Calculating backcountry miles

[Snowhunter11]

Calculating backcountry miles..

Is their a percentage you guys add on when route planning over crow flies? I recently went on a sheep hunt about 10 miles deep for 7 days. "wrist watch miles" around 55. Obviously in that ten miles we shifted to glass, get water, etc. I have calculated a new albeit much longer route for next year and added 20%. An impossible variable I know.. Anyways just trying to see what other use when established trails are non existent. On multiday back pack hunts its nice to rough plot sleeping areas" or flat spots" , glassing points, and set goals to achieve. I appreciate any educated feedback.

 

[def90]

I don’t think I’ve ever sat there and calculated miles, I just decide where I want to go, formulate some sort of plan and then get there and find out the wind is wrong and end up doing something different.

Pretty sure that OnX calculates on the ground miles if you use their tool to lay out a route.

 

[Snowhunter11]

Right I am adding to the on x numbers because the numbers are off when you are constantly zig zagging, climbing through blow down, and going around boulder fields the size of volvos! You can only see so much on google earth or onx imo..

 

[S.Clancy]

If you track the route while hiking with a GPS that should be reasonably close. You could then compare those tracks with routes drawn in OnX or Google Earth and determine your own adjustment factor

 

[Snowhunter11]

True.. Every terrain type may have a different rough variable. Only gps I carry due to weight restrictions is a garmin inreach mini 2. Due to limited battery time I only have tracking on every 30 mins or off.

 

[justinspicher]

I always just guess, which means I am probably way off.

 

[Pdzoller]

For my own information I do pretty much the same as you described. If I’m telling someone else about my hunt I add roughly 200% to distance and weight.

 

[Whaledriver]

Depends a lot whether you are trying to impress internet friends or get instafamous. If so, go 10 miles each way, 4k vertical, post holing with a full bull elk on your back. All before noon on Saturday.

 

[MTtrout]

Without using a gps tracking device you will never know. If you’re interested in knowing and concerned about weight why not try a gps watch or use your phone with a light weight battery cell?

As far as looking at Google Earth or other imagery, learn how to understand topology and terrain signatures to have a better grasp on what the “crow flys” really means

 

[Koda_]

caltopo.com has a route tool that estimates off trail travel time. One of the better phone GPS apps out there.

 

[ozyclint]

When in the west coast mountains of NZ, distances are quoted in hours and days.
You can literally glass animals from camp with 10x binos that are 2 days away. (Sometimes, as crow flies, a mile is 2 days)

 

[kevlar88]

When in the west coast mountains of NZ, distances are quoted in hours and days.
You can literally glass animals from camp with 10x binos that are 2 days away. (Sometimes, as crow flies, a mile is 2 days)

58 more days and l’ll be experiencing that for myself, but who’s counting.

 

[ozyclint]

58 more days and l’ll be experiencing that for myself, but who’s counting.

You'll love it.

 

[Wrench]

Im also a time guy. Some guys may hike at faster paces, but for the most part, we all creep along at a similar pace when hunting.

 

[jonesn3]

A pretty accurate way is using Naismith Rule. Check out Wikipedia, there’s a good write up there. Basically, its a quick calculation that accounts for flat hiking pace and elevation gain. Off the top of my head is like 1-2 mph flat pace and an addition 30-45 mins pers 1000 ft of elevation gain. You can factor in whether it’s on-trail or off-trail routes. Keeping track of your tracks and hiking speed in the field helps calibrate the calc based your personal pace. It works pretty good when I’ve pre-planned routes and estimated hiking times.

 

[jonesn3]

Here's the link for Naismith Rule

Naismith's rule - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Also a little calculator tool that does the estimate for you (with some factors applied). It has some good writeup on considerations for on/off trail, pack weight, and pace. You could easily adapt that into your own spreadsheet or calculation for quick planning during escouting.

Hiking Time Calculator

Estimate your hiking time, pace & speed accurately with TrailsNH's quick and easy hiking time calculator. Based on Book Time, Naismith's Rule, and TrailsNH Correction.

trailsnh.com

 

[Snowhunter11]

Here's the link for Naismith Rule

Naismith's rule - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Also a little calculator tool that does the estimate for you (with some factors applied). It has some good writeup on considerations for on/off trail, pack weight, and pace. You could easily adapt that into your own spreadsheet or calculation for quick planning during escouting.

Hiking Time Calculator

Estimate your hiking time, pace & speed accurately with TrailsNH's quick and easy hiking time calculator. Based on Book Time, Naismith's Rule, and TrailsNH Correction.

trailsnh.com

That is pretty damn sweet.. For people trying to plot campsites in areas with little flat spots or soft ground that could be extremely helpful! I will give it a try and see if my experience plays out in a similiar timeline. Thanks for the link.

 

[jonesn3]

That is pretty damn sweet.. For people trying to plot campsites in areas with little flat spots or soft ground that could be extremely helpful! I will give it a try and see if my experience plays out in a similiar timeline. Thanks for the link.

Not a problem! There's an app for iOS that's called like "Naismith" or something. Not the greatest app, it uses metric units, but that could be useful too for in the field since OnX doesn't have that built into their route planner. I just use an "offline" version of a spreadsheet on my phone when in the field and needing to estimate new unplanned routes

 

[doc holiday13]

a calibrated pedometer is fairly accurate

 

[kevlar88]

You'll love it.

@ozyclint done and done! 14 days in the back country and my knees are still stiff. Crazy how going 600-800 yards can end up taking 1.5+ hours.