Hiking Planning Guides
Short, specific, and numerate — every guide pairs with a calculator so the reading turns into a plan.
Does Elevation Gain Make Hiking Harder? (Yes — Here's Exactly How Much)
Every 1,000 ft of climbing adds about 30 minutes to your hike, regardless of distance. The 130-year-old rule behind that number, and when it breaks.
How Many Calories Does Backpacking Burn? The Army Formula That Actually Knows
Backpacking burns 400–700 kcal per hour — far more than fitness apps guess. The Pandolf equation shows why pack weight and grade change everything.
How Much Water Do I Need for a 5-Mile Hike?
The short answer: 1–1.5 liters for most people in mild weather — but heat, climbing, and altitude can double it. Here is the math, worked through.
Naismith's Rule: How to Calculate Hiking Time (With the Corrections That Matter)
The 1892 formula for hiking time — 3 mph plus an hour per 2,000 ft of climb — and the fitness, terrain, and break corrections that make it accurate.
What Counts as Ultralight? Base Weight, Explained Without the Dogma
Ultralight means under 10 lb of base weight — gear minus food, water, and fuel. What the number includes, why it matters, and how to actually get there.