Switchbacks ?

Alpe d uez 21 switchbacks

There's a series of 6 or so hills on Cannock Chase just a small distance from the stepping stones on the way to seven springs that are known locally as the 'switchbacks'.  Now this is what I would call switchbacks.  A track going up or down a steep hill traversing then 'switching back' to make the gradient more bearable.  Cannock chase's offerings are more like a straight line series of hills with no switching back.

I was going to post on here asking if anyone knew why they would be called this but simply googling it gave me an answer.

(swĭch'băk') 
n.

1. A road, trail, or railroad track that follows a zigzag course on a steep incline.
2. A sharp bend in a road or trail on a steep incline.
3. Chiefly British. A roller coaster.

So that settled it. It's just a British thing then.

It doesn't matter what they're called I suppose but they make quite a decent training run and in the recent snow are a bit more hairy on the descents.

There is an interesting looking race coming up in February.  A charity event for the local Katherine House Hospice called the endurance challenge that is held over a 'country mile' (just under 5 in this case) and takes in the switchbacks some bog running, some upper body strength stations and a couple of other hills.  All a bit fun run for me but for a good cause.