Camping Glossary

Most camping terms are pretty much well understood and even self-explanatory, but just in case, here are the definitions of some terms frequently used by campers:

Boondocking:  primitive camping, usually without any developed sites or amenities or facilities.

BLM:  Bureau of Land Management.  The federal government agency responsible for management of federally owned lands, most of which are west of the Mississippi River.  Many of these areas are open to dispersed camping and sometimes OHV and other recreational activity.  Not to be confused with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Dispersed camping:  usually refers to open, undeveloped camping areas in Forest Service or BLM lands.  For more details about dispersed camping in Forest Service, see Dispersed Camping Guidelines.  Dispersed camping areas are sometimes used as overflow camping when regular camp grounds fill up but many people prefer dry camping in dispersed camping areas for better privacy and serenity.

Billy can: an empty tin can with the lid removed used to boil water or cook food over a fire.

3-season tent: a tent designed for spring, summer, and fall use; not recommended for use in snow and cold weather.

4-season tent: a tent suitable for use all year round and built to withstand winter weather.

A-frame tent: a tent supported by center poles with the sides draping down to the ground in the shape of an "A"; pup tents are a typical example of an A-frame tent.

Dome tent: A rounded tent supported by flexible poles that usually slide into external sleeves and connect from side to side through the peak of the tent giving it a dome shape.

Double wall tent: a tent with a rain fly, which is the second "wall". The inner wall is usually made of a breathable material or includes a screened vent and the rain fly is waterproof or at least water resistant.

Single wall tent: a tent without a fly; usually made of non-breathable waterproof material.

Cabin tent:   cabin tents are usually made of heavy canvas, with vertical walls and a peaked roof (shaped like a cabin, hence the name).  They are roomy and lend themselves well to semi-permanent uses but, because of their weight, are not good for hiking, backpacking, or other non-motorized moves.  They usually have poles at least on all 4 corners and in the middle of each end to support the peaked roof.

Ditty bag: a drawstring bag used to carry items

Foil dinner: a meal that is wrapped in aluminum foil and cooked or reheated on a grill or in a campfire. Usually consists of meat, potatoes, and vegetables.

Hobo stew: a popular slang name for a foil dinner.

Mummy bag: a sleeping bag that is tapered at both ends to minimize internal air space, fit closely, and conserve body warmth.

Shock-corded poles: sectional tent poles, usually made of fiberglass (sometimes aluminum), whose sections are strung together with an elastic cord.  The cord keeps them from getting separated and helps hold them snug when assembled.

Base camp: a primary camp site used to support hikes, OHV rides, and other activities.

Blaze: a sign, painted symbol, or rocks arranged to mark a trail.

Bushwhacking: Off-trail travel through brush and other foliage where no existing path exists.

Cache: a stash of food or other supplies along a trail or at designated locations for future use.

Deadman: a rock or log buried in the ground to anchor a tent when the ground is too soft for stakes to hold.  Also used to anchor a tent in snow.

Flash flood: a sudden flood resulting from a cloudburst; flash floods can occur in gullies miles away from where the rain is falling or the snow is melting.

Giardia: a bacteria that contaminates water in remote areas and can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, etc. Fast running streams are less likely to contain microbes than slow streams and stagnant pools but to be safe, all natural water should be boiled or purified before use even if it appears to be clean.

Imu: a shallow pit used for cooking.

Dakota fire pit: a specialized fire pit designed for maximum cooking with minimum use of fuel; it consists of a primary pit about 1' in diameter with a fist-sized tunnel from the bottom to ground level on the windward side to provide a draft for more efficient burning.

Rocket stove:  a simple wood burning stove often made from tin cans; if done right, it can cook an entire meal using just a handful of twigs as fuel.  A simple rocket stove can be made from one #10 can and 4 soup cans (see rocket stove instructions here).

Tinder: shavings, dry grass, etc; the first thing you light (after a match or lighter) to get your fire going. Tinder should ignite quickly using an ignition source such as matches, focused sunlight, or sparks from flint and steel.

Kindling: small dry pieces of wood, 1" in diameter or smaller, used to ignite larger pieces of fuel.  Added to a fire after tinder and before full size fuel.

Lean to:a shelter with a roof, one open side, and, at most, 3 walls. An emergency lean-to is often just a roof with one edge resting on the ground and three open sides.

Twist-on-stick: a baking powder bread made by twisting thick dough on a stick and cooking it over a fire.

Cairn: a pile of rocks used to mark a trail.

Camp: to spend the night in a temporary shelter (tent, lean-to, etc)

Car camping: camping in, beside or near a vehicle, allowing the campers to use larger, heavier tents than they could carry when hiking, plus have access to additional equipment such as coolers, camp stoves, BBQ grills, and even television or using your car or other vehicle to sleep in.

Iron ranger: the collection box where you deposit your fees at campgrounds without human attendant.

Water thief: a device that attaches to an unthreaded faucet via a rubber connector that allows you to temporarily connect a garden hose to the faucet.

For additional details, enter "camping glossary" in your favorite Internet search engine.