what do you consider a strenuous hike?

[gardenmom5]

I bought dd a hiking book for where she is moving.  we're all in a somewhat state of dumbfoundedness about what they consider a strenous hike.

 

so, I thought I'd ask?

what makes a strenuous hike where you are?  distance/elevation gain?

 

 

[Seasider]

Terrain and elevation change, also the trail itself - paved, mulched, unimproved. Distance is a factor but not as much as the others.

[Guest]

It so depends. In addition to terrain, distance, and elevation, also on what you're accustomed to and how well conditioned you are.

[Tsuga]

Way more strenuous than in those books.

 

I just assume those are for your average person who thinks they are in shape because they garden, and who decides to take a 3-year-old on a frolic. Strenuous just means, "Don't do this if you're not sure."

[MinivanMom]

I think most hiking guides are written with the average American vacationer in mind: someone inexperienced and out-of-shape who only hikes when they're on vacation.

[Soror]

So many variables. We did a hike the other day, it was about 6 miles, so not what I'd consider strenuous but the part that was slate sliding down a hill was a bit strenuous just because you had to go so slow not to slide down. Everything is more strenuous when you are carrying kids and/or supplies for all those kids because the extra weight. Fwiw I voted 10+ miles, 5k elevation change, although it depends on the rate of change of the elevation.

Edited February 19, 2016 by soror

[Alessandra]

It will vary book by book, ime. A trail guide for serious hikers will use a different standard than a book for families. Is there anything in the front of the book describing how the hikes are graded?

 

If in doubt, I would start with the easier hikes. You don't want to run out of steam deep in the woods as night is coming on.

 

ETA

Just saw the poll. Besides elevation and distance, I would include terrain. A hike where all the paths have rocks every single foot of path can be tiring. That sort of terrain can be found in areas that have been glaciated. The ground can be level, but the walking is hard.

 

If you are with a group, the pace can also be a factor. Some people walk very quickly. If your pace is slower, that can be tricky too.

Edited February 19, 2016 by Alessandra

[poppy]

More than 4 miles and 1500 foot elevation hike, for non hikers.

 

What does the book say?

[regentrude]

Difficulty is largely determined by elevation gain and distance (not entirely; off trail with steep terrain is more difficult than on trail or in a meadow). 5,000ft + is difficult, as can be anything above 10 miles if there is significant elevation difference.

Flat hikes of 10 miles are not "difficult", but even a one mile hike can be difficult in steep terrain, especially if there is no trail.

 

But then, we are experienced hikers. You can expect any guidebook to vastly overstate difficulty, since they have to expect inexperienced people to use their rating as a guidance.

For a person who has never hiked, 3 miles with moderate elevation gain may be experienced as "hard".

Edited February 19, 2016 by regentrude

[Guest]

I can do 5 miles easy if it's 500 feet gain.  If it's 1000, not so much.  

 

Also, it depends on the elevation at which you start.  I grew up in Colorado, but have not lived there for almost 30 years.  Last summer, when we visited Telluride, I found that a "strenuous hike" was one that took me out of line-of-sight to my car.  ::::gasp::::  Altitude makes a difference.  

 

 

[Rachel]

I've never really paid attention to elevation gain when hiking, maybe I should. I don't really live near mountains, more like the edges of mountains.

 

I use a guidebook as guidance for whether my kids can handle a hike. If it's an easy hike, I know my kids can handle it no problem. If it's moderate, my older two can usually handle it but I'll be carrying the three year old (well up until last weekend when I discovered he outgrew my pack!). I generally avoid strenuous hikes with my kids unless I've checked with a local FB hiking group about why a trail is rated that way. I don't enjoy crossing streams with my kids and I'm not big on them having to scale rocks. My kids are young though.

[Outdoorsy Type]

Acclimation makes things more strenuous to me than just elevation gains. So if I drove from the California Coast to hike Pike's Peak it would be more strenuous than if I lived in Co Springs and decided to hike Pike's Peak. Does that factor in the books idea of "strenuous"?

[gardenmom5]

this is why I was asking:

 

I purchased dd a hiking book for where they are moