Adventure Terminology: 100 Outdoor, Skiing, Climbing, and Biking Terms Unpacked

Basecamp – The starting point for many expeditions, where climbers and adventurers set up camp and prepare. 

Crevasse – A deep crack in a glacier, posing serious risks to climbers and skiers. 

Enduro – A form of long-distance mountain biking or motorcycle racing over rough terrain. 

Exposure – Terrain where a fall could be dangerous due to steep drops, common in climbing and skiing. 

Gnarly – Slang for something extremely difficult or exciting, often used in extreme sports. 

Off the grid – Operating in remote areas without access to conventional technology or communication, common in backcountry explorations. 

Scramble – A challenging mix of hiking and rock climbing on steep terrain, often without ropes. 

Shredding – Slang for riding aggressively or skillfully, often used in mountain biking or skiing. 

Summit – The highest point of a mountain, the ultimate goal for climbers and mountaineers. 

Trailblazing – Venturing into unmarked or less-traveled terrain, often requiring advanced navigation skills. 

Wilderness navigation – Finding your way through unmarked wild areas using tools like a compass, map, or GPS. 

Alpine skiing – Skiing on groomed trails within a ski resort, often at high speeds. 

AT (Alpine Touring) bindings – Specialized ski bindings that allow the heel to lift for uphill travel and lock down for downhill skiing. 

Backcountry access gates – Controlled points at ski resorts that lead to off-piste or backcountry terrain, requiring appropriate safety gear. 

Backcountry skiing – Skiing in unpatrolled, wild areas, often requiring skins for uphill travel. 

Breakable crust – A snow condition where a thin layer of hard snow sits on top of softer snow, challenging for skiers to navigate. 

Chatter – The vibration or instability experienced by skis or snowboards on hard-packed or icy snow, often at high speeds. 

Cornice – An overhanging mass of snow that forms along a ridge, often hazardous in backcountry skiing. 

Couloir skiing – Skiing down a narrow, steep gully, often requiring advanced techniques and mountaineering skills. 

Freeride skiing – Skiing off-piste in natural terrain, incorporating cliffs, powder, and natural obstacles. 

Glade skiing – Skiing through forests or wooded areas, often off-piste, requiring quick reflexes and precise control. 

Heuristic traps – Mental shortcuts or biases that can lead skiers to make risky decisions in avalanche terrain, often due to familiarity or group pressure. 

Kick turn – A maneuver used when skinning uphill, where the skier turns sharply by lifting one ski and pivoting around. 

Pillow line – A series of snow-covered boulders or ledges that skiers descend in quick, flowing turns, common in deep powder conditions. 

Powder – Fresh, light, and deep snow, ideal for off-piste skiing. 

Rime ice – A thin, rough layer of ice that forms on ski surfaces or gear, typically from freezing fog or mist. 

Sastrugi skiing – Navigating wind-shaped snow ridges that can be difficult to ski, often encountered in exposed mountain regions. 

Sidecountry – Terrain adjacent to a resort’s boundaries that’s accessible by lift but not patrolled or maintained. 

Skinning – The process of ascending a slope using climbing skins on the bottom of skis, commonly done in backcountry and ski touring. 

Skins – Adhesive strips that attach to the bottom of skis for grip during uphill climbs. 

Ski crampons – Metal spikes that attach to ski bindings, providing extra grip on icy or hard-packed snow during ascents. 

Ski touring – A mix of skiing and hiking where skiers ascend using skins and descend on ungroomed terrain. 

Sluff – Loose snow sliding down a slope, often triggered by a skier or snowboarder, which can knock someone off balance. 

Spindrift – Blowing snow or ice, often carried by wind across a mountain ridge, which can reduce visibility and make skiing difficult. 

Telemark skiing – A style of skiing where the heel is free, allowing for a natural, flowing descent. 

Tree skiing – Skiing between trees in an off-piste environment, requiring sharp reflexes and skill. 

Tree wells – Deep pockets of loose snow that form around the base of trees, which can trap skiers or snowboarders in deep powder. 

Wind slab – A compacted layer of snow formed by wind, often unstable and prone to avalanches. 

Berm – A banked turn on a trail that allows for faster, smoother cornering. 

Bikepacking – Long-distance biking, often off-road, while carrying camping and survival gear on the bike. 

Brake modulation – The ability to precisely control braking power, a crucial skill in technical mountain biking and steep descents. 

Downhill biking – Mountain biking focused on descending steep, technical terrain. 

Dropper post – A seat post that can be lowered on the go, helping riders shift their weight for descents. 

Enduro racing – Mountain bike racing focused on timed downhill sections and untimed uphill climbs. 

Fat biking – A type of biking that uses extra-wide tires designed for riding on snow, sand, or other soft surfaces. 

Flow trail – A smooth, well-graded trail designed to allow mountain bikers to maintain momentum with minimal pedaling or braking. 

