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Zigs & Zags

 
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PostPosted: 2/7/2003, 3:25 pm    Post subject: Zigs & Zags Reply to topic Reply with quote

Been thinking fond thoughts lately of all the Hearty Souls who populate this list.

Was doing a route this week that registered only a mile "as the crow flies" on the GPS. The USFS said is was 1.5 miles. Mangum's "Sedona Hikes" said it was 2.75 miles. Based on my "ET" from point-to-point, I didn't even think it was 1.5 miles.

It got me to thinking about "zigs and zags." Specifically, I am wondering what would be a good "guesstimate" as to an AVERAGE "zig-zag" factor to add into a GPS "crow flies" distance.

For example, let's say you've just hiked a series of switchbacks and done a curving travese around a cinder cone or other topographical feature.
You check your GPS and it says it was only 2 miles from your last waypoint. (We don't do GPS routes-just waypoints.) But you'd swear is was more than 3 miles.

What are your thoughts and feelings about the "zig-zag" factor. Add 60%? 50% 40%? Less? More? Let's hear it.

j
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plummer150





Joined: 04 Jan 2003
Posts: 542
Location: Jersey City, New Jersey

PostPosted: 2/7/2003, 3:36 pm    Post subject: re: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Out of all my topo expertise skills, I am pretty sure that there is no zig zag factor to add into anything. However, there is an instrument that you can buy to figure out the exact number of miles given you have the topo map. You set the scale on the instrument to the scale on the topo and it has a little wheel that you put on the map and follow the trail to the end or however long you plan on hiking and it tells you the number of miles that it is, exactly! It's a great tool and I can tell you more about this tool or any kind of topo information, if you'd like me too. I've had about 15yrs practice with this kind of stuff including compass and its other tools related to it. You're talking to the topo expert extrodinare!
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PostPosted: 2/7/2003, 5:52 pm    Post subject: Well, sorta Reply to topic Reply with quote

plummer150 wrote:
there is an instrument that you can buy to figure out the exact number of miles given you have the topo map. You set the scale on the instrument to the scale on the topo and it has a little wheel that you put on the map and follow the trail to the end or however long you plan on hiking and it tells you the number of miles that it is, exactly! It's a great tool and I can tell you more about this tool or any kind of topo information, if you'd like me too. I've had about 15yrs practice with this kind of stuff including compass and its other tools related to it. You're talking to the topo expert extrodinare!


Hey, Dude, we've owned one of those thingies since 1982 ourselves and we ain't no strangers to topos. Maybe you didn't read out post. We know how to roll that thingie across a USGS quad with the best of you self-proclaimed "topo expert extrodinares!" We are currently registered with the USGS on their official "Adopt-A-Quad" program. How 'bout you, Dude?


Soooo....would you mind reconsidering your post and preparing an answer that actually addresses our query?

J&S
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plummer150





Joined: 04 Jan 2003
Posts: 542
Location: Jersey City, New Jersey

PostPosted: 2/7/2003, 6:17 pm    Post subject: re: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Hey, only trying to help you out....dude. "Obviously" you know alot already, so I'll leave it at that. However, for your awesome "zig and zag guesstimate" factor, lets just say multiply it by 13.5%. That sounds about right to me. Laughing
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azhiker96





Joined: 05 Jan 2003
Posts: 1419

PostPosted: 2/7/2003, 7:40 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

J,
I don't have a GPS so I couldn't give a factor to add. I do know what my approximate speed is on a type of trail so I use that if I don't have anything else. Otherwise, I figure the USGS or other map is close enough for me. I always figured the USGS were pretty accurate on elevations if nothing else. However, a few months back I was standing on a peak and a guy there was reading the elevation with his GPS. It was about 100 feet off from the map. *shrug* Maybe there's been some erosion since the last survey. Smile
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