Flat Terrain vs. Elevation Gain

This past weekend, I did a 3.7 mile hike up to Poo Poo point, shorter than I’m used to. There’s 2 trails leading up to the same mountain summit at Poo Poo Point, one with a total of about 8 miles and a much shorter one of 3.7 miles. I had previously done the 8 mile hike, and expected the shorter one to be much easier; it was not. Due to the steepness and less gradual elevation of the trail, it was actually a bit more challenging to hike. Something that Jason Stevenson, author of The Idiot’s Complete Guide to Backpacking and Hiking notes, is that despite the number of miles in a hike, it can still be very challenging, depending on the elevation. “Besides the number of miles, a trails difficulty is determined by how much it goes up and down in elevation. Some trails can be fairly flat, while others can climb and descend hundreds of vertical feet over the course of several miles,” (Stevenson 11). 

This did prove to be true, as the shorter trail was just as hard, if not harder, as the long one. The author even notes that for extremely steep trails, hikers may need to use their hands to pull themselves up to the next step, which wasn’t necessary for this trail, but still a useful tip. 

The constant steepness causes your body to work a lot harder to walk at a higher incline uphill, for a longer period of time. This puts more pressure on your lower back and legs of course, which is why it’s important to stay in shape when pursuing hiking more often. Stevenson suggests that the simplest way to achieve this is through a balanced diet and regular exercise, outside of the trails. This can be started with simply just walking your dog around the neighborhood, then taking runs, and moving onto strength training a few times a week, once you get a bit more comfortable. (Stevenson 63). This was something that I was already used to, since I am physically active 5 days out of the week for swim practice, but was still an important reminder. Going back to elevation vs. flat terrain, Stevenson explains, “And while going downhill is less tiring than going up, it can be just as time- consuming for many hikers because of uncertain footing,” (Stevenson 11). This was also something that I found to be true and was a good warning to hear beforehand, which helped me plan my time efficiently so I knew around what time I would be finished and heading back home. Overall, I’d say the most important thing is remembering that the shorter trail isn’t always the easier one, and take necessary steps to prepare yourself for that! What do you prefer: shorter, steeper trails? Or longer, flatter trails?