Question 1

What is an a-frame?

Accepted Answer

A term used to describe a tent that resembles the letter “A” when viewed from the front.

Question 2

What is an a-frame tent?

Accepted Answer

A style of tent that has an “A” like shape. This style of tent is an older variety. It is typically inexpensive but not large. (An a-frame tent is best suited for two people.) Two vertical poles and one horizontal pole that spans the length of the tent make up this tent. The camper then drapes the tent fabric over the horizontal pole. This technique creates the tent’s walls. The camper must stake out the tent with guylines and tie-outs to create stability. In the past, people called these “ridge tents”.

Question 3

What is accessible camping?

Accepted Answer

Accommodations made to campsites enabling those with disabilities to enjoy camping despite physical challenges.

Question 4

What is an accessible campsite?

Accepted Answer

A campsite designed to serve those with physical challenges better. These sites might be easier to get to, be built on harder surfaces better suited to wheelchairs, or have longer overhangs on picnic tables to accommodate wheelchairs.

Question 5

What does acclimate mean?

Accepted Answer

The time required for one’s body to adapt to particular conditions (e.g., environment, altitude). Acclimate is most commonly used when referring to high altitudes where lower oxygen saturation makes breathing more taxing.

Question 6

What is ada camping?

Accepted Answer

Accommodations made to campsites enabling those with disabilities to enjoy camping despite physical challenges.

Question 7

What is an ADA campsite?

Accepted Answer

A campsite designed to serve those with physical challenges better. These sites might be easier to get to, be built on harder surfaces better suited to wheelchairs, or have longer overhangs on picnic tables to accommodate wheelchairs

Question 8

What is an adventure camp?

Accepted Answer

A summer camp experience for kids. These introduce children to outdoor and adventure-based activities, including camping, hiking, and kayaking.

Question 9

What is an aiguille?

Accepted Answer

A sharp-pointed pinnacle of rock in a mountain range.

Question 10

What is an air conditioner (A/C)?

Accepted Answer

A system that allows for the adjustment of humidity, ventilation, and temperature within an RV. A/C in RVs is most commonly used to cool the vehicle interior in warm environments.

Question 11

What is an all-terrain vehicle (ATV)?

Accepted Answer

A small, durable vehicle designed for exploring off-road locations—and accessing remote camping destinations. Unlike UTVs, ATVs are steered using handlebars and have a straddle seat (generally intended for one rider). A quad or four-wheeler is a common type of ATVs.

Question 12

What is the alpine?

Accepted Answer

Describes the land area of a mountain above the tree line. This terrain is typically rugged and at a high altitude. Given the wind and thin soil, trees and large plants generally don’t grow in these areas. So, talus or snow typically covers these areas.

Question 13

What is the alpine zone?

Accepted Answer

The region of a mountain that is above the tree line. This terrain is typically rugged and at a high altitude. Given the wind and thin soil, trees and large plants generally don’t grow in these areas. So, talus or snow typically covers these areas.

Question 14

What is alternating current (AC) power?

Accepted Answer

The standard electricity format delivered by 110-volt wall sockets. This electrical current takes on a waveform that allows this electricity to travel farther than DC power.

Question 15

What is an altimeter?

Accepted Answer

An instrument that uses barometric (air) pressure to measure elevation.

Question 16

What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?

Accepted Answer

A law that forbids discrimination of those with disabilities. This law exists to ensure that those with disabilities have equal rights to all other citizens.

Question 17

What is an angle?

Accepted Answer

A hook used for angling.

Question 18

What is angling?

Accepted Answer

A method of fishing with an angle, tied to a line, attached to a rod.

Question 19

What is an anorak?

Accepted Answer

A waterproof, hooded, pull-over jacket. Its zipper doesn’t extend from the jacket’s top to bottom, which helps the wearer retain body heat. Sometimes it has drawstrings at the waist and cuff.

Question 20

What is the Appalachian Trail (AT)?

Accepted Answer

A long-distance footpath. It ranges from Maine to Georgia and is the world’s longest hiking-only footpath, extending 2,190 miles.

Question 21

What is an arete?

