backtrail
Way you came
A backtrail is the path you've already traveled, especially in wilderness contexts where retracing your route matters: We followed our backtrail back to camp.
As a verb, to backtrail is to retrace that path or to track someone by following their trail in reverse: The hunter backtrailed the deer to its bedding area.
Follow a previous path
- returnGo back again
- reverseTurn to opposite
- breadcrumbsDried, crushed loaf pieces
- waypointsIntermediate navigation targets
markers · landmarks · route · orientation · wayfinding · turnaround · rewind · regress
Route for traveling
- footpathRoute for pedestrians
- switchbackReversing mountain path
- ridgeNarrow raised strip
- terrainLand's physical features
scramble · wilderness · loop · topography · elevation · descent · ascent · trek
Marks left by walking
- spoorAnimal's passage evidence
- trackerOne who follows trails
- signsDisplays conveying information
- scentAirborne odor detected
pursuit · stalking · hunting · quarry · game · clues · evidence · search
Spatial representation of terrain
- compassDevice showing cardinal directions
- GPSSatellite-based location technology
- cartographyCreating geographic representations
- orientationPosition relative to surroundings
pathfinding · route · directions · triangulation · bearing · coordinates · topo · contours
retrace
Follow a previous path
- returnGo back again
- reverseTurn to opposite
- breadcrumbsDried, crushed loaf pieces
waypoints · markers · landmarks · route · orientation · wayfinding · turnaround · rewind · regress · fallback
path
Route for traveling
- footpathRoute for pedestrians
- switchbackReversing mountain path
- ridgeNarrow raised strip
terrain · scramble · wilderness · loop · topography · elevation · descent · ascent · trek · dayhike
footprints
Marks left by walking
scent · pursuit · stalking · hunting · quarry · game · clues · evidence · search · following
map
Spatial representation of terrain
- compassDevice showing cardinal directions
- GPSSatellite-based location technology
- cartographyCreating geographic representations
orientation · pathfinding · route · directions · triangulation · bearing · coordinates · topo · contours
backtrailpioneer trail
Route taken by settlers
trailhead · destination · advance · frontier