PART TWO: Trails, Greenway, and Outdoor Recreation Terms

Compiled and edited by Jim Schmid

Many of the glossary terms and definitions provided here were compiled for and published in Trails Primer: A Glossary of Trails, Greenway, and Outdoor Recreation Terms and Acronyms, 2001, Jim Schmid, editor, south Carollina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, Columbia, SC.

The terms are listed in alphabetical order, so definitions of interest can be found quickly.

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Gabion Baskets: Rectangular containers (usually made of heavy galvanized wire) that can be wired together, and then filled with stones to make quick retaining walls for erosion control.

Gaiters (Leggins, Puttees): Coverings that zip or snap around the ankles and lower legs to keep debris and water out of your boots.

Gate: Structure that can be swung, drawn, or lowered to block an entrance or passageway.

Genesis, Soil: The mode of origin of the soil, with special reference to the processes responsible for the development of the true soil from the unconsolidated parent material.

Geocaching: Involves hiding a cache (a stash of goods and a log book) in a remote location and recording its location using a GPS unit. The coordinates, along with a few helpful hints, are then posted on a website for other GPS-wielding geocachers to look up and then hunt for— a modern day treasure hunt.

Geographic Information System (GIS): A spatial database mapping system (computer and software) that contains location data for trails and other important features.

Geotextile (Geo-synthetic, Geofabric, Filter Fabric): A semi-impervious, nonwoven, petrochemical fabric cloth that provides a stable base for the application of soil or gravel. Most common use is in the construction of turnpikes.

Giardiasis: An intestinal illness (diarrhea, excessive gas, and abdominal cramping) caused by the protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia occurring in untreated backcountry water sources.

Glacier: A huge mass of ice, formed on land by the compaction and re-crystallization of snow, that moves very slowly down slope or outward due to its own weight.

Glade: An open space in a forest.

Glissade: To slide down a snow slope, either sitting or standing, using an ice-axe to control speed and direction.

Global Positioning System (GPS): A system used to map trail locations using satellites and portable receivers. Data gathered can be downloaded directly into GIS database systems.

Glulaminated: A process used to fabricate long beams from short lengths of 2x4, 2.6, or 2x10 lumber. The pieces are placed flat on top of each other with glue spread between them. Lengths are varied so that transverse joints in each layer are not opposite one another. Pressure binds the pieces together. The assembly may be two to four time longer than the longest individual piece of lumber within it.

Goal(s): Statement(s) of what a plan or action in a plan hopes to accomplish in the long term. Goals state the preferred situation, and usually are not quantifiable and may not have established time frames for achievement.

GORP: A high-carbohydrate snack food made primarily from nuts and dried fruit, an acronym for "good ol' raisins and peanuts."

Government: The administrative body that establishes and implements legislation, appropriates funds for projects, and oversees its responsibilities through numerous administrative agencies (federal, state, and local governments)

Grade: The amount of elevation change between two points over a given distance expressed as a percentage (feet change in elevation for every 100 horizontal feet, commonly known as "rise over run"). A trail that rises 8 vertical feet in 100 horizontal feet has an 8% grade. Grade is different than angle; angle is measured with a straight vertical as 90¼ and a straight horizontal as 0¼. A grade of 100% would have an angle of 45¼.

Grade, Change of: An abrupt difference between the grade of two adjacent surfaces.

Grade, Maximum: The steepest grade permitted on any part of a trail.

Grade, Negative: Trail runs downhill.

Grade, Positive: Trail runs uphill.

Grade, Reverse: A short rise in the trail, which traverses a slope that forces any water on the trail to drain off to the side.

Grade, Sustained: The steepest grade permitted over the majority of the trail length.

Grade, Trail: The average grade over the length of a trail or long section of trail.

Grade, Tread: The grade of a specific short section of trail tread.

Grade-Separated Crossing: Overpasses or tunnels that allow trail users to cross a railroad right-of-way or street at a different level than trains or traffic.

Graffiti: Any writing, printing, marks, signs, symbols, figures, designs, inscriptions, or other drawings that are scratched, scrawled, painted, drawn, or otherwise placed on any surface of a building, wall, fence, trail tread, or other structure on trails or greenways and which have the effect of defacing the property.

Grant(s): A financial assistance award making payment in cash or in kind for a specified purpose.

Grassroots (Support): Efforts at the local level utilizing public interest groups and communities in support of trails or greenways.

Grate: A framework of latticed or parallel bars that prevents large objects from falling through a drainage inlet, while permitting water and some sediment to fall through the slots.

Gravel: Soil particles ranging from 1/5 to 3 inches in diameter.

Green: An open space available for unstructured recreation consisting of grassy areas and trees.

Green Building: A philosophy of construction of buildings and development of sites that fosters environmental responsiveness, resource efficiency, and community and cultural sensitivity.

Green Infrastructure: An interconnected network of waterways, wetlands, woodlands, wildlife habitats, and other natural areas; greenways, parks and other conservation lands; working farms, ranches and forests; and wilderness and other open spaces that support native species, maintain natural ecological processes, sustain air and water resources and contribute to the health and quality of life for communities and people.

Greenbelt: A series of connected open spaces that may follow natural features such as ravines, creeks, or streams. May surround cities and serve to conserve and direct urban and suburban growth.

Greenspace: Natural areas, open spaces, trails, and greenways that function for both wildlife and people.

Greenway: A linear open space established along a natural corridor, such as a river, stream, ridgeline, rail-trail, canal, or other route for conservation, recreation, or alternative transportation purposes. Greenways can connect parks, nature preserves, cultural facilities, and historic sites with business and residential areas.

Greenway, Community: Safe, off-road corridor of open space that connects neighborhoods, schools, parks, work places, and community centers via paths and trails.

