Re:Hillwalkers should love the Comte de Buffon (2020)
by EdwardDiego on Wednesday July 28, 2021 @01:43AM
(#27980570)
We have similar rules of thumbs in New Zealand, ours are a bit more generous though, given how much of our ascent is very steep.
On a track, Igenerally estimate 1 hour for 300 meters ascent, 1 hour for 600 meters descent.
But in the bush, with no tracks but animal tracks, in the North Island or on the West Coast of the South Island, where the forest is denser, a good rule of thumb is 1 hour to ascend 100m, 1 hour to descend 200m.
In the eastern beech forests, which are typically more open, 1 hour for 200m up, 1 hour for 300m down is realistic.
The big issue of course, is that descending in untracked bush is a great way to find impassable waterfalls or bluff lines that require sidling or ascending to a ridge to bypass.
On a track, Igenerally estimate 1 hour for 300 meters ascent, 1 hour for 600 meters descent.
But in the bush, with no tracks but animal tracks, in the North Island or on the West Coast of the South Island, where the forest is denser, a good rule of thumb is 1 hour to ascend 100m, 1 hour to descend 200m.
In the eastern beech forests, which are typically more open, 1 hour for 200m up, 1 hour for 300m down is realistic.
The big issue of course, is that descending in untracked bush is a great way to find impassable waterfalls or bluff lines that require sidling or ascending to a ridge to bypass.