FNG questions

[Shepardg]

At the risk of sounding like a FNG, mostly because I am. While looking at my topo map what the best way for me to know what’s going to be to steep to hike and I’m waisting my time even thinking about it. is there a general rule of thumb well comparing line spacing to relative distance in feet. Say 1’ up to 1’ forward or 1’ to 2’. Having never hiked a mountain before I’m not really sure how crazy things are going to be while looking at it from the sky as opposed to feet on the ground. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a OTC Idaho deer tag and plan on chasing mules up in some high country with a bow come September. I’ll be hunting unit 51. from my understand it’s going to be a hard and changing hunt with some steep rugged terrain. Trying to get away from people I know will be challenging, but that is the goal. Plan to ride/hike up and in and set up and camp a few days. Also have E bikes at our disposal we think they could be useful but also as FNGs we could be sadly mistaken. Thinking 9800 feet or so for camp, to low? my understanding deer should be above the tree line so we plan to get up there with them. We are all in good shape and plan to get into better shape. Any info and knowledge would be appreciated.

 

[Forestryman2010]

At the risk of sounding like a FNG, mostly because I am. While looking at my topo map what the best way for me to know what’s going to be to steep to hike and I’m waisting my time even thinking about it. is there a general rule of thumb well comparing line spacing to relative distance in feet. Say 1’ up to 1’ forward or 1’ to 2’. Having never hiked a mountain before I’m not really sure how crazy things are going to be while looking at it from the sky as opposed to feet on the ground. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a OTC Idaho deer tag and plan on chasing mules up in some high country with a bow come September. I’ll be hunting unit 51. from my understand it’s going to be a hard and changing hunt with some steep rugged terrain. Trying to get away from people I know will be challenging, but that is the goal. Plan to ride/hike up and in and set up and camp a few days. Also have E bikes at our disposal we think they could be useful but also as FNGs we could be sadly mistaken. Thinking 9800 feet or so for camp, to low? my understanding deer should be above the tree line so we plan to get up there with them. We are all in good shape and plan to get into better shape. Any info and knowledge would be appreciated.

I can at least help on the topo. You should see somewhere on a contour line a number that is your elevation reference. I believe it’s every fifth line is your index line and it will have the number. Check for a scale usually it will have a 1” equals so many feet

Next look at line spacing. The closer the lines are together the steeper it gets, and the further apart they are the more gentle of a sloope. A V shape denotes a valley, U shape is a gully, concentric circles is usually a depression, and if you see a circle with no lines it will denote a summit.

Hope this helps.

 

[littlebigtine]

If you never hiked a mountain before anything will be steep lol

 

[kota]

When hiking trails anything that gains 1000 vertical feet per mile on average is considered strenuous. 40 degree stairs would be roughly 4400 feet of gain per mile. Hope that gives you an idea at least.

Speaking from experience, the impact of your pack weight when hiking is a lot more than you think it will be, and terrain is usually a lot more intimidating in person than it is on a map.

 

[will_brap]

At the risk of sounding like a FNG, mostly because I am. While looking at my topo map what the best way for me to know what’s going to be to steep to hike and I’m waisting my time even thinking about it. is there a general rule of thumb well comparing line spacing to relative distance in feet. Say 1’ up to 1’ forward or 1’ to 2’. Having never hiked a mountain before I’m not really sure how crazy things are going to be while looking at it from the sky as opposed to feet on the ground. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a OTC Idaho deer tag and plan on chasing mules up in some high country with a bow come September. I’ll be hunting unit 51. from my understand it’s going to be a hard and changing hunt with some steep rugged terrain. Trying to get away from people I know will be challenging, but that is the goal. Plan to ride/hike up and in and set up and camp a few days. Also have E bikes at our disposal we think they could be useful but also as FNGs we could be sadly mistaken. Thinking 9800 feet or so for camp, to low? my understanding deer should be above the tree line so we plan to get up there with them. We are all in good shape and plan to get into better shape. Any info and knowledge would be appreciated.

Percent slope is rise over run, ie vertical feet changed / horizontal feet traveled

For reference, anything over 75% slope is hard to stand on.