Greenway, Conservation: Open space corridor that protects biodiversity and water resources by connecting natural features such as streams, wetlands, forests, and steep slopes.

Griphoist: A brand name for a manually operated hoist that pulls in a cable at one end and expels it from the other end; used to move rock or timber needed for trail structures.

Groundwater: Water that infiltrates through the ground surface and accumulates in underground water bodies in porous rock or gravels.

Groundwater Table (Water Table): The upper limit of the part of the soil or underlying rock material that is wholly saturated with water. In some places an upper, or perched, water table may be separated from a lower one by a dry zone.

Grub (Grubbing): To dig or clear roots and tree stumps near or on the ground surface of the trail tread.

Grub Hoe: A tool with a blade (various weights) set across the end of a long handle used in building and repairing trail tread and digging trenches.

Guardrail: A 36- to 42-inch railing at the edge of a deck to prevent people from falling.

Guideline(s): A statement and/or illustration describing a recommendation or principle for a preferred development technique or a course of action. Guidelines are not mandatory actions.

Gully-washer: Heavy rain.

Gutter: A trough or dip used for drainage purposes that runs along the edge of a trail.

Habitat: A place that supports a plant or animal population because it supplies that organism's basic requirements of food, water, shelter, living space, and security.

Hammock: A cluster of trees, often hardwoods on higher ground.

Handrail: A 32- to 35-inch railing along a stairway to help people avoid falling down the stairs.

Handrail: A long stream, road, or other feature that runs parallel to your course of travel. For example, once you follow a stream bank you can hold on to that "handrail" without constantly checking your compass bearing and position on the map. You will need to first find a "check point" on the map that will indicate when to turn away from the handrail.

Hantavirus: A respiratory disease that is carried in wild rodents such as deer mice. People become infected after breathing airborne particles of urine or saliva found in rodent-infested areas. The virus produces flu-like symptoms and takes one to five weeks to incubate. It is 60% fatal.

Hard Surface (Paved) Trail: A trail tread surfaced with asphalt, concrete, soil cement, or other hard, stabilized material.

Hardening: The manual, mechanical, or chemical compaction of the trail tread resulting in a hard and flat surface that sheets water effectively and resists the indentations that are created by use.

Hardening Block (Turf Support Block, Turf Stone, Grass Grid, Tri-Lock Block): All can be used for hardening of the trail tread, but each has unique characteristics, which lend themselves to different applications.

Hardhat: A hard shell worn on the head as protection during trail work.

Hardpan: A layer of rock or compacted clay layer of soil that forms a durable and generally erosion-free trail surface.

Harmony: A combination of parts into a pleasing or orderly whole: congruity; a state of agreement of proportionate arrangement of form, line, color, and texture.

Hazard Tree (Danger Tree, Widow Maker): Tree or limb that is either dead, or has some structural fault, that is hanging over, or leaning towards the trail or sites where people congregate.

Header, Stone or Rock: A long, uniform stone laid with its narrow end towards the face of a retaining wall or crib used intermittently to structurally tie in the other rocks laid in the wall.

Headwall: Support structure at the entrance to a culvert or drainage structure.

Headwaters: The area in the upper reaches of a watershed typified by unconfined surface water flows. Headwaters can coalesce to form rivulets or first order streams with distinct channels. Headwaters can often be ephemeral (wet only part of the year).

Heartwood: The oldest wood of a tree, extending from the center of a log out to the sapwood. It is the densest, strongest, and darkest wood in a log.

Heat Exhaustion: The body's reaction to overheating, which includes salt-deficiency and dehydration.

Heatstroke: A severe illness in which the body's temperature rises way above normal; also called sunstroke.

Height: Measure of the vertical dimension of a feature. May also be the depth of a rut or dip.

Helical Pier or Pile: Steel post with auger-shaped bit-end that is screwed into wet soils either by hand, or with the aid of specialized hydraulic tools to establish a foundation for puncheon or boardwalk.

Helmet: A hard-shell protective device worn on the head while riding OHVs, mountain bikes, horses, etc., or while in-line skating.

Hewing: Using an ax or adz to cut a log so that its cross section is a square or rectangular.

High Potential Site (or Segment): Historic sites or trail segments which afford high quality recreation or interpretation opportunities.

Highway: A road, street, parkway, or freeway/expressway that includes rights-of-way, bridges, railroad-highway crossings, tunnels, drainage structures, signs, guardrail, and protective structures in connection with highways.

Hiker-Biker Trail: An urban paved trail designed for use by pedestrians and bicyclists.

Hiking Trail: Moderate to long distance trail with the primary function of providing long-distance walking experiences (usually two miles or more).

Hill Climbing: Riding or driving straight up hills at high speed in an attempt to climb higher and higher on steep slopes.

Hogback: A rounded ridge.

Hostel: A low-cost establishment usually offering bunks, showers, and sometimes meals or kitchen facilities to travelers.

Hunt (Hunting) Camp: Areas set up to be used by seasonal hunters for camping. May also act as a trailhead.

Humus: The well-decomposed, more or less stable part of the organic matter in mineral soils.

Hydration Bag: Water bag fitted with a hose through which you can drink, usually carried on your back.

Hydric Soil: Soil that is saturated or flooded during a sufficient portion of the growing season with anaerobic conditions in the upper soil layers.

Hydrology: The study of the occurrence, circulation, and distribution of waters of the earth. Local hydrologic regimes and processes need to be taken into account in trail and greenway planning. These processes include precipitation, interception, run-off, infiltration, percolation, storage, evaporation, and transpiration.

Hypothermia: Lowering of the body's core temperature to dangerous levels. Wet conditions, wind, and exhaustion can bring on hypothermia.

Impact Fee: A fee levied on the developer or builder of a project by a public agency as compensation for otherwise unmitigated impacts the project will produce. Impact fees can be designated to pay for publicly owned parks, open space, trails, or recreational facilities.

