[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

[at-l] Re: Rots (rules of thumb) for calculating distance (was) RE:The AT Triangle question

Actually I was just clarifying my calculation, not recommending trying to count the distance out. Personally, as someone else observed, I'd just eyeball the distance. Hell, I couldn't count my paces. My mind would get bored with that before I hit a hundred and be off thinking about something else. 

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: William Neal 
  To: 'Jim Bullard' ; AT-L List (E-mail) 
  Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 12:35 PM
  Subject: Rots (rules of thumb) for calculating distance (was) RE: The AT Triangle question


  Jim's right.  But, if you newbies are confused by things your are reading, many works and people habitually use the double-step "pace" when talking about such things.  That's why the 2,000 mile (roughly) AT is called a journey of 2,000,000 steps:2,000,000 double-steps would roughly be 4,000,000 single steps.  

  Why use the double-step pace?  It's easier to keep track by only counting when one foot hits the ground than by counting both feet hitting the ground.  Especially when you are quick stepping down the trail.

  Also, rough mileage can be calculated if you figure 1,000 double-steps per-mile and 100 per 1/10 a mile.  Good way to roughly calculate if you've gone off the track somewhere. I did that and realized "I've missed the turn.  Where in blazes in the White Blaze? $%%##&*"  Got back on track.  Otherwise I'd have ended up in Ohio.  

  That ROT is for "average" people.  More steps for short people.  Less for tall people.  Why?  Apparently your height is "near" in length to your double-step pace.  And, today, that averages out to about 5.2 feet and 1000 of those steps equal 5,200+ feet or one mile.  Just as your height is "near" your middle finger tip to middle finger tip when your arms are at shoulder level and pointed straight out and opposite each other.  And for most people this is about 1 yard/3 feet (give or take) from nose to the tip of your fingers.  And from your first thumb joint to the tip of your thumb is about 1 inch.  

  Now you don't need a yardstick for your pack.

  William, The "I have trouble remembering which foot I started on" Turtle

  PS    Some camping or military supply places have "Ranger" counting beads.  These beads slid down eaisly, but not too eaisly.  Thus you can just slip one down every so often to keep track of how many "paces" you have taken.  Rangers apparently use them when manuevering in the field.  Though probably not when they are under fire.
    -----Original Message-----
    From: Jim Bullard [mailto:jbullar1@twcny.rr.com]
    Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 12:14 PM
    To: AT-L List (E-mail)
    Subject: Re: The AT Triangle question (was) RE: [at-l] bear feeding - wasCostof a thru-hike?


    My dictionary defines it as follows:
    "pace (pas) n. [< L. passus, a step]   1. a step in walking, etc.   2. the length of a step or stride..."
    I've always considered a pace to be the distance between the end of the heel on one footprint and the end of the heel on the next footprint. As such, my calculation was based on a single step basis. If you are counting a pace as the distance between times only your right (or left if you are left footed) foot hits the ground then you should divide my calculated paces by 2.
      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Charles Copeland 
      To: AT-L List (E-mail) 
      Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 11:18 AM
      Subject: Re: The AT Triangle question (was) RE: [at-l] bear feeding - wasCostof a thru-hike?


      A pace is two steps (a double step as William calls it).  A "perfect" pace is considered to be 5 feet (60 inches).  To calculate your pace, find a spot that is 50' long and on an incline.  Walk from one end to the other, counting your paces.  Then walk back, doing the same.  Divide the number of paces you took into 100 and thats your pace.  For example, if you take 13 paces downhill and 11 paces uphill then your pace is 100 / 24 = 4.1667 = 4' 2"

      Charles


      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Jim Bullard 
      To: AT-L List (E-mail) 
      Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 10:21 AM
      Subject: Re: The AT Triangle question (was) RE: [at-l] bear feeding - wasCost of a thru-hike?


      200 meters is (roughly) 650 feet. Average pace is 30 inches. 650 divided by 2.5 = 260 paces.
        ----- Original Message ----- 
        From: William Neal 
        To: 'Snodrog5@aol.com' ; AT-L List (E-mail) 
        Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 10:08 AM
        Subject: The AT Triangle question (was) RE: [at-l] bear feeding - was Cost of a thru-hike?


        Most people step about 5 to almost 6 feet in a double step -- Left going down to Left going down again.  I think the average is considered 5.5 feet or 5 feet 2 inches or something like that.  So what would the triangle be in paces?  And what about bathroom and washing dishes.  A double triangle?  Cooking and food to the left and bathroom and "kitchen sink" to the right?

        William, The Metric-conversion Clueless Turtle

        PS    I once had someone give me trail directions in metric.  I did a D'nal Boone.
                -- I ain't never been lost, but I've been a mite bewildered for awhile. -- attrib. to D'nal Boone
          -----Original Message-----
          From: Snodrog5@aol.com [mailto:Snodrog5@aol.com]
          Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 9:59 AM
          To: at-l@mailman.backcountry.net
          Subject: Re: [at-l] bear feeding - was Cost of a thru-hike?


          Bears love altitude, the best blueberries grow high, nut bearing trees line the ridgelines, and those two legged creatures have made fine smelly trails to follow. From Maine to the Smokys open mountain sides offer super bear watching. 
          Bear bagging on a bald (or anywhere you don't find tall trees) has it's own particular challenges. Teach your friend the 200 meter Triangle: cook, sleep, and food stash on the corners.
          have a great time, Charles
          TJ 


------------------------------------------------------------------------


        _______________________________________________
        at-l mailing list
        at-l@mailman.backcountry.net
        http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/at-l



--------------------------------------------------------------------------


      _______________________________________________
      at-l mailing list
      at-l@mailman.backcountry.net
      http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/at-l



--------------------------------------------------------------------------


      _______________________________________________
      at-l mailing list
      at-l@mailman.backcountry.net
      http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/at-l
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.hack.net/pipermail/at-l/attachments/20030716/44c6999d/attachment.htm