Hi! I’m trying to understand how these terms are actually used in everyday American English:

What’s the difference between hiking, backpacking, thru-hiking, and trekking?

  • When do you use each word?
  • Do Americans actually use “trekking,” or does it sound unnatural?
  • Would you ever say something like “going hiking for a week,” or would that usually be “backpacking”?
  • How would you describe a multi-day trip on a trail (like part of the Appalachian Trail or John Muir Trail)?

I’ve seen definitions online, but I’m more interested in how people really talk in the US.

Thanks!


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