Impacts (Effects): Encompasses all physical, ecological, and aesthetic effects resulting from the construction and use of trails (both negative and positive). Many studies have been concerned with environmental and social impacts of different users, such as tread wear, littering, conflicts between users, or vandalism.

Impermeable Material: A soil or material whose properties prevent movement of water.

Impervious Surface: Hard surfaces that do not allow absorption of water into the soil and that increase runoff. Examples of such surfaces include concrete or asphalt paved trails and parking areas.

In-Kind Contribution(s): Funds donated toward the match for a grant. Can include state, community agencies, or private sector dollar donations, value of donated labor or equipment, real property, professional services, materials, etc.

Indemnify (Indemnification): To insure against or repay for loss, damage, etc.

Infill: The stone or soil material used to fill gaps in trail or wall construction/revetment work.

Infiltration: The portion of rainfall or surface runoff that moves downward into the subsurface rock and soil.

Infrastructure: The facilities, utilities, and transportation systems (road or trail) needed to meet public and administrative needs.

Inslope (Insloping): Where the trail bed is sloped downward toward the backslope of the trail; causes water to run along the inside of the trail.

Install (Construct): To set in position for use; to build a bridge or structure.

Interdisciplinary (ID) Team: A process of assembling a team of staff resource specialists who become fully involved in a discussion of issues, problems, conflicts and concerns; the development of alternatives; analysis of environmental effects; and development of final recommendations for management decision. From time to time, members of the general public or specialists from outside groups or agencies may participate with ID teams.

Intermodal: Connections between modes of transportation, such as automobile, transit, bicycle, or walking.

Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA): Federal legislation authorizing highway, highway safety, transit, and other surface transportation programs from 1991 through 1997. It provided new funding opportunities for sidewalks, shared use paths, and recreational trails. ISTEA was superseded by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) in 1998.

Intermodalism: The use of multiple types of transportation to reach one destination; includes combining the use of trains and buses, automobiles, bicycles, and pedestrian transport on a given trip.

IMBA Rules of the Trail: International Mountain Bicycling Association's six rules of responsible mountain bicycling: Ride on Open Trails Only, Control Your Bicycle, Always Yield the Trail, Never Scare Animals, Leave No Trace, Plan Ahead. Interpretation: Communicating information about the natural and/or cultural resources and their associated stories and values found at a specific site or along a trail. Tours, signs, brochures, and other means can be used to interpret a particular resource.

Interpretive Display: An educational display usually in an interpretive center or at a trailhead that describes and explains a natural or cultural point of interest on or along the trail.

Interpretive Trail (Nature Trail): Short to moderate length trail (1/2 to 1 mile) with primary function of providing an opportunity to walk or paddle and study interesting or unusual plants or natural features at user's pleasure. The ideal nature trail has a story to tell. It unifies the various features or elements along the trail into a related theme.

Intersection (Junction): Area where two or more trails or roads join together.

Invasive Exotic: Non-native plant or animal species that invades an area and alters the natural mix of species.

Inventory, Trail: A comprehensive list of trails. Usually compiled by an agency or state. Invert: The bottom surface of a pipe, ditch, or culvert over which water flows.

Invitee: A person on the owner's land with the owner's permission, expressed or implied, for the owner's benefit, such as a paying customer. This is the highest level of landowner responsibility and therefore carries the highest level of liability.

Island: An area of land, smaller than a continent, completely surrounded by water.

Isthmus: A narrow strip of land located between two bodies of water, connecting two larger land areas.

Joist: Usually a wooden 2x6, 2x8, 2x10, or 2x12, with the 2-inch dimension resting on a sill or ledger, toe nailed into place, supporting a floor or deck.

Joist Hanger: A steel angle or strap nailed to the side of a ledger and shaped to hold a joist. After the joist hanger is installed, the joist is placed within the hanger and the two are nailed together.

Key Observation Point(s) (KOP): One or a series of points on a travel route or at a use area or a potential use area, where the view of a management activity would be most revealing.

Kiosk (Sign): A freestanding bulletin board consisting of three to five sides housing informational or interpretive displays. Knob: Prominent rounded hill or summit on a longer ridge.

Lagoon: A shallow area of water separated from the ocean by a sandbank or by a strip of low land.

Lake: Large inland body of water.

Land: The total natural and cultural environment of the solid surface of the earth.

Land, Private: Land owned by a farmer, corporation, or individual (private landowner).

Land, Public: Federal, state, or municipal land in trust for the governed populace (public landowner).

Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF): A federal matching assistance program that provides grants for 50 percent of the cost for the acquisition and/or development of outdoor recreation sites and facilities.

Land Ethic: The desire humans have to conserve, protect, and respect the native landscape and other natural resources because their own well being is dependent upon the proper functioning of the ecosystem.

Land Management Agency: Any governmental agency that manages public landsÑmany managed as recreation and/or wilderness areas. Examples include federal agencies such as the USDA Forest Service, the USDI National Park Service, and the USDI Bureau of Land Management, as well as state and local park system agencies.

Land Manager: Any person who makes decisions regarding land use.

Land Transfer: The sale, exchange, or other conveyance of land from one owner to another, especially under the authority of land disposal laws such as the Desert Land Act, Carey Act, Recreation and Public Purposes Act, FLPMA, etc.

Land Trust: A private, nonprofit conservation organization formed to protect natural resources such as forestland, natural areas, and recreational areas. Land trusts purchase and accept donations of conservation easements.

Land Use: The way a section or parcel of land is used. Examples of land uses include industrial, agricultural, and residential.

Landscape: The sum total of the characteristics that distinguish a certain kind of area on the earth's surface and give it a distinguishing pattern in contrast to other kinds of areas. Any one kind of soil is said to have a characteristic natural landscape, and under different uses it has one or more characteristic cultural landscapes.