Accepted Answer

A sharp mountain ridge.

Question 22

What is an azimuth?

Accepted Answer

The direction from your current position to a destination. The bearing is expressed in degrees east/west of a north-south line.

Question 23

What is a back tack?

Accepted Answer

A stitch that is sewn over another stitch. This technique reinforces highly stressed areas where two pieces of fabric are joined.

Question 24

What is a back-in site?

Accepted Answer

A type of campsite that a vehicle must back their vehicle into.

Question 25

What is the backcountry?

Accepted Answer

A term that describes remote wilderness that is inaccessible by road and uninhabited. The backcountry is often found in national parks and public lands—backpackers camp in these areas to access pristine nature, free of human influence.

Question 26

What is backcountry camping?

Accepted Answer

A style of camping that takes place in the wilderness free of most amenities. This form of camping requires participants to make way by foot, skis, snowshoes, or canoe/kayak to reach their desired campsite.

Question 27

What is a backpack?

Accepted Answer

A bag that has shoulder straps allowing it to be carried on one’s back.

Question 28

What is a backpacker?

Accepted Answer

A traveler who carries their supplies in a backpack. They typically hike in the backcountry but sometimes backpack through urban environments.

Question 29

What is backpacking?

Accepted Answer

Hiking with all of one’s gear and supplies contained in a backpack.

Question 30

What is a backup monitor?

Accepted Answer

A camera and monitor combination that allows the driver to see what’s behind their RV. The camera is mounted to the RV’s rear end. A corresponding screen within the vehicle is viewable to the driver.

Question 31

What is baffle?

Accepted Answer

A quilt-like technique that prevents insulation from shifting within the object. Baffles are sewn box cavities that prevent the insulating material from settling in one spot. Baffles can be found in sleeping bags and puff jackets. This technique prevents heat loss, helping the wearer maintain uniform warmth.

Question 32

What is bannock?

Accepted Answer

A traditional indigenous Canadian flatbread. Bannock is an unleavened bread made from wheat flour and fried into round-shaped cakes on a skillet or griddle.

Question 33

What is base weight?

Accepted Answer

The weight of a backpack and its enclosed/attached gear. Consumables (food, water, fuel) are not included in one’s calculation of base weight. Most backpackers should aim for a base weight of 15 – 20 lbs; ultralight backpackers should aim for 10 – 12lbs or less.

Question 34

What is a basement?

Accepted Answer

A storage area located below the floor of an RV. This area is commonly used to store items that get dirty (cleaning supplies, campfire tools, hitch locks) and need to be accessed from outside the RV.

Question 35

What is a baseplate?

Accepted Answer

The see-through plate of a compass that the compass housing is mounted to.

Question 36

What is a bathtub floor?

Accepted Answer

A type of tent floor that prevents water ingress. Its name reflects how this one-piece tent floor’s material comes up the tent’s sidewalls by ~6”, creating a tub-like shape.

Question 37

What is a bear bag?

Accepted Answer

A robust and waterproof food storage bag made to safeguard food in bear environments. Campers place their food items and cooking supplies into these bags. They then use a rope to suspend these bags from a high tree limb, out of reach and far from camp. Doing so helps mask food odors, prevent access from bears, and (when done correctly) reduce the risk of human-to-bear contact.

Question 38

What is a bear hang?

Accepted Answer

A suspended bear bag.

Question 39

What is a bear locker?

Accepted Answer

A metal storage box that prevents wildlife from accessing campers’ food. These are most commonly found at parks that contain bear populations.

Question 40

What is bearing?

Accepted Answer

The direction from your current position to a destination. The bearing is expressed in degrees east/west of a north-south line.

Question 41

What is a bellows tongue?

Accepted Answer

A leather piece attached at the sides of a boot to the uppers. This device helps prevent water ingress into the boot.

Question 42

What is a benchmark?

Accepted Answer

A permanent (artificial or natural) object with a known elevation used as a reference point for navigation.

Question 43

What is a billy?

Accepted Answer

A small cooking pot used to boil water or cook food over a campfire. Some have handles, whereas others are simply made from metal containers.

