Hiking from A to Z: A Dictionary of Words and Terms Used by Hikers<\/a>. This pocket-sized book has hundreds of definitions of words from alpine to zip-line. You\u2019ll find an extended definition of hiking itself, definitions of 36 different kinds of trails, and definitions of colorful words such as touron (a combination of tourist and moron).<\/p>\nMy hiker dictionary is pretty darn practical though. You won\u2019t find words that describe the \u201cinner\u201d hiker. No one who knows me would describe me as a sensitive New Age kind of guy; nevertheless, the more I hike and the older I get the more I want to understand why people hike so that I can motivate more of them to hit the trail.<\/p>\n
Escape. Healing. Connection.<\/p>\n
Literally, I want to find the words that move them.<\/p>\n
Freedom. Spirituality. Sharing.<\/p>\n
My gathering of \u201cWords You Associate with Hiking\u201d has not been systematic at all. The words come from participants in hike leader trainings I\u2019ve conducted, from hikers on day-long and week-long tours that I\u2019ve led, and the many hikers I\u2019ve met over the years on and off the trail. In other words, this gathering of hiker words is just one hiker\u2019s perspective.<\/p>\n
So What Are the Words You Associate with Hiking?<\/h2>\n
Peaceful. Wonder. Calm. Endurance. Happy. Healthy. Perseverance. Solitude. Humbling. Exhilarating. Camaraderie. Surprising. Revitalization.<\/p>\n
You may have an entirely different set of words to describe the hiking experience. Awesome!<\/p>\n
Awesome. Another good word associated with hiking.<\/p>\n
Hike On.<\/p>\n
John McKinney
\nThe Trailmaster<\/p>\n
P.S. We associate more technical words with hiking, too. Check out my