Landscape Character: The arrangement of a particular landscape as formed by the variety and intensity of the landscape features and the four basic elements of form, line, color, and texture. These factors give the area a distinctive quality which distinguishes it from its immediate surroundings.

Landscape Features: The land and water form, vegetation, and structures which compose the characteristic landscape.

Landslide: Dislodged rock or earth that has slipped downhill under the influence of gravity and obstructs passage on a trail.

Latitude: The angular distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds.

Leaching: The loss of soil minerals from upper layers of the soil to lower layers by water drainage.

Lease: The temporary grant of an interest in land upon payment of a determined fee. The fee does not have to be monetary, but some consideration must be given for the right to use the land, or the lease will not be legally binding.

Leave No Trace (LNT): Educational program designed to instill behaviors in the outdoors that leave minimum impact of human activities or occupation (www.LNT.org).

Ledger: A horizontal piece of wood attached to, and supported by, piles or concrete or stone masonry piers. Ledgers support stringers or tread timbers.

Legal Public Access: The right of passage, established by law, over another's property. Can be created by an easement dedicated or reserved for public access. Legal public access exists on public land, public waters, public rights-of-way, and public easements.

Legend: A listing that shows symbols and other information about a map. Legislation: Written and approved laws. Also known as "statutes" or "acts."

Leisure: The free or discretionary time available for people to use as they choose after meeting the biological and subsistence requirements of existence. Length: Dimension of a feature measured parallel to the direction of travel.

Less-Than-Fee-Simple: Land acquisition technique that obtains only certain land use rights from the landowners, such as conservation easements, management agreements, or leases.

Liability (Liable): In law, a broad term including almost every type of duty, obligation, debt, responsibility, or hazard arising by way of contract, tort, or statute. To say a landowner or person is "liable" for an injury or wrongful act is to indicate that they are the person responsible for compensating for the injury or wrongful act.

License: Allows the licensed party to enter the land of the licensor without being deemed a trespasser.

Licensee: Person using a property for their benefit (i.e. hunting, hiking, etc.) with the implied or stated consent of the owner, but not for the benefit of the owner.

Lighting, Back: A situation where the light source is coming from behind the object being viewed. Objects are generally in shadow with highlighted edge.

Lighting, Front: A situation where the light source is coming from behind the observer and shining directly upon the area being viewed.

Lighting, Side: A situation where the light source is coming from the side of a scene or object being viewed. It is usually the most critical for revealing contrast.

Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC): A planning framework that establishes explicit measures of the acceptable and appropriate resource and social conditions in recreation settings as well as the appropriate management strategies for maintaining or achieving those desired conditions.

Line: The path, real or imagined, that the eye follows when perceiving abrupt differences in form, color, or texture. Within landscapes, lines may be found as ridges, skylines, structures, changes in vegetative types, or individual trees and branches.

Linkage(s): Connections that enable trails and greenway systems to function and multiply the utility of existing components by connecting them together like beads on a string.

Litter: The uppermost layer of decaying organic matter in any plant community; or, carelessly discarded trash on the trail.

Load, Dead: The total physical weight of a bridge or structure, equal to the combined weight of all structural components.

Load, Design: The maximum weight a trail tread or structure can carry at any point along its length. Service and emergency vehicles need to be considered when determining the design load of trails and structures.

Load, Live: The active forces and weights that a bridge or structure is designed to support, including people, service vehicles, flood waters, floating debris contained within flood waters, wind, snow, and ice.

Loam: An easily crumbled soil consisting of a mixture of clay, silt, and sand.

Loft: The upper floor of a shelter, often accessed via a ladder. Or, the degree of fluffiness in the fill of a sleeping bag.

Log, Trail: An inventory of physical features along or adjacent to a trail. An item-by-item, foot-by-foot record of trail features and facilities or improvements on a specific trail.

Log Dogs: Metal braces that are used to temporarily hold two logs at right angles to each other.

Logged Out Tree: Down tree across the trail with sections already removed to permit passage.

Logo: A distinctive emblem, symbol or trademark that identifies a product or service.

Loitering: Crime of lingering idly or prowling about on a trail or greenway, especially for the purpose of begging, dealing drugs, or soliciting for prostitution.

Longitude: The angular distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees.

Loppers (Pruning Shears): A long-handled tool with two opposing blades (by-pass or anvil) used for cutting heavy vegetation (limbs of 1 to 1_ inches in diameter).

Lumber: Wood that has been sawn into a square or rectangular cross section that is two inches thick or less.

Lyme Disease: An infection caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called a spirochete carried by deer ticks. Symptoms associated with the early stagesÑfever, headache, stiffness, lethargy, and myriad other mild complaintsÑare often dismissed as the flu. If left untreated, Lyme disease can produce lifelong impairment of muscular and nervous systems. See a doctor immediately if you suspect you have the disease.

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Machete: A large knife used to clear succulent vegetation.

Machine Built: Trail or feature constructed with the use of an excavator, trail dozer, or other piece of equipment.

Magnetic North: A spot in northern Canada, overlying the earth's magnetic North Pole, toward which the red needle of a compass points.

Maildrop: Food or sundry resupplies sent to yourself via USPS, UPS, or other carriers. There could me several maildrops on a long-distance trail trip.

Maintainer: A volunteer who maintains a section of trail as part of a trail-maintenance program of a trail organization.

Maintenance: Work that is carried out to keep a trail in its originally constructed serviceable condition. Usually limited to minor repair or improvements that do not significantly change the trail location, width, surface, or structures.

Maintenance (Annual): Involves four tasks done annually or more often as needed: cleaning drainage, clearing blowdowns, brushing, and marking.