40% you can hike up but stop and take breaths.

You can calculate it on a paper map by measuring or you can use math (or an online converter) to change between percent/topo/degrees of slope.

Air photos will tell you a lot, if you see game trails spaced close together that means it’s probably real steep.

 

[deerlick]

Don't forget the blow down on those overlapping topo line mountains

 

[Shepardg]

When hiking trails anything that gains 1000 vertical feet per mile on average is considered strenuous. 40 degree stairs would be roughly 4400 feet of gain per mile. Hope that gives you an idea at least.

Speaking from experience, the impact of your pack weight when hiking is a lot more than you think it will be, and terrain is usually a lot more intimidating in person than it is on a map.

Guess I’ll be on the stair stepper all summer with the pack on my back.

 

[Marble]

Most guys do not make scouting trips and then waste several days checking areas, finding places to camp and other logistics. You'll save a few days at minimum by scouting.

Having OnX is a very useful tool. There are several tools within the AP that can assist you with figuring out a lot of these questions.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

 

[Okie_Poke]

I can't help you on where to find mule deer as I'm just starting to dig into that species. But I've done half a dozen western hunts or so now, and I second what othes have said.

Most guys do not make scouting trips and then waste several days checking areas, finding places to camp and other logistics. You'll save a few days at minimum by scouting.

This is a bigger deal than many may at first think. Having a few days when you're not in season to figure out what roads actually look like and are open, where to camp, where to get gas/ice/food, how long it actually takes to get around, etc. can save you a lot of time and headache when it comes time for season. Also, get there a day or two early to get camp setup and allow time for things to go wrong before opening day.

Having OnX is a very useful tool. There are several tools within the AP that can assist you with figuring out a lot of these questions.

Agree. An app like OnX is frankly irreplaceable, IMO, both before and during the hunt.

When planning/e-scouting, I like to use the 3D map on a desktop, or use Google Earth. One thing I do is to change the setting so it over-exaggerates the terrain and makes it look "worse." I don't turn it all the way up or it gets really goofy, but I make it kinda comical. It's still worse in real life than it looks on a map, but exagerrating the terrain on 3D mode helps me remember how steep the country is and helps me reduce my tendency of going "oh, we can climb that, no problem."

 

[Koda_]

Caltopo app (free) has a Slope Angle Shading tool you can toggle on and off. Its color coded but basically starts at yellow and turns red, anything thats colored is going to be steeper and more difficult hiking up or down on your route. I find the Caltopo phone app invaluable but most overlooked topo app out there.

CalTopo - Backcountry Mapping Evolved

 

[Shepardg]

Most guys do not make scouting trips and then waste several days checking areas, finding places to camp and other logistics. You'll save a few days at minimum by scouting.

Having OnX is a very useful tool. There are several tools within the AP that can assist you with figuring out a lot of these questions.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

I’ve got On X and go hunt, so I’ve already been diving into them setting pins and looking into promising areas. my main questing arose because I was looking at the topo lines and started questions how step the stuff I was looking at was going to be. Most of it will be ok until we get to the top and start making stalks where I figure the deer will be. Around 10,000 feet it tends to be around 40 to 48 degree sloop.

 

[Shepardg]

Caltopo app (free) has a Slope Angle Shading tool you can toggle on and off. Its color coded but basically starts at yellow and turns red, anything thats colored is going to be steeper and more difficult hiking up or down on your route. I find the Caltopo phone app invaluable but most overlooked topo app out there.

CalTopo - Backcountry Mapping Evolved

View attachment 805907

Downloading now, thank you

 

[Koda_]

Downloading now, thank you

One of the things you can do in Caltopo is create a route on your desktop, click on it and expand a menu that will give you hike time estimates.
The route you create on your desktop will just be there on your phone app to follow in the field (this is useful for navigating off trail around steeper topo lines for easiest route). Likewise, any waypoints, or tracks created in the field on your phone app will just appear on your desktop account when you get home.
Note: if the route is something you created off trail it will estimate that travel time too. The Profile menu will tell you how much elevation gain it is. The same menu is available on the phone app in the field too.