gear
So I thought it just meant like this the space that your tent took up, right?
Exactly. I kept seeing all this thing about like oh tent footprints tent footprints and like right like you i'm thinking like okay
It's like the amount of space that your tent covers like that's the foot right, right?
(47:36):
I
Think I I kind of get it. You and I are close to like being five years in on like our hiking
activity
I'll be honest four years ago
Totally didn't get the point of a tent footprint
No, no, I didn't either our first couple of trips i'm like why would you want to carry that extra a little bit like all it
(47:57):
Well, it takes up no space. It's it's very very collapsible
Very lightweight. You are setting up your tent
If you're backcountry camping you are setting up your tent on
Not manicured ground. So your tent is getting wear and tear on the ground. You're on the bottom side
(48:17):
On the bottom side. Yeah more rock sticks
More so even than you would like think like if you even let's say you grew up tenting, right?
But you're always in a state park or whatever
Your tent in the backcountry is going to get a lot more wear and tear than it does even in like a normal
What most people do at for a tenting camping type thing?
(48:41):
Just because like you're gonna be on pine cones. You're gonna be on needles. You're gonna be on like all this stuff
You're gonna get wear and tear. I totally get the point of a tent footprint now
Yeah
so and I guess the last one i'm going to bring up is um
Just again because you don't have to listen to all of our episodes but bear pull
Well, I guess this is gonna be three in one bear pull bear bag bear canister
(49:05):
um
a bear bag
Is a bag that you put your consumables in
At night to keep bears and critters away from you
So if they smell it
It's supposed to be um
It's supposed to be scent proof, I guess supposed to be but just in case it's not um you
(49:32):
Wrap it up and then there will be a bear pull somewhere hopefully or you can
Do a bear sling. I guess that's another term
Over the tree over a tree branch, but basically getting your bear bag off the ground if your bear bag is on the ground
Well and a bear finds it then you don't have a bear bag anymore, right?
um, but so that's why you you sling it over a tree with some paracord or rope or whatever you'd got with you or
(49:57):
Uh, we've been fortunate enough when we had our bear bags. We had a lot of bear pulls
Um in the backcountry there and a bear pull. I mean, I guess just to make a point about like what a bear pull is even
Yeah, even if you see the term bear pull, which you will quite a bit, especially if you're like making reservations for
Backcountry camp sites. They will usually say if there's like a bear
(50:19):
Locker or a bear pull at the site like a bear pull is literally just I mean, how tall do you think those poles were?
15 feet 10 feet
15 ish 20 ish feet
Yeah
Literally just a pull out in the middle of nowhere
With a hook at the top that you put your bag on like it ain't nothing fancy
When you hear with limited tree limbs like so bears and critters can't right, you don't climb a jump. So yeah
(50:47):
so and then uh a bear canister, um, it's basically the same thing, but it is a
uh
A tub for lack of better words. It's a tub. Yes a tub with a locking closing lid
um that they have designed that it takes
(51:09):
Thumbs and uh, it it takes
I mean, I guess for lack of better thinking at this point, uh, uh, it takes human thinking and human knowledge how to
How to open it? Um
It's almost like a certain spot. I mean, it's not a puzzle, but it's like almost like a puzzle to open it
So but you throw you there they come in all different shapes and sizes
(51:31):
but you throw your your perishables and or your uh,
consumables in there
set them a couple hundred feet away from camp and uh,
You know that way if a bear does find it or whatever, it's not gonna be able to
Grab it and run with it. It's not gonna be able to it's gonna be safe. So
Um, well, yeah, I think that's the last and then just to add on to your thing
(51:52):
One of the things that I mentioned that I guess I mean to to explain when I said you'll either usually see a bear
hole
Or a bear locker. So a bear locker just so people understand what a bear locker is
It's basically a metal box
that
Again kind of has like a puzzle mechanism to open like you got to stick your hand up into this latch and then push on it
(52:16):
And then pull on it a certain way
Right. It's a metal box that you can put all your stuff in instead of hanging up on a pole
Some places will have a bear locker for you to be able to put stuff in
And it's just a big metal box like nothing. Yeah, nothing too fancy
I did think of one more. Okay, and it would we would be remiss if we if we did not mention this on this episode
(52:39):
Leave no trace. Oh, there it is. Yep
Good job for sure
Uh leave no trace is basically the principle for minimizing of environmental impact on the trail
Uh, if you pack it in you pack it out
Don't don't leave your garbage out on the trail assuming that it's just gone
(53:00):
Um, it stays there for for the animals and we don't want to do that
So please please anybody listen pick up after yourself pick up after yourself. Leave it nicer than you found it
Mike and I I mean or at least as nice as you found it at least as nice as you found it
Mike and I bring it up. I'm darn near every episode but like please
(53:21):
Leave it as nice or nicer than you found it. If you take it in with you take it back out with you
Yeah
Yeah, I was scrolling through and I just I was just like oh crap. We haven't mentioned leave no trace. So
We mentioned it on 90 of our episodes so we need to make sure that we got it on on this one
Yeah, for sure. And I think that is a great note to leave off on so
(53:44):
As always if anybody has any questions comments or concerns about any of our episodes
Any questions comments or concerns about anything that Mike and I have said over the course of this episode
You can always reach us on our email which is seanmikehike.com
On most of the major socials at seanmikehike or directly on our website, which is seanmikehike.com
(54:05):
Um, please rate review and subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast and until next time
go take a hike
Go take a backpack. Yeah, there you go. Go take a backpacking. It doesn't have the same rank
It doesn't have the same rank. Thanks everybody. See you in a couple weeks. See ya
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