Management: Responsibilities include the over-all policy, planning, design, inventorying, mapping, construction, and maintenance of trail or greenway segment or site development, as well as the operational aspects of administration.

Manager: The person who has charge of a piece of land (i.e. a Park Manager).

Marker, Trail: An appropriate and distinctive symbol with the name of the trail imprinted on plastic or metal triangles or diamonds and used to mark a trail route.

Marsh: A mineral wetland that is permanently or seasonally inundated by standing or slow moving water. The waters are nutrient rich and the substrate is usually mineral soil. Marshes are characterized by communities of emergent rushes, grasses and reeds, and submerged or floating aquatic plants in areas of open water.

Massif: A group of mountains.

Master Plan: A comprehensive long-range plan intended to guide greenway and trail development of a community or region. Includes analysis, recommendation, and proposals of action.

Mattock: A sturdy two-bladed tool with an adz blade that can be used as a hoe for digging in hard ground. The other blade may be a pick (pick mattock) for breaking or prying small rock or a cutting edge (cutter mattock) for chopping roots.

Maximum Pitch: The highest percent of grade on a trail.

Maximum Sustained Pitch: The highest percent of grade on a trail that is sustained for a significant distance.

McLeod: A forest fire tool that looks like an over-sized hoe with tines on the opposite blade. In trail work it is used to remove slough and berm from a trail and to smooth the tread.

Meadow: Tract of grassland.

Measuring Wheel (Cyclometer): A device that records the revolutions of a wheel and hence the distance traveled by the wheel on a trail or land surface.

Mechanical Advantage: Multiplication of work force through the use of simple machines such as the lever, the inclined plane, the wheel, and the pulley.

Memorandum of Understanding/Agreement (MOU/MOA): A signed, written agreement entered into by various governmental agencies and nonprofit groups to facilitate the planning, coordination, development, and maintenance of a trail or trails system.

Mesa: Flat-topped elevation with one or more cliff-like sides.

Mineral Soil: The layers of the subsoil relatively free of organic matter.

Minor Field Adjustments: Deviations of the trail alignment made during the course of normal construction or maintenance as determined by the supervisor or crew leader, and not part of an original survey.

Minimum Clear Width: The narrowest point on a trail; created when significant obstacles, such as utility poles or tree roots, protrude into and reduce the design width.

Mitigate (Mitigation): Actions undertaken to avoid, minimize, reduce, eliminate, or rectify the adverse impact from a management practice or the impact from trail users.

Mode: A particular form of travel, such as walking, bicycling, operating a vehicle, etc.

Monitor(ing): Check systematically or scrutinize for the purpose of collecting specific data along a trail in relation to a set of standards to determine whether progress is being made in achieving management objectives or goals.

Moraine: A ridge or pile of boulders, stones, and other debris carried along and deposited by a glacier. The most common moraines are end (or terminal) moraines and lateral (or side) moraines.

Mortar: A mixture of sand, lime, Portland cement, and water that is used in masonry construction to bind bricks, concrete blocks, or stone to form structural elements such as retaining walls and piers. Mortar may also be used when constructing riprap.

Motorized: Off-highway recreation using motorized vehicles (motorcycle, ATV, snowmobile, four-wheel drive, or other light utility vehicle) on trails.

Mountain Bike: Designed for trail riding and characterized by upright handlebars, heavy-duty brakes, wide tires, and low gearing. They are used for both recreational and competitive bicycling.

Mountaineering (Mountain Climbing, Alpinism): Climbing high mountains (for sport) where skill and gear to enable belaying, rappelling, glacier travel, and climbing over rock, snow, and ice are needed. The object is to reach summits and not simply to traverse trails and passes.

Mouth: The exit or point of discharge of a stream into another stream, lake, or sea.

Mudbogging: Driving through ponds, bogs, and mudholes for the challenge of not getting stuck and the fun of making mud fly and creating ruts.

Mudslinging: Intentionally spinning tires through the muck to spray mud on the surrounding area, make noise, and quickly create deep ruts.

Mulch: Organic matter spread on newly constructed trail work to help stabilize soils and protect them from erosion.

Multimodal: Facilities serving more than one transportation mode, or a transportation network comprised of a variety of modes.

Multiple Use Area: A land management objective that seeks to coordinate several environmental, recreational, economic, historical, cultural and/or social values in the same geographic area in a compatible and sustainable manner.

Multiple-Use (Multi-Use, Diversified Use) Trail: A trail that permits more than one user group at a time (equestrian, OHVer, hiker, mountain bicyclist, etc.).

Multiple Use Trail Network: A series of trails that interconnect to form a system that, as a whole, allows for more than one use. The individual trails may be single use or multiple use.

Nailer: A strip of wood attached to a stringer that tread planks are nailed or screwed to.

National Conservation Area: Similar to National Monument status; applies solely to BLM lands. Granted only by Congress. Individual site determines allowable recreational activities.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): Federal law (established by Congress in 1969), which requires that every Federal agency with public involvement assess the biological and cultural resources in the location of any ground-disturbing activity on federal land and evaluate if there will be any significant environmental impacts of the proposed project.

National Forest or Grassland: Land managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and may allow a wide variety of activities including logging, mining, and oil and gas drilling, as well as trail activities, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and OHV use.

National Historic Trail (NHT): Federally designated extended trails, which closely follow original routes of nationally significant travel (explorers, emigrants, traders, military, etc.). NHTs do not have to be continuous, can be less than 100 miles in length, and can include land and water segments. The Iditarod, the Lewis and Clark, the Mormon Pioneer, and the Oregon trails were the first to be designated as NHTs in 1978.

National Monument: Federal areas of unique ecological, geological, historic, prehistoric, cultural, or scientific interest. Traditionally used for historic structures or landmarks on government land; more recently used to grant national park-like status to tracts of western land. Designated by Congress or the president. Individual site determines allowable recreational activities.

