Backpacking

[Michelle]

I've decided to hit the road on foot with my backpack on March 9th for a few days of solitude. It will be my first time on a trip like this and I'm wondering how far can I reasonably expect to walk in a day if the terrain is largely flat? I'm healthy and strong, but I do like to "stop and smell the roses" occasionally. Any other tips are appreciated!

[Freelancer]

Originally Posted by Michelle

I've decided to hit the road on foot with my backpack on March 9th for a few days of solitude. It will be my first time on a trip like this and I'm wondering how far can I reasonably expect to walk in a day if the terrain is largely flat? I'm healthy and strong, but I do like to "stop and smell the roses" occasionally. Any other tips are appreciated!

The average speed of walking is:
5 km/h
Say you go walk for 8 hours a day.
Thats 7*5=35 km per day.

In mph its:
3 mph average speed
8 hours
8*3=24 miles a day.

[Lauxa]

A neighbor of mine did a several day walk to for breast cancer. It was 20 miles per day and she trained for at least several months to be in shape to do it. I would guess 15-20 miles per day would be a pretty good pace.

[Michelle]

Thank you both! That is very helpful. I am so looking forward to this.

[Joeschmoe]

I think 24 miles is too far to expect. I think 3mph is a better clip than most people would be comfortable maintaining while carrying weight. I would also doubt that you would want to walk a full eight hours. In the mountains one would figure 10 to 15 miles per day depending on the terrain. ON flat terrain I'd expect you'd be near the top of that. So I'd say that around 15 miles a day is doable by moderately healthy people.

[Adrienne]

If you are actually hiking and have some hills (which is farly common when hiking) you should expect about 10 miles aday. They tell you when you hike a trail like the pacific crest trail and appalachian trail (both of which i hope to hike end to end some day) that most people will hike 8-10 miles a day. People in really good shape who hike a ton will get 15 miles a day and the extreme people make 20 a day.

You have to remember that you have gear to bring (for seasoned hikers (not minimalist hikers aka hikers that only bring 10 pounds of stuff or less for hikes that last weeks) the average pack is around 35 to 40 pounds with food, water, tent, clothes, tarps, first aid supplies, portable stove, stuff to purify water, the pack itself, and anything else you need) that also slows you down.

Also depending on the terrain and sun set and sun rise times, right now if you started hiking a little after sun rise (using times where i am) 0724 and sunset is 1821 which means you have under 11 hours of light. Most people when hiking dont start off right away and usually put down camp about an hour before sun rise (so you can get your tend up, hide your food from bears etc) and you have times you need to stop and eat and take breaks, so for many people 8 full hours of hiking is pushing it.

Most people i know and myself unless i am pushing for a goal (or an doing serious distance hiking like the pacific crest trail) end up hiking around 6 hours a day at about 10 miles a day. If you have rain, or cold, or snow, or ice, etc you will easily take more time and do less mileage.

A couple weeks ago, a group and i were frozen waterfall hiking (this was totally awesome). We hiked a good part of the day and did about 15 miles over the weekend. It was alot of flat but we also deal with alot of ice. There was a part were 3 of use (we sent everyone else a different way) were on a narrow, slanted down hill, ice covered ledge. It was about 15 feet we had to cross and it took us 20 minutes for the 3 of us to get across.

So to sum up, alot of it depends on your terrain, weather, and your experience.

Since you have never done this before, make sure you have maps in a water proof bag and a way to get clean water. Also, if you dont know the area you are exploring too well, ask the local ranger for tips, they often know cool places and if bad weather is common etc.

(i love to hike, can you tell??? )

Adrienne

[Ree]

I've section-hiked the Appalachian Trail with my husband and we averaged 8-10 miles a day, but we took time to stop and enjoy the views, examine wildflowers, watch birds and other wildlife, take pictures, and just take our time and enjoy being in the great outdoors. Also you have to account for the time it takes to have lunch and answer nature's call if you drink the water you need to stay well-hydrated.

If we came upon a particularly perfect place to camp for the night, we just stopped early for the day and stayed put, playing cards, listening to music and reading. Some hikers treat their treks like a race to see how quickly they can walk from point A to point B but I've never understood that. A huge part of the attraction for me is in not being stuck to a schedule and not having to race from one point to the next.

Hint: Take your journal with you and write down your thoughts as you go along.

[Dharma]

Originally Posted by Michelle

I've decided to hit the road on foot with my backpack on March 9th for a few days of solitude. It will be my first time on a trip like this and I'm wondering how far can I reasonably expect to walk in a day if the terrain is largely flat? I'm healthy and strong, but I do like to "stop and smell the roses" occasionally. Any other tips are appreciated!

Are you hiking on roads or trails? On roads or well worn flat paths you can do 8-10 miles/day to start. If it's woods and hilly, make your first day 7-8 miles. Increase from there. Your body has to get used to long days of walking and carrying weight.

Distance will depend on terrain, how much weight you're carrying, and your strength.

Know where your water sources will be. Carrying 2 quarts is average for backpackers. Do you need to filter or treat the water?

Leave an itinerary with someone at home.

Your diet probably will not change at all if it's just a few days, even with increased activity. Don't over pack the food.

Don't let your pack weigh more than 1/3 of you body weight.

I assume it's going to be cool. Dress in layers and adjust your clothing/ventilation so you don't sweat while exerting.

I could go on forever...

[Michelle]

Thanks for all the info and advice so far!

Here's the dirt:

I will stay in Switzerland during the trip which is a reaaaaaaaaaally small country. The only places that would be dangerous to go are the Alps and on top of glaciers and stuff. I won't be hiking in the Alps or climbing the Matterhorn. Otherwise I think it is very safe to assume I will never be more than some minutes from food, water and help if needed. Plus, Switzerland has an amazing helicopter rescue squad should something go very wrong.

I plan to stick to trails and paths which are very well marked. At the moment there are two options: one is the pilgrimage trail running through Switzerland into Germany. The other option is to wander south where probably more sun is shining and it is a bit warmer.

I am worried about how much distance I should plan to cover, but your advice has been very helpful in figuring that out. I'm figuring since it is my first time, I rather plan to do less than more until I see what I can do. Planning accomodation is tricky and I have to make sure I can get there without difficulty. I am also wondering about other necessary gear. I will be sleeping in backpacker dormitories along the way so schlepping a tent is out. Otherwise I HATE schlepping and would like to keep it to a minimum.

[Ree]

Sounds like your basic needs will be your sleeping bag, a change of clothes, hygiene kit and a first aid kit. You can wash out your clothes each night and hang them to dry. Cool Max-type clothing will dry within 30 minutes. I always pack an emergency change of clothing just in case, especially extra socks. Since you'll be sleeping in hostels I'm assuming there's a source for meals nearby. That'll take care of breakfast and dinner, and you could just carry a few power bars for snacks. On the trail the biggest burden is carrying enough water to take you from one water source to the next. If you can pick up water easily throughout the day, that's not a problem for you