What’s My Trailname?! – The Trek

Trail Names are a right of passage within the thru-hiking community. It is a nickname that is traditionally bestowed upon you. You can be given a trail name after something funny occurs or maybe it is describing something about you.

I have met plenty of people who went by “Smiles” due to them smiling a lot. I hiked with a person named “Spoons” for a while on the Appalachian Trail due to misplacing his spoon and using a tent stake in its absence. The following week, his friends decided to prank him and he woke up with all of his tent stakes replaced with spoons. Afterwards, the trail name stuck.

My personal favorite was a couple who were “Landfill and MorningDove.” Landfill because he ate a crazy amount and MorningDove because she was an early riser. I once was talking to a SOBO and we were discussing people he has met so far to see if I knew anyone. The SOBO said he talked to a couple named “Bottomless Pit and Singing Bird.” I knew exactly who he was talking about.

You can also give yourself your own trail name. And then there are others who never truly adopt a trail name. No matter your take on the trail names, there is only one real rule – you have to approve the trail name and you are allowed to reject as many suggestions as you would like. You cannot call someone a trail name if they do not accept. 

My Relationship with Trail Names 

Personally, for every major and minor backpacking trip I have done, I have had a different trail name. With the exception of the Appalachian Trail, I hike in groups. Creating trail names for one another always felt like a bonding experience and solidifying the pack. When getting a trail name on the AT, it felt like I was officially apart of the thru-hiking community. I wanted my own personal trail name during that thru-hike to reflect who I was. I was picky and did not receive my name until mile 273. Let me give you a brief history of why I was given all of my trail names. 

My Different Trail Names

• • Firebow is what I used on the Appalachian Trail
  • Zoop is what I used for the Long Trail
  • Pippin is what I used for the West Highla
    nd Way
  • Meema is what I used for when I was trip leader for a teenage backpacking trip in the White Mountains. 

Firebow

On the Appalachian Trail, I went by Firebow. I got this trail name on Max Patch. It was given to me by a guy named Greg. Looking back, I think Greg was a little strange but kind. He was a section hiker who spent the last few days on Max Patch in North Carolina playing a music bowl he hiked out with. He was an interesting character. We met at the Standing Bear Inn, right outside the Smoky Mountains. I was hiking with another thru-hiker (her trail name was Bumblebee), and all three of us conversed until late at night. The next day before we left, Greg wrote both me and Bumblebee notes for us to open at Max Patch. He said he gave us both trail names in the notes. So on Max Patch (which was a magical day), we opened our notes.

The gist of my note was I should be called “Fire Bow” because I sparked conversations. I liked it. I thought it was powerful and different. Plus, the other names I received on the AT but rejected were “gabby”, “gibberish” ect, which in my opinion weren’t very kind. This one put a positive spin on a trait that I was proud of. Plus, it reminded me of Katniss Everdeen and I love her. 

Zoop

On the Long Trail, I was named Zoop. The Long Trail was my first thru-hike. I did it with my best friend, Sarah and her brother, Doug. On day one of the Long Trail, we met our first person who introduced themselves with their trailname; Treefrog. She was a middle school science teacher. After that, Sarah, Doug, and I spent a long time thinking about what our trail names would be. We finally decided that our names would be Zoop, Soop, and Doop;  the OOP GROOP. We even choreographed a little introduction when we met other people (we were bored). I knew when I did the AT, I didn’t want to be Zoop. It would have made no sense without my OOP GROOP. 

Pippin

Pippin is what I was called on the West Highland Way. This is due to having a group of six where we somewhat resemble the Fellowship of the Ring. We had a natural Frodo, Samwise, Mary, and Pippin

Meemaw

Meemaw is just one example of a trail name I have gotten on a small backpacking trip with other people. In college, I worked as a Trip Leader for a teenage travel camp. This included going on a five-night backpacking trip in the White Mountains with six campers. I also regularly led backpacking trips through my College Outing Club throughout the school year. When backpacking in small groups, I encouraged the idea of trail names. Creating trail names for each other is a great bonding exercise and creates solidarity within the group.

So, I got the trail name Meemaw due to my campers poking fun at my cautious approach of backpacking (I wouldn’t like them climb a slippery boulder 5 miles deep in the backcountry). So yea, what can I say, I am a grandma.

The note Greg wrote for me at the Standing Bear Inn explaining why I should go by Firebow

Now I am about to go on the PCT

Now, I am in a predicament –  what trail name do I use? 

I could go by Firebow again. Firebow is what I am known as in the thru-hiking community (for those who knew me). Many people keep their trail name from their first thru-hike. Accomplished hikers like Heather “Anish” Anderson, the current holder of the FKT on the AT talks extensively about Anish felt like a different person than Heather. There are also hikers like Darwin and Dixie (both youtubers) who exclusively go by their trail name. I love the name Firebow and I loved who I was when I was Firebow. However, I do cringe every time someone calls me Firebow outside of thru-hiking. It is like I am exclusively Firebow on trail.  

I could also go by Zeagle. Zeagle is my nickname to whoever. My first name is Zoe and my last name is Eagle and together I am ZEAGLE. It is badass, it is who I am, and I do not cringe when “real-life” people call me this nickname. Technically, I gave myself this name which is arguably less fun but the quiet truth is people give themselves trail names all the time. However, no matter what I go by – when I make it to Canada, I will exclaim “the Zeagle has landed.”  

This leaves me with a third option; to get another trail name on the Pacific Crest Trail. Someone gives it to me the way I got all of my other trail names. And then the tradition of mine to have a new trail name for every adventure lives on. I will also be starting the PCT with two different types of trekking poles and I am sure someone will have a field day with that. 😀 

Conclusion

Whatever happens, happens. I do not think I will decide until I get to CLEEF Campsite and sign my name on the iconic banner. If you have any opinions, feel free to comment. However, online (and in real life), I will go by Zeagle or Zoe. If I do go by Firebow or decide to get a new trail name, that will be reserved for hikers only ;).

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