National Park: Managed by the National Park Service primarily to protect resources and recreation opportunities. Some allow grazing, but do not allow hunting, mining, or other extractive uses.

National Preserve: Often linked with a national park. Allows mineral and fuel extraction, hunting, and trapping.

National Recreation Area: Federal areas that have outstanding combinations of outdoor recreation opportunities, aesthetic attractions, and proximity to potential users. They may also have cultural, historical, archaeological, pastoral, wilderness, scientific, wildlife, and other values contributing to public enjoyment. Designated by Congress. Individual location determines allowable recreational activities.

National Recreation Trail (NRT): Existing trails that provide a variety of outdoor recreation uses in or reasonably accessible to urban areas (over 800) recognized by the federal government (Secretary of Interior or Secretary of Agriculture, not Congressional action) as contributing to the National Trails System.

National Resource Land: Managed for grazing and extraction by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM); often unnamed. Allows all recreational activities.

National Scenic Area: Area that contains outstanding scenic characteristics, recreational values, and geological, ecological, and cultural resources.

National Scenic Trail (NST): Federally designated extended trails (over 100 miles in length), which provide for the maximum outdoor recreation potential and for the conservation and enjoyment of the significant scenic, historic, natural, or cultural qualities of the areas through which they pass. The Appalachian and the Pacific Crest trails were the first to be designated as National Scenic Trails in 1968.

National Seashore: Coastal equivalent of a national park. Some allow hunting. National Trails System: A network of trails (National Scenic, Historic, or Recreation) throughout the country authorized by the 1968 National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241-51).

National Trails System Act (NSTA): Was passed as Public Law 90-543, signed by President Johnson on October 2, 1968, after several years of negotiations. It has been amended more than 20 times since.

National Wildlife Refuge: Preserves wildlife habitat. Allows hunting and fishing; some allow overnight camping.

Native Species: An indigenous species (a basic unit of taxonomy) that is normally found as part of a particular ecosystem; a species that was present in a particular area at the time of the Public Land Survey (1847-1907).

Natural Resource(s): For outdoor recreation include areas of land, bodies of water, forests, swamps, and other natural features which are in demand for outdoor recreation or are likely to become so.

Natural Surface (Trail): A tread made from clearing and grading the native soil, and with no added surfacing materials.

Nonmotorized: Trail recreation by modes such as bicycle, pedestrian, equestrian, skate, ski, etc.

Non-Point Pollution: Contaminants that are released into the environment from dispersed sources such as pesticides from farm fields as opposed to localized sources such as pipes.

Notice of Interim Use (NITU): A document issued by the STB in Notice of Exemption for rail line abandonments (lines out of service for two or more years). It has the same effect as a CITU.

Noxious Weeds: Plant species designated by Federal or State law as generally possessing one or more of the following characteristics: aggressive and difficult to manage; parasitic; a carrier or host of serious insects or disease; or nonnative, new, or not common to the United States.

Nylon Strap: Heavy duty woven strap of wide nylon with eyes sewn in both ends. May be set basket style or choker style. Used mainly as anchor ties for a Griphoist or block attached to live trees, as their wider load-bearing surface does less bark damage and eliminates the need for the use of shims.

Objective(s): Specific action(s) within a plan that if attained, will assure progress in the direction of established goals.

Obligate: The way project sponsors spend money, typically by putting their project under contract for construction. Grant programs often require project sponsors to obligate funds in a timely manner or lose the funds.

Obstacle(s): Physical objects large enough to significantly impede or slow travel on a trail. Logs, large rocks, and rock ledges are common obstacles.

Obstacle(s), Removable: An item that obstructs the clear passage space along a trail but is not fixed immovably to the ground. Examples include rocks, vegetation, etc.

Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV): Any motorized vehicle used for travel in areas normally considered inaccessible to conventional highway vehicles. OHVs generally include dirt motorcycles, dune buggies, jeeps, 4-wheel drive vehicles, snowmobiles, and ATVs.

Off-Highway Vehicle Use Designations: Used by federal agencies in the management of OHVs on public lands.

• Open: Motorized vehicle travel is permitted year-long anywhere within an area designated as "open" to OHV use, if the vehicle is operated responsibly.
• Limited: Motorized vehicle travel within specified areas and/or on designated routes, roads, vehicle ways, or trails is subject to restrictions.
• Closed: Motorized vehicle travel is prohibited in the area. Access by means other than motorized vehicle is permitted.

Old Growth: Forests that have never been logged or have not been logged for many decades; characterized by a large percentage of mature trees.

Open: Designated areas or trails where specified trail uses are permanently or temporarily permitted.

Open and Flowing: A type of trail design that allows for sweeping turns, higher speeds, and better sight lines.

Open Space: Areas of natural quality, either publicly or privately owned, designated for protection of natural resources, nature-oriented outdoor recreation, or trail-related activities. In urban settings areas of land not covered by structures, driveways, or parking lots.

Open Space, Common: Territory that is jointly used by a group of people. It is not public, because those who do not hold it common can be excluded. It is not private either, because it has to be shared with others. In many suburban subdivisions, houses cluster around open spaces that would otherwise be divided into front or side yards.

Open Space, Private: Space that is privately owned and not open to the public.

Open Space, Public: Territory that is owned and managed by a public agency for everybody's benefit.

Operating and Maintenance Costs (O&M): Funds for day-to-day costs of operating and maintaining a trail or greenway. Costs include worker's salaries, equipment upkeep, etc.

Obstacle: An object that limits the vertical passage space, protrudes into the circulation route, or reduces the clearance width of a trail (such as boulders, crop-offs, and tree braches).

