CALCULATING WALK TIMES

Quick, basic mental maths will make your navigation quicker and far more accurate.

An accurate estimate of how long it should take you to get from A to B can help you track your progress or locate yourself on a map, even in whiteout conditions. When time is running short, it can be the deciding factor in whether to add that extra peak to the route or to cut the day short. In snowy conditions when features are obscured or even invisible, it’s vital.

SUBTRACT

20 sec per 10m contour line when going easily downhill 1kph from your usual pace for a strong headwind or heavy load 2kph from your usual pace when breaking trail in thick snow

DOUBLE

Timings when travelling in the dark ADD

1 min per 10m contour line when climbing

1kph to your usual pace for easy, level terrain

Check out shavenraspberry.com and mountain-training.org for handy, weatherproof reference cards you can use on the hill.