Checkpoint: Hike Planning, Gear and Navigation

By Better Wise

Quiz

Using Naismith's rule, what is the moving time for a 10 km hike with 600 m of elevation gain (before any pace adjustment)?
- About 5 hours
- About 3 hours
- About 4 hours
- About 2 hours
You plan to finish a day hike near sunset. What daylight margin should you build into the plan?
- Be back at the trailhead at least one hour before sunset
- Be back at the trailhead at least five minutes before sunset
- Plan to reach the car exactly at sunset
- No margin is needed if you carry a headlamp
Which statement about the Ten Essentials is correct?
- A phone can serve as both navigation and headlamp to save weight
- In a group, one person can carry the map, light and first aid for everyone
- Every person should carry their own navigation, light, water and personal medication even when heavy gear is shared
- The Ten Essentials are a ceiling, so you should not add trip-specific items
A map has a declination of 14 degrees east. You read a true bearing of 70 degrees from the map. What compass bearing do you dial?
- 70 degrees magnetic
- 14 degrees magnetic
- 56 degrees magnetic
- 84 degrees magnetic
On a 1:24,000 map, one centimetre on paper equals ____ metres on the ground.
An obvious, easy-to-find feature near your target that you navigate to first, before the final precise leg, is called an ____ point.
Plan a day hike using the one-page plan format. Write four lines: route and distance, elevation gain, turnaround time, and bailout points plus permit status. Then check your plan against the rubric.
Build a day-hike kit from the Ten Essentials for a cool, windy day with a chance of rain. List what you pack for each system, then evaluate your kit with the rubric.