Hiking Language & Map Jargon
MAPS
General reference maps: Roads, Streets, Trails, Area/Place Names.
Topographical maps: Land features, elevation changes, contours which trails pass over and through.
Thematic maps: Geology, weather, or other hobbies or passions you have.
OS / Ordnance Survey Maps: Comprehensive maps of Britain for walkers. Explorer maps at a scale of 1:25 000 detailing a range of geographical features, landmarks, field boundaries, valley contours, summit heights, rivers, roads, railways, villages and towns. Most importantly, they also show public rights of way and open access land in England and Wales, ‘core paths’ in Scotland, many long-distance trails and off-road cycle ways. OS also publishes Landranger maps at a scale of 1:50 000, these are less detailed than the Explorer maps covering a greater area on smaller sheet and many navigators prefer them, but you may not have all of the detailed information you need for your walk.
Harvey maps: No other map publisher covers all of Britain like Ordnance Survey (OS), but there are a few specialist publishers that produce maps specifically for walkers. For example Harvey, which makes original and detailed maps of popular upland areas and long-distance paths at 1:25 000 and 1:40 000 scales. Harvey maps are more compact, lighter and printed on weatherproof paper, less cluttered and include extra detail and focuses on a particular walking area or long-distance path including local information and contact details.
Digital maps: Ordnance Survey Explorer and Landranger maps, and some Harvey maps, are now available in digital form you can view print them to suit the needs of your walk. Easier to calculate distances, heights and walking times etc. Smartphone apps, GPS devices allow you to get high quality maps directly on your screen subject to signal or coverage. GPS device or smart phone are good to navigate your way, it’s always best to pack a paper map too, particularly in remote areas, where signal or battery life can be an issue.
4 Figure Grid Reference: Coordinates for a 1km square box vertical and horizontal lines on a map that utilises the Ordnance Survey National Grid reference system.
6 Figure Grid Reference: The coordinates for a 100m square box on a map that utilises the Ordnance Survey National Grid reference system. 6 figure grid references are very good to let anyone know your position. 6 figure grid references, comprising of 6 numbers, are preceded by two letters. These letters tell you which of the 625 UK 100 x 100km major squares you are in.
Contour line: A line on a map (orange on Ordnance Survey maps) that represents the shape of the landscape. Contour lines join up points of equal height. On Ordnance Survey (OS) map contours are normally at 10m intervals. Harvey map contour lines are sometimes at 10m and sometimes at 15m intervals.
Grid lines: The lines going up and across maps – they are blue on Ordnance Survey maps. The vertical lines are aligned north south and the horizontal lines are aligned east west. The boxes formed by these lines are always 1km square. Note that orienteering maps sometimes don’t have grid lines, or may just have vertical lines. Note that the vertical lines are not aligned to magnetic north.
Magnetic deviation: This is the difference in angle between the north pole and magnetic north pole, from wherever you are on the planet. The magnetic north pole is in the Canadian Arctic and moves a small amount every year. The needle on the compass points to the magnetic north pole, not the geographic north pole. Magnetic deviation is different in different parts of the world, even in different parts of Scotland. It also changes over time, albiet slowly. On 25th June 2024 when i was typing this, Magnetic Declination: -1° 18' Declination is NEGATIVE (WEST) Inclination: 69° 46', Magnetic field strength: 50170.0 nT
Map Scale: Map scale refers to the ratio between distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the ground. For example, on a 1:100000 scale map, 1cm on the map equals 100,000 cm on the ground. 100,000 cm = 1km.
Aiming off: A technique for finding a target. In circumstances where there is a risk that you might miss the target, you can sometimes use a feature in the landscape that leads to target (lochside, valley, fence etc). You deliberately navigate to one side of the intended target, then upon reaching the feature, you follow it, left or right, to the target.
Attack point: An intermediate point on your navigational leg that can be helpful in enabling you to navigate to your intended destination. Sometimes the route that is most likely to get you to your target isn’t a straight line. Sometimes it is best to go to an intermediate point, which may be off to one side.
Catching feature: Something in the landscape that will indicate whether you have gone to far or overshot your intended destination.
Collecting / ticking off features Way Point: Things in the landscape that you will pass as you journey along your route; for example, a bend in the track, a path junction, woodland, a building.
Control: The target or navigational objective. It is your intended destination for a navigational leg.
STILE: A stile is a structure or opening that provides people passage over or through a boundary via steps, ladders, or narrow gaps.
GPS: This stands for Global Positioning System. Satellite based system that enables you, with the use of a GPS device, to find out your position on the earth.
Handrails: Line or linear features that can be followed and help you navigate to your intended target.
Latitude and Longitude: These are lines that subdivide the earth and form part of a geographic coordinate system that enable positions on the earth’s surface to be described. Lines of longitude go through the north and south poles. Lines of latitude go around the earth in parallel with the equator.
Linear Feature: Features on the map and landscape that form a line; e.g. paths, tracks, roads, walls, fences, ditches, pylons, pipelines, streams etc. Linear features can be used as handrails to help you navigate to your target.
Point features: These are features in the landscape at specific places or points in the landscape. An example is a trig point, building, phone box, cairn, antenne.
Re-entrant: A small valley like feature in the landscape recognised on the map by the contour line curving in (upslope) then out again.
Pacing: A technique for measuring how far you have travelled by counting the number of steps or paces you have taken.
Naismiths rule: A timing formula used to work out how long it will take to walk a certain distance: 5km per hour plus 1 min for every 10m ascent.
Re-location: A process for finding out where you are. There are different methods; for example, matching features in the landscape to the map, setting the map to the landscape using a compass to orientate the map to north, using a compass to work out the direction or angle of a linear feature and matching this to the map.