Optimum Location Review (OLR): A review of the optimum trail location when acquiring property rights (purchase, lease, easement, right-of-way). Factors considered include terrain, connections to the rest of the trail, property ownership, ability to acquire the lands, etc. In short, all of the environmental, social, and economic impacts, which would lead to selecting the optimum lands for location of a trail, are considered.

Option: The right to purchase or lease a property at a certain price where the price is guaranteed for a certain designated period.

Organic Soil: Soil that is made up of leaves, needles, plants, roots, bark, and other organic material in various stages of decay, and has a large water/mass absorption ratio.

Outcrop: A rock formation that protrudes through the level of the surrounding soil.

Outdoor Recreation: Leisure activities involving the enjoyment and use of natural resources primarily outdoors.

Outdoor Recreation Access Route (ORAR): A continuous unobstructed path designated for pedestrian use that connects accessible elements within a picnic area, campground, or designated trailhead.

Outflow (Outwash): The off-treadway ditch portion of a drainage structure, intended to remove all water from the trail.

Outrun (Run-out): That section of a trail, usually at or near the base of a descent, which provides adequate length and grade reduction in order for the user to safely stop or negotiate turns, intersections, or structures. Outruns are usually associated with ski touring.

Outslope (Outsloping, Offslope): A method of tread grading that leaves the outside edge of a hillside trail lower than the inside to shed water. The outslope should be barely noticeableÑusually no more than about one inch of outslope for every 18 inches of tread width.

Ownership-In-Fee (Fee Purchase, Fee Simple): A complete transfer of land ownership from one landowner to another party, usually by purchase.

Panniers (Saddlebags, Kyacks, Panyards, Alforjas): Pair of containers carried on either side of a pack animal, bicycle, or motorcycle to carry supplies and equipment.

Parallel Ditching: A lateral drainage ditch constructed adjacent to the trail tread to catch surface water sheeting from the tread surface and divert it away from the trail. Generally this drainage system is utilized in low flat areas or areas where multiple entrenched trails have developed.

Parcourse (Vita course): A series of exercise stations located along a fitness trail. Each station is designed to exercise a different set of muscles.

Park: Any area that is predominately open space with natural vegetation and landscaping used principally for active or passive recreation.

Park, Linear: A linear open space established along a natural corridor, such as a river, stream, ridgeline, rail-trail, canal, or other route for passive recreation, education, and scenic purposes.

Parkway: A broad roadway bordered with (and often divided by) plantings of trees, shrubs, and grass.

Partner: One of two or more parties working jointly toward shared goals.

Partnership(s): Arrangement(s) between two or more parties who have agreed to work cooperatively toward shared and/or compatible objectives and in which there is: shared authority and responsibility (for the delivery of programs and services, in carrying out a given action, or in policy development); joint investment of resources (time, work, funding, material, expertise, information); shared liability or risk-taking; and ideally, mutual benefits.

Pass: Narrow low spot between mountain peaks; lowest point along a mountain crest. Pass is generally used in the West, while "gap" is used in the South, and "notch" in New England.

Passing Space: A section of trail wide enough to allow two users to pass one another or travel abreast.

Passing Space Interval: The distance between passing spaces.

Path (Pathway): This is a temporary or permanent area that is normally dirt or gravel, although some paths are asphalt or concrete. A path typically indicates the common route taken by pedestrians between two locations.

Pathfinder: One that discovers a way; explores untraveled regions to mark a new route. Someone who promotes a new process or procedure.

Paved Dip: A swale crossing paved with stones to enable water to run across a trail without erosion.

Pavement: That part of a trail having a constructed hard paved surface for the facilitation of wheeled trail traffic.

Peak: The high point of a mountain or hill.

Peak-Bagging: Reaching the tops of as many peaks as possible and keeping a record of the accomplishment.

Peat: Partially carbonized organic matter, usually mosses, found in bogs and used as fertilizer or fuel.

Pedestrian: Any person traveling by foot, or any mobility-impaired person using a wheelchair, whether manually operated or motorized.

Peen: To strike a piece of metal with a hammer, denting the surface, or mashing the threads of a bolt after installing a nut to prevent the nut from being removed.

Peninsula: A piece of land extending into the sea almost surrounded by water.

Peripatetic: Walking about; moving from place to place.

Permit (System): Use-authorization forms issues by agencies to control the amount of use along trails or in wilderness areas. Permits may be obtained from the agency office, by mail, over the phone, or in person, or they may be self-issued; self-issued permits are usually obtained at the trailhead or immediately outside agency offices. They can be used to increase visitor knowledge about regulations, recommended low-impact behaviors, and potential hazards.

Ph: Soil acidity or alkalinity; a Ph of 7 is neutral, less than 7 is acid, and over 7 is alkaline.

Physical Feature: A land shape formed by nature.

Pick (Pick-ax, Pick-axe): A tool with a 36-inch handle and a head that has a point at one end and a chisel-like edge at the other. Used to loosen soil or rock.

Picnic Area: Day-use area with one or more picnic tables where meals can be eaten outdoors.

Pier: Bridge or boardwalk supports at one or both ends of a beam or stringer. They may be timber or log cribbing or piles, helical piles, stone masonry, or concrete.

Pile (Piling): A timber, pipe, or metal pole, or cast in place concrete, or metal to serve as a support for a bridge or boardwalk. The pile is either placed in a hole dug to the depth required (end bearing pile), driven with a heavy weight (friction pile), or screwed into the ground by a machine (helical pile).

Pilot Hole: A small hole drilled in wood or steel to guide a nail, screw, or drill bit.

Pinning: Driving drift pins through a log or timber into a log or timber, or into the ground.

Pitch: An increase in the prevailing grade of a trail, used during construction to avoid an obstacle, to catch up with the intended grade, or to meet a control point.

