Trail Talk: What Is A Blaze?

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If you are new to hiking (or camping) you might not know what blazes are. They are simply signs usually painted on trees or rocks to indicate that you are still 'on the path'. That's where the phrases "blazing the trail" and "trail blazing" came from. Most trails will use white for a basic "you are heading the right way" indicator but there are times when you will see other colors. This is why it is important to know, in advance, what the colors and shapes of the blazes mean. Sometimes you will get an advanced warning that the trail is going to change course or that you will need to cross a highway or roadway to continue. Other times you will be left a little stumped when you have to ford a river and can't find the blaze when you get across it. Then there are trails that overlap; a good example of that is the Appalachian trail that uses white blazes but at any given time there are other local trails that run parallel to the AT or through it. 9 times out of 10 you won't have any problems staying on course with the blazes but it never hurts to have a definitive map and to keep your eyes open to signage alerting hikers of path closures or detours. The photo I picked out for this shows what a white blaze looks like on a tree; volunteers routinely walk their section of a trail to ensure that the blazes can be seen clearly and use white paint to touch them up when necessary. Do you ever go camping or hiking? Would you ever travel abroad to hike in another country? Do you live near a trail like the Appalachian Trail?