Define it as you wish. Some "purist" and also FKT'ers, will do stuff like when getting to a shelter for a break, they hike in on the Blue blazed trail at the southern side of the shelter (for an example, a NOBO person), so when they leave, they hike OUT that same southern blue blaze, then turn and keep hiking. Yep, means they pass the other (northern) intersection of the same blue blazed trail which was for the south bound people. In towns, if the AT goes THRU the town then they'd stay on it. And same thing if the AT isn't in the town. Get a ride back to the same location where you came off the trail.