It is generally a good idea to keep track of distance traveled.  Not only is measuring and timing your rate of travel a good skill to develop, but you will also find that you appreciate knowing how much farther you have to go before the next campsite, or being able to estimate what time you need to get up in order to complete the next day's mileage.

 

Rate/Time/Distance (RTD) Methods

    This model involves estimating your rate of travel (miles per hour) and measuring your time traveled.  The time traveled is the easier part.  When you are using the RTD method have a designated time-keeper...this person needs to be wearing a watch with a stop watch function. They simply have the stop watch running whenever they are walkin and the watch is stopped for all breaks.  The very best way to estimate your rate of speed is to measure your time over a known distance over a known type of hiking.  Hiking on-trail is a great place to use this method.  Say that the Appalachian Trail guide tells you that it is 9 miles from the Ponds Road to the Newhall Lean-to; and after your group walks that route, your time-keeper tells you that the total walking time was 5 hours and 10 minutes.

     You'd do the time conversion from minutes to tenths of hours (minutes x 0.01666 = tenths of an hour), and apply the formula:

Rate = Distance/Time

Rate = 9/5.16

Rate = 1.75 miles per hour

     Now, you know this was your group's rate on a section of the trail that included going up and down a 3,600' mountain.  Your group will probably be faster on the trail on fairly flat sections and will be slower off-trail.

    Another way to estimate rate of travel is to use one of the many available rate estimates.  One we like is:

• flat trail with heave pack goes at about 2 mph

• off-trail (but, fairly easy going) clunks along at about 1 mph

• off-trail but very thick, small-diameter, evergreen trees or slash zips along at 1/2 mph

• for each 1000 feet of elevation gain or loss add 1/2 hour to your time estimate

     So, with a stop-watch measured walking time and an estimated rate, you can estimate distance, thus: Rate x Time = Distance

 

When you are traveling it is important to keep a steady pace that everyone in the group can maintain to avoid fatigue and injury.

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