Question 44

What is a biner?

Accepted Answer

A D-shaped or oblong metal coupling link with a safety closure (spring gate or threaded closure). Climbers commonly use carabiners to attach ropes and anchors; however, they can also be used as a handy clip for other purposes.

Question 45

What is biodegradable soap?

Accepted Answer

A type of soap made to decompose naturally and not cause harm to the environment.

Question 46

What is a bivouac?

Accepted Answer

A makeshift shelter typically erected to avoid inclement weather. It may consist of a bivy sack, tarp, and sleeping bag—but not a tent. Climbers sometimes bivouac on rock ledges to on multi-day climbs.

Question 47

What is a bivy sack?

Accepted Answer

A thin, lightweight sack that covers one person in a sleeping bag. Climbers and ultralight backpackers sleep in bivy sacks. They can also use the bivy sack for temporary/emergency shelter or added warmth.

Question 48

What is a bivy shelter?

Accepted Answer

An alternate version of a bivy sack that somewhat resembles a one-person tent. This newer approach uses poles/hoops to lift the sack material from the camper’s face.

Question 49

What is black water?

Accepted Answer

Toilet waste is contained in a dedicated tank (called a black water tank) until it can be disposed of at a dump station facility.

Question 50

What is a blaze?

Accepted Answer

A symbol painted/applied to a tree to help hikers navigate. These rectangular markings allow hikers to identify a trail and stay on the correct path. Unique colors can be used to distinguish trails from one another.

Question 51

What is a block release window?

Accepted Answer

A type of booking window in which a block of reservation dates open up at a set time and date. Month-long blocks typically release 5 months in advance.

Most campsites at Yosemite are released on a block release window. So, if you wish to camp at Yosemite Lower Pines on July 18th, you need to visit recreation.gov on February 15th at 7:00 AM Pacific Time.

Question 52

What is a boardwalk?

Accepted Answer

A structure that allows hikers to traverse an area without causing harm to the surrounding (possibly fragile) habitat. These are built from wooden planks, logs, or rocks and are commonly seen in wetlands.

Question 53

What is boat carry-down access?

Accepted Answer

A campsite designation that indicates an occupant can carry a small watercraft to the lake directly from their campsite. (This is not a boat ramp.)

Question 54

What is a boat launch?

Accepted Answer

An area (typically a graded ramp from land into water) that allows visitors to launch their boats into a lake, river, or ocean.

Question 55

What is a boat ramp?

Accepted Answer

A slab, plank, or graded slope near a body of water, for launching boats and hauling them out.

Question 56

What is a bog bridge?

Accepted Answer

A simple walkway that enables people to traverse fragile habitats. These bridges are comprised of planks or split logs (stringers) placed on sills. Once built, they help protect soft soils, muddy spots, and wetlands—while keeping one’s feet nice and dry.

Question 57

What does bonk mean?

Accepted Answer

Hitting your limit. A physical state of exhaustion in which you feel that you have no energy remaining.

Question 58

What is a booking window?

Accepted Answer

A booking window indicates when dates become available for reservation. Common booking windows include Rolling Booking Windows and Block Release Windows. Some sites are also released on a First-Come, First-Served basis.

Question 59

What is boondocking?

Accepted Answer

A manner of camping that relies on an RV’s self-contained facilities (water, energy, waste disposal). This approach allows RVers to camp in remote locations.

Question 60

What is bouldering?

Accepted Answer

A form of climbing performed on small rock formations or in constructed environments without ropes or harnesses.

Question 61

What is boxing the needle?

Accepted Answer

A navigational process that requires one to line up a compass’s needle with magnetic north.

Question 62

What does breathable mean?

Accepted Answer

Refers to the porosity of fabrics. Breathable materials are not waterproof.

Question 63

What is a bug jacket?

Accepted Answer

A jacket made from an airy bug-proof mesh that prevents small bugs (e.g., no-see-ums) from getting in.

Question 64

What is the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)?

Accepted Answer

An agency of the U.S. government that oversees 247.3 million acres of public lands.

Campnab’s Pretty Darned Useful Glossary of Camping Terms

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