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backcountry
Another word for wilderness--a place
with no buildings or highways. You can go to a lot of places when you go outdoors,
like a nearby park, but the backcountry is the most natural and unspoiled. Backcountry
is used mostly in the United States. Outside of the United States, the word bush is more popular.
Piece of equipment worn on the back to carry a lot of things, like clothes, food and a tent. Backpacks can be big or small, and can have a metal frame inside of them to make them stronger.
internal frame
backpack
external frame backpack
(say bah-la-CLA-va)
Covering used on the head for really cold weather. There is only a small slit for the eyes and maybe the nose!
balaclava
Place where you start the final part of a big trip. Mountain climbs to the biggest mountains in the world need to have a basecamp as the place where they store their food and equipment because it sometimes takes weeks to finish climbing a really big mountain--and nobody can carry weeks of food on their back!
Soft cushion to sleep on when you are sleeping outdoors. Bedrolls usually roll up so that they can be small and easily carried--hence the name bedroll. Some things that are called bedrolls actually fold up, like inflatable cushions that people sometimes sleep on when they go camping. Most bedrolls, though, are made out of some kind of foam.
Way to climb on rocks safely. Many times, people who climb on rocks hang a rope from on top of the rocks they are trying to climb--a top rope-- and then attach it to themselves so they can be caught if they fall. The person who holds on to the rope to make sure it catches the rock climber is belaying.
Mysterious creature that looks like a very tall man covered with fur. Many people do not believe bigfoot really exists. Other names for bigfoot include jersey devil and sasquatch.
bigfoot?
Piece of equipment that attaches a boot to a ski. The binding is permanently stuck to the ski, and the boot goes inside the binding when the skier is ready to ski.
bindings
Sack like a sleeping bag that you can sleep in if you don't want to carry the weight of a tent and a sleeping bag. A bivy sack will keep you warm and dry. Many people use them when they are climbing on a steep cliff and can't bring a tent and a sleeping bag.
bivy sack
Colored marker or stripe of paint put on a tree to let people know where a trail goes. Usually blazes are put high enough up the side of a tree so that they can still be seen in the winter when deep snow covers the ground.
Painful spot on the foot that comes from walking too much, usually with the wrong shoes or socks, or without precautions to prevent it from happening. Blisters start as sore spots that will become full blisters if nothing is done to stop them. As soon as sore spots begin, you should stop and put tape or moleskin on them to keep them from getting worse. Wet feet are also more likely to become blisters.
To climb on rocks as if you are rock climbing but at a very low place, low enough that if you fall you can easily land on your feet (about 3 feet/1 meter or less). Bouldering is a way to practice rock climbing without having to worry about falling a long way. When you do bouldering you should have another person standing behind you to help if you fall.
Valley high up on a mountain that is scooped out and looks like a giant bowl. Bowls are popular to ski in during winter when there is a lot of snow.
Stretchy cord used to hold things together. Bungee cords are good for attaching things to backpacks. They can stretch to hold on to a lot of things or just one small thing.
bungee cord
Like backcountry, another word for wilderness--a place with no buildings or highways. Bush is often used in English-speaking countries, like Australia and England, outside of the United States, where the word backcountry is more popular.
To travel through the wilderness without using a trail. If you are in a place with a lot of trees, it can be very difficult to bushwhack because you can't see where you are going and you have to push your way through a lot of growing things! Also, you have to be careful where you are bushwhacking. Too many people crashing their way through the wilderness will eventually do a lot of damage.
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