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updated: 4/09/06 1:08a by mamund

• amundsen's transportation orders of magnitude (a.t.o.m)

  here's my general rule for estimating travel distances when planning a trip
  
  1. if it takes an hour by plane, it takes a day by car
  2. if it takes an hour by car, it takes a day on a bicycle
  3. if it takes an hour on a bicycle, it takes a day on foot
  some might dispute this rule. however, when considering factors such as slope of terrain, traffic congestion, airport delays and more, i find it holds up pretty well. more important, the longer the trip (in time), the more accurate this rule.

• water

  plan on needing about 1 gallon of water per day, per person

• speed

  average hiking speed is about 2mph.
  add 30 minutes more for each 1000ft of elevation gain.
  add 15 minutes more for each 1000ft of elevation loss

• weight

  the avg person can carry 20% of body weight in a pack
  'intermediates' can carry 25%
  'pros' can carry up to 35%

• calories

  typical backpacking burns @400-@500 calories per hour