I got a kind of round about question concerning the term “blue blazes.” Apparently it came via Facebook — a part of the Internet that I don’t pay much attention to and only look at on occasion. But anyhow, the subject today is blue blazes.
When I heard the term, I immediately thought that I knew what it was… interestingly enough, I wouldn’t have known before we moved here to West Virginia.
You may, or may not, know that we live very near the Appalachian Trail. I’ve never “hiked” the trail, but I’ve been on it a number of times since we’ve moved here. The Appalachian Trail is marked by white “blazes” along the entire trail — from Georgia to Maine. You follow these blazes to make sure you stay on the trail and don’t get lost.
Before I go any further, (one) definition of blaze comes from the Old Norse word “blesi,” which means a spot or patch of white on the face of a horse or other animal. To “blaze” a trail originally meant to strip a patch of bark from trees along a route, exposing the lighter wood underneath, and therefore marking the trail. Those white markers on the Appalachian Trail serve just that purpose and are referred to as blazes.
Now back to “blue” blazes…. blue blazes are alternate Appalachian Trail route markers. There are many blue blazes along the Appalachian, most of which lead a short distance off the main trail to water sources, shelters, camping sites, or some spectacular view. I might note that there are other colors of blazes also located along the trail.
So to summarize, a blaze is a trail marker to help hikers follow a given path — the blazes are usually used to indicate the beginning or ending of the trail or a change of direction, or maybe an intersection.
That would be my response to what in blue blazes does blue blazes mean. However, the term blue blazes has fallen into the idiom category — a phrase that isn’t meant to be taken literally. Idioms are are often used because someone can’t come up with a better, more descriptive or dramatic way of expressing himself. I’ve heard people say, “I haven’t seen you in blue blazes,” or “where in blue blazes have you been?” or “how in blue blazes am I supposed to do that?”
If you look it up, one definition of “blaze” pertains to fire. This use of blaze referring to fire comes from a very old German word, “blason” that means torch. The term blazes is used often as a slang expression referring to the flames of Hell. If you’re partial to this definition, and you say, “where in blue blazes have you been?” you’re really saying, “where the hell….”
As far as the “blue” part goes…. I’m not sure, but if you remember in chemistry or science class, the blue part of the flame of your bunsen burner was the hottest, so attaching blue to blazes might mean that you’re referring to the most intense part of the fire…
I remember hearing my dad use the term “blazes” occasionally and I don’t think he ever took a hike, but the fact that I traditionally think of blazes in connection with a trail just shows that we really are influenced by out environment… I guess I’ve become a real West Virginia Mountaineer.
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