Hiking-time formulas: a review

Hiking-time formulas attempt to predict the time required for a hike based on available data. Most known hiking-time formulas can be classified into either pace-based, requiring the elevation profile as input, or formulas having horizontal distance d, cumulative elevation gain hU and loss hD as input. In the first part of the paper, we discuss some known formulas, give a list of desirable features of such pace-based functions, discuss advantages and disadvantages of the two approaches and the connection between them. It turns out that only linear functions with input d,hU and hD have uniquely identifiable pace-based function counterparts. Then. we demonstrate how such simple linear functions with input d,hU and hD can be constructed for individuals provided enough hiking data are available, using a case study of four hikers. We also include simple adjustments for the formulas based on the elevation of start and end point of the hike. Although no statistically valid conclusions can be drawn from such a small nonrandom sample, the results still give some insight into practical questions for hikers.