What is a switchback hiking trail.?

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totalbummer

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I am new to hiking and keep hearing about switchbacks. I was told I was hiking one at one point but could not tell the difference between that and a regular trail.
 
A "switchback" an engineering tool used to get trails and roads up steep hills. When you are hiking up hill and the trail makes a 180 and continues up the hill in the other direction, that is a switchback.
 
A switch back is a regular trail, except it goes back and forth up a mountain. Instead of going straight up the mountain the switch back snakes back and forth along the side fo the mtn causing the trail to be less steep.
 
A switch back is a regular trail, except it goes back and forth up a mountain. Instead of going straight up the mountain the switch back snakes back and forth along the side fo the mtn causing the trail to be less steep.
 
It's a trail that zig zags up to the summit. Taking a direct line from the base to the top would be too steep so switchbacks allow for a lesser grade incline.
 
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