Ring Contour: A small circular shape in the landscape recognised by a contour line that forms a circle.
Setting / Orientating the map: Matching up the map to the features you can see in the landscape. In doing this you will also be aligning the map to north.
Romer: A ruler that enables you to measure distance on a map. Each Romer is scale specific.
Spur: A small ridge like feature recognised by contour lines curving out (down slope) then back in again.
Timing: A technique for measuring how far you have travelled based on distance and an estimate of your speed.
Bealach: A mountain pass, any gap, low point between hills also have the word lairig (Lairig Ghru is the best known hill-pass in Scotland).
Bivy Sack: A warming, protective waterproof sack or shelter that covers sleeping bags. Great for emergency purposes!
Blaze: Color-coded markings along trees that act as a guide along the trails.
Bluebird Day: Simply put, it means a beautiful, cloudless day with bright blue skies.
Book Time: The estimated time a hike will take, which, of course, varies greatly. Book time is based on the formula using 30 min/mile plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft. elevation gain.
Burn: A kind of watercourse. The term applies to a large stream or a small river.
Bushwhacking: Traveling off-trail, as you might guess, through dense shrubs and trees.
Cache: A spot along or near a trail where a resupply of gear and food is stored.
Cairn: A stack of rocks often used to mark trails. It’s similar to blazes, but usually found in areas where trees are sparse.
Cameling Up: When reaching a water source, hikers fill an inline filter water bottle that allows them to drink immediately to stay hydrated. That way, they can refill and carry out more before hitting the trail.
Cat Hole: A 6-inch wide by 8-inch deep self-dug hole where you bury feces and toilet paper. Typically, cat holes are at least 200 feet from campsites, trails and weather sources.
Col: Also referred to as a “Notch” or “Saddle,” a col ridge’s lowest point between two peaks.
Declination: Short for magnetic declination, it refers to the angle of Magnetic North (where a compass needle points) and True North (the North Pole). The measurements of each North can change by up to 50 degrees so it’s essential to know the declination of your location to know your bearings with a compass and map.
Detritus: Dubbed “duff” for short, detritus is the accumulation of leaves, pine needles, branches and the like that cover the forest floor. In fall, the detritus can be several inches thick.
Dirtbag: Essentially, an avid outdoorsy person who escapes civilized society regularly to enjoy nature. For the record, it’s a term of endearment.
False Peak: Also called a “False Summit,” this is like a mirage for hikers. It’s when you think you see a peak, which turns out to be only a small hill or shoulder.
Ford: Expect to get your feet wet in these river crossings! Avoid going barefoot and bring along some sandals and trekking poles for safety reasons. A ford will never come above your knees, but you can slip and lose gear or make your backpack wet.
Glissade: A way of sliding down a steep slope of snow or ice, typically on the feet with the support of an ice axe.
GORP: Whether you’re in the “Good Old Raisins and Peanuts” or “Granola, Oats, Raisins, Peanuts” camp, this is a snack bag every hiker appreciates.
Herd Path: An unofficial footpath formed by hikers. It often presents a shortcut or path that avoids an obstacle.
Hump: To carry an extra heavy load of gear. A guide, for example, might have to hump extra cookware or tents for a group of campers.
Hut: On the trail, you’ll find “hut” to be a relative term. It could genuinely mean a shack-like structure or a more upscale cabin-esque full-service hotel. Never assume it’s one or the other when backcountry hiking.
LNT “Leave No Trace” is based on seven fundamental outdoor principles, designed to help hikers, campers and others minimize their environmental impact.
PUD: "Pointless Ups and Downs" are areas of annoyingly rolling terrain that don't actually result in any elevation gain. Despite some trails going up and over several 30' hills in a row, that section would appear as "flat" terrain on most Topographic Maps, causing extra frustration for any unsuspecting hikers. Knowing about PUDs ahead of time requires getting good Beta.
Rock Hop: A Rock Hop is a river or stream crossing that can be done without getting your feet wet.
SAR: Stands for "Search and Rescue," they're almost always volunteers who leave their families and careers behind when backcountry enthusiasts get themselves into trouble.
Scree: A field of loose rocks smaller than the size of your head. It can be very tricky to keep your footing in a Scree field. The small rocks will often move or slide underfoot, making it very tricky to avoid ankle or knee injuries.
Section Hike: hen someone isn't able to complete a Thru Hike in one contiguous effort, they may instead choose to complete the trail over a longer period by hiking smaller sections of it and returning to society in between. A term popularized by Phillip Werner.
Slackpacking: Carrying a minimal load of food, water and gear, usually because someone else in your group is Humping everything else, or because you're planning to stay in Huts along your route.
Switchbacks: When a trail zig-zags back-and-forth up a very steep section of terrain. It adds distance to a trail but also makes it easier to hike - think of climbing straight up a ladder versus covering the same height on a very long ramp. Switchbacks also help prevent erosion on steep slopes, so be sure to follow the trail and avoid the temptation to cut straight up.
Talus: A field of larger boulders that often requires scrambling. Route-finding can be very slow and tricky through Talus fields.
Zero Day: When you spend two nights in a row in the same campsite and don't do any hiking during the day.
Scottish Outdoor Access Code: The Land Reform Act 2003, created a right of access to land and water in Scotland, subject to certain limitations. It provides guidance to both landowners and land managers and those exercising access rights (walkers, cyclists, canoists etc).
CROW: Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000. This legislation gives a public right of access to land mapped as ‘open country’ (mountain, moor, heath and down) or registered common land in England and Wales. These areas are known as ‘open access land’. Importantly there is not a general right of access to land and water in England and Wales as there is in Scotland. Users are also required to exercise their access rights responsibly and this is set out in the countryside code – covering England and Wales.