A Hiker’s Lexicon
Cabane
Large mountain hut or inn that often has
dorm style sleeping areas and group dining
halls.
Chamois
A bovid, or goat-antelope native to the
European Alps. It’s an elusive creature, only
about three feet tall and 100-120 pounds,
and clocks up to 30 mph or more when
escape is the objective.
Col
A “pass” through a mountain range area, or
low, sometimes protected area on a massif.
Ibex
A species of large goat, native to the
European Alps. Easy to spot with its impres-
sive, ridged horns that grow up to three feet
long or more. The ibex was nearly driven to
extinction by the 19 th century before being
reintroduced to much of its historical range.
Lac
A lake. The Alps are chock full of cold, clear
glacial lakes, breathtaking in color due to
mineral content of the mountain water.
Massif
A mountain range, as in Mont Blanc Massif.
Mont Blanc
White Mountain. Mont Blanc is “co-owned”
by France and Italy under the terms of a bi-
lateral agreement.
Neve
Not the fluffy snowflake variety but loose
granular snow, more like ball bearings, that
unfortunately lends itself to avalanches.
Pas
Like a col, it’s a “pass” through a mountain
range area. Because the Alps stretch 750
miles through eight countries from France
to Slovenia, different terms are used to mean
the same thing.
Scramble
A hike classifies as a scramble when it
involves climbing through a rocky area
where there’s little to no trail and you have
to make your way around boulders and use
your hands.
Val
A valley, and in the context of the Alps, a
beautiful alpine valley.
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
december 2018-january 2019
gmhtoday.com
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