welcome-to-backcountry-navigation

Getting Started

map-features

Map Features

reading-topo-maps-and-measuring-distance

Reading Topo Maps and Measuring Distance

latitude-longitude-and-coordinates

Latitude, Longitude, and Coordinates

Reading Maps

intro-to-compasses

Intro to Compasses

orienting-your-map-and-compass

Orienting Your Map and Following a Bearing

triangulating-your-location

Triangulating Your Location

Using a Compass

intro-to-route-planning

Intro to Route Planning

route-plan-details

Route-Plan Details

dialing-in-travel-time

Dialing in Travel Time

Planning a Route

choosing-and-using-a-device

Choosing (and Using) a Device

emergency-devices

Emergency Devices

Digital Devices

staying-on-a-trail

Staying On a Trail

traveling-off-a-trail

Off-Trail Challenges

off-trail-travel-tips

Off-Trail Travel Tips

Traveling On- and Off-Trail

special-navigation-challenges

Navigating at Night

navigating-in-winter

Navigating in Winter

navigating-in-the-desert

Navigating in the Desert

navigating-on-the-coast

Navigating on the Coast

Special Navigation Challenges

getting-unlost

Getting Unlost

<h2>Distance and Elevation Factors</h2> <p><span style="color: #000000;"><shortcode type="jwplayer" props='{"jw_media_id":"4BJnhHU6"}'></shortcode></span></p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <th> <h3>Factor</h3> </th> <th> <h3>Impact</h3> </th> </tr> <tr> <td>Elevation</td> <td>Add an hour of travel time for every 1,000 feet of elevation gained <i>or </i>lost.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Fitness/Altitude</td> <td>A hiker who’s not in great physical shape will move more slowly—account for this on a case-by-case basis. And even fit hikers might slow down when traveling at high altitudes.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Group Size</td> <td>Larger groups (6 or more) will cover about 2 miles per hour. Factor in additional time for extra bathroom and snack breaks.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>On- versus off-trail Travel</td> <td>Traveling off-trail is much slower than traveling on-trail. Even a fit hiker will only manage ab...</td></tr></tbody></table>