Full-suspension – A bike with both front and rear suspension, ideal for absorbing bumps on rough terrain. 

Gravel riding – Cycling on unpaved roads or trails, typically on a bike with wider tires for better grip. 

Hardtail – A bike with only front suspension, lighter and better for climbing. 

Pump track – A looped track with berms and rollers, designed to be ridden without pedaling by "pumping" the bike through the terrain. 

Singletrack – A narrow trail designed for one bike rider at a time, common in mountain biking. 

Switchbacks – Zigzagging turns on a steep trail, common in both hiking and mountain biking to ease the ascent or descent. 

Technical descent – A steep, rocky or root-filled trail that requires advanced bike handling skills. 

Alpine climbing – Climbing in high mountain environments, often combining rock, ice, and snow. 

Anchor – A secure point used to attach the rope for protection in climbing. 

Belay – The technique of securing a climber with a rope to prevent falls. 

Bouldering – Climbing on smaller rock formations without ropes, focusing on technique and power. 

Carabiner – A metal loop with a spring-loaded gate used to connect ropes and other gear. 

Crampons – Spikes attached to boots for traction on snow and ice during mountaineering. 

Crux – The hardest or most technical part of a climb, often the key to completing the route. 

Dyno – A dynamic move in climbing where the climber jumps or lunges for a distant hold. 

Fixed rope – A pre-installed rope used for protection on steep sections of a climb. 

Free climbing – Climbing using only hands and feet for upward movement, with ropes for safety but not for pulling. 

Harness – A piece of equipment worn by climbers to attach to a rope for safety. 

Ice axe – A tool used for climbing steep ice and snow and for arresting falls. 

Lead climbing – Climbing where the lead climber ascends while placing protection as they go. 

Multi-pitch – A long climb that requires multiple pitches, often spanning a full day or more. 

Pitch – A rope-length section of a climb, typically between belay stations. 

Prusik knot – A friction knot used for ascending a rope, often in emergency or rescue situations. 

Quickdraw – A short length of webbing with two carabiners used to clip a rope to protection. 

Scree – Loose rocks on a steep slope, making navigation tricky and requiring careful footing. 

Col – A low point between two mountain peaks, often used as a pass for mountaineers. 

Cornice – An overhanging ridge of snow, typically found on mountain ridgelines, posing a risk to climbers and skiers. 

Couloir – A steep, narrow gully often used as a route for skiing or climbing. 

Face – The steep, often exposed surface of a mountain, offering direct routes for climbers or skiers. 

Glissade – A controlled slide down a snow slope, often used as a quick descent technique. 

Ridgeline – A narrow ridge of a mountain, often exposed to wind and weather. 

Saddle – Another term for a pass, the low point between two peaks. 

Sastrugi – Wind-sculpted ridges in snow, making navigation difficult in snow-covered terrain. 

Serac – A block of ice found on a glacier, often a hazard due to the risk of collapse. 

Snowpack – The accumulated snow on the ground, crucial for understanding avalanche risk. 

Avalanche – A large mass of snow and ice falling down a mountain, a serious hazard in backcountry skiing. 

Avalanche beacon – A safety device used to locate people buried in an avalanche. 

Blizzard – A severe snowstorm with high winds and low visibility, a major hazard in winter sports and mountain environments. 

Cairn – A pile of stones used as a trail marker, guiding hikers through open or rocky terrain. 

Crevasse rescue – Techniques used to rescue a climber who has fallen into a glacier crevasse. 

Ephemeral ice – Thin, temporary ice that forms on waterfalls or cliffs, often climbed during cold seasons but prone to melting. 

First aid kit – A collection of medical supplies, essential for treating injuries during outdoor activities. 

Headlamp – A hands-free light worn on the head, essential for navigating in the dark during outdoor activities like hiking or skiing. 

Hypothermia – A potentially life-threatening condition where the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. 

InReach device – A satellite communication device used for emergency messaging and navigation in remote areas. 

Leave No Trace – An outdoor ethic promoting environmental conservation, urging adventurers to minimize their impact on nature. 

Route finding – The skill of navigating through unmarked terrain using landmarks, maps, and compasses, crucial for backcountry adventures. 

Satellite phone – A mobile device that connects to satellites for communication in remote areas where cell service is unavailable. 

Self-arrest – A technique for stopping yourself during a fall on snow or ice, usually using an ice axe. 

Ski patrol – Trained professionals who provide medical assistance and rescue services at ski resorts and on backcountry missions. 

Snow cave – A shelter dug into deep snow to protect from wind and cold during emergencies. 

Survival shelter – An improvised shelter built to protect from the elements in an emergency. 

Whiteout – A weather condition where visibility is severely reduced by snow or fog, often leading to disorientation. 

Wilderness first responder – A certification in wilderness medicine for treating injuries and emergencies in remote areas. 

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