5 Key Takeaways

• Backpacking progress varies by terrain, elevation, and pack weight, making time a more reliable planning metric than mileage.
• Planning by hours helps prevent late arrivals, unsafe end-of-day travel, and misjudged water or campsite timing.
• Elevation gain, trail surface, and seasonal conditions significantly affect how long each segment takes to complete.
• Time-based planning aligns daily movement with campsite availability, water access, and favorable weather conditions.
• Experienced hikers refine hour estimates through observation, trip logs, and post-trip adjustments to improve future planning.

Doug Stevenson, president of RBS Strategies, LLC, brings more than three decades of experience in New England’s construction industry, along with a lifelong passion for the outdoors. Beyond managing operations, financial analysis, and client relations for RBS Strategies, he actively supports community organizations including the Boy Scouts of America and the American Red Cross. His personal pursuits include long-distance hiking and backpacking throughout New England and across major western mountain ranges.

Doug Stevenson has climbed all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot peaks and several 14,000-foot mountains in Colorado, and he has backpacked sections of both the Colorado Trail and Appalachian Trail. His extensive practical experience on varied terrain informs a grounded understanding of how hikers plan efficiently and safely. Drawing from this background, he offers insight into why experienced backpackers base their itineraries on hours rather than miles.

Why Backpackers Plan by Hours Instead of Miles

Backpacking routes are typically measured in miles, but experienced backpackers rarely rely on distance alone to plan their days. Unlike a road trip, where speed is constant and terrain predictable, backcountry travel involves slopes, surfaces, and elevation changes that affect progress hour by hour. A map segment that looks short can become an exhausting climb, especially with a loaded pack. Therefore, most backpackers track trail progress by time on foot rather than mileage.

Newer backpackers often miscalculate how long a segment will take. Some arrive late to camp, miss the timing of steep climbs, and face harder, riskier conditions late in the day, or carry excessive water due to uncertain timing. These mistakes stem from treating trail distance like a flat walking route rather than adjusting for elevation, load, and terrain. Learning to plan by hour helps prevent early trip misjudgments and supports safer pacing.

To adjust for these factors, many hikers estimate time by combining distance with elevation gain. Uphill miles take significantly longer than flats, and rough surfaces slow progress. This simple conversion gives hikers a baseline to anticipate longer segments and time their checkpoints without guesswork.

Additionally, timing determines where backpackers can stop. Many backpacking routes use designated backcountry campsites, so hikers plan their day to arrive at suitable locations. Planning around likely arrival windows reduces uncertainty at the end of the day. It keeps the itinerary aligned with the route’s overnight options.

Low visibility creates a different kind of risk. As seasons and weather change, hikers adjust their movements to take advantage of the most favorable conditions, tackling difficult sections when visibility and footing are best. Planning departures and breaks with conditions in mind helps hikers avoid committing to rough terrain at the wrong time. That choice reduces navigational errors and strain.

Water access follows a similar time-based logic. Hydration planning focuses on the number of hours between known water sources, not just miles. On some routes, refill points may be hours apart even when they are only a few miles away. Hikers review route data and estimate how long they will travel between sources, then pack water to match those expected time intervals.

Trail surface and season can also affect route feasibility. Snowpack, loose scree, heat, or flooding may necessitate alternative routes or additional gear. Before the trip begins, hikers consider the current seasonal and elevation conditions and adjust their packing or route choice accordingly. It prevents last-minute changes that disrupt timing.

Over time, hikers refine their sense of timing. They notice how pack weight affects their pace, how much climbing slows them down, and how long it takes to recover between segments. These observations turn map estimates into reliable schedules. Personal notes from past trips help convert general rules into usable hours for the following route.

With more experience, hikers move from rough estimates to practical checks. They log simple split times and compare plan versus actual to refine the next day’s checkpoints. Those feedback loops make daily plans more reliable.

Finally, hikers can turn hour-based plans into a simple decision system. Set time checkpoints for water, terrain changes, and bail-out options, then act immediately if they miss a checkpoint. Post-trip notes on actual hours create personal baselines that sharpen permit choices and seasonal start times on future routes. Over the course of a season, this closes the gap between map expectations and trail reality, increasing the safety margin for more challenging objectives.

FAQs

Why do experienced backpackers plan by hours instead of miles?

Hours account for elevation, terrain, pack weight, and conditions that can dramatically slow progress compared to flat-distance estimates.

How does elevation affect backpacking time?

Uphill travel and repeated elevation gain require more energy and time, often turning short distances into long hiking segments.

How does time-based planning improve campsite selection?

It helps hikers align their daily pace with designated campsite locations and avoid arriving too late to secure a safe place to stop.

Why is water planning based on hours rather than distance?

Water sources may be close in miles but far apart in time, making hour estimates more accurate for hydration planning.

How do hikers refine their time estimates over multiple trips?

By tracking split times, noting pack weight and conditions, and comparing planned versus actual progress, hikers build reliable personal baselines.

About Doug Stevenson

Doug Stevenson is president of RBS Strategies, LLC, with more than 30 years of leadership experience in the New England construction industry. An avid backpacker and mountaineer, he has summited Colorado 14ers, completed all of New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot peaks, and hiked major sections of the Appalachian and Colorado Trails. His outdoor experience informs his practical perspective on safety, planning, and backcountry travel.