Pitch: A section of ice or rock that is difficult to climb, may be from 10 to 120 feet in height.

Piton: A spike (driven into rock) to which ropes are attached during climbing or rigging.

Plan: Document that shows the steps needed to develop a trail or greenway.

Plan, Action: A plan designed to provide details on a short-term activity.

Plan, Comprehensive: Local government plan that meets state statute requirements, and thus contains the guidelines, principles, and standards for the orderly, coordinated and balanced future economic, social, physical, environmental, and fiscal development of the area. Many contain trail, greenway, or open space components.

Plan, Comprehensive Management (CMP): Blueprint to the complex resource management, interagency collaboration, and partnerships endemic to trails and greenways.

Plan, Comprehensive Master: A broad collection of goals, policies, and objectives adopted by a locality for the purpose of directing the growth of the locality.

Plan, Implementation: A site-specific plan written to implement decisions made in a land use plan. An implementation plan usually selects and applies BMPs to meet land use plan objectives and includes a schedule of project activities and a budget.

Plan(ning), Land-Use: The development of plans for the uses of land that, over long periods, will best serve the general welfare, together with the formulation of ways and means for achieving such uses.

Plan, Resource Management: A planning document that presents systematic guidelines for making resource management decisions for a planning area.

Plan, Strategic: A systematic approach that helps to select and organize tasks in a logical sequence, bearing in mind the constraints and opportunities.

Plan Amendment: The process of considering or making changes in the terms, conditions, and decision of approved plans. Usually only one or two issues are considered that involve only a portion of the planning areas.

Plan and Profile Sheets: Drawings (usually prepared for trail construction) used to record horizontal and vertical geometry of a trail alignment as well as other required improvements to the trail corridor.

Planimetric map: A map that shows features such as roads, trails, and mountains, but does not show contour lines of elevation changes.

Plank: A 2x4, 2x6, 2x8, 3x6, or wider board or timber. Usually used as a decking surface or tread.

Plank Decking (Flooring): That part of a bridge, puncheon, or boardwalk structure that provides direct support for trail traffic.

Plank Run (Running): Usually wood planks laid lengthwise on top of bridge decking used as the tread surface.

Planning: To devise a scheme for developing or constructing a trail or greenway.

Plateau: An elevated area of mostly level land, sometimes containing deep canyons.

Playa: The usually dry and very level lake-plain that occupies the lowest part of a closed depression.

Plumb: A line or plane perpendicular to the Earth's surface.

Point(s) of Interest: Ecological, historic, cultural, and recreational features or sites that may contribute to the quality of a trail user's experience.

Pole Saw (Tree Pruner): A pruning saw with a telescoping handle to trim branches that would otherwise be out of arm's reach. Some models have built-in loppers that can be operated from the ground with a rope.

Policy: Specific guidance or means to achieve a goal.

Pond: Still body of water smaller than a lake.

Ponding: Water that has accumulated in a low area.

Portage: A situation that exists when a paddler must temporarily leave a river or stream to carry the boat and gear around hazards such as dams, downed trees, or dangerous whitewater.

Portland Cement: A gray powder made from limestone that is mixed with sand and water to make mortar, or mixed with sand, small stones or gravel, and water to make Portland cement concrete.

Potable (Water): Safe to drink from the source without treating.

Pre-field: Performing a physical examination of the project work site in order to evaluate solutions to trail deficiencies, select the appropriate course of action, formulate the design and quantify the material, equipment, and person hour requirements.

Prescribed Burns: Formerly called "controlled burns," these are periodic, intentional fires used to clear underbrush in an effort to control "wildfires," open areas to wildlife, and promote germination of some species of flora. Preservation: Maintaining an area or structure intact or unchanged.

Primary Trails: Continuous through routes that originate at trailheads. Primarily for directing users through an area while promoting a certain type of experience.

Prime Meridian: An imaginary line running from north to south through Greenwich, England, uses as the reference point for longitude.

Prism: The trail cross-section as a whole.

Pruning: The removal of normal vegetative growth that intrudes beyond the defined trail clearing limits.

Public: Individuals, including consumer organizations, public land resource users, corporations and other business entities, environmental organizations and other special interest groups, and officials of State, local, and Indian tribal governments affected or interested in public land management decisions.

Public Land: Any land and interest in land owned by the United States and administered by the Secretary of the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management.

Public Use Condition (PUC): A condition attached to an STB-approved rail line abandonment authorization prohibiting the railroad from disposing of rail assets for a period of up to 180 days after such authorization unless the properties have first been offered, on reasonable terms, for sale for public purposes.

Puddle: A small pool of water usually a few inches deep and from several inches to several feet across.

Pulaski: During the early 1900s US Forest Service Ranger Edward Pulaski of Idaho needed a good tool for grubbing and chopping fire lines, so he welded the blade of a pick to the back of an ax head and created what has come to be known as the "Pulaski." The modern Pulaski combines an axe bit with an adz-shaped grub hoe and is a very popular tool among trail builders.

Puncheon (Bog Bridge): A log or timber structure built on the ground for the purpose of crossing a boggy area. Usually consists of sills, stringers, decking, and often a soil or loose gravel tread laid on top of the decking.

Purifier: Usually refers to a filter that employs an iodine-impregnated medium to kill water-borne organisms too small to be filtered out.

Put-in/Take-out Point: A defined area which provides public access/egress to water trails.

Quadrangle: A tract of land represented by one US Geological Survey map sheet.

Quality-of-Life: Term used to embrace many facets of life and community (culture, density, climate, etc.). Recreation, park, open space, and trail opportunities play an important role in a community's quality-of-life.

Quiet Title: An action brought in state court to establish legal rights to property.

Quitclaim Deed: Document that transfers ownership of real estate, but contains no guarantees that the seller has a valid right to do so, or that others do not have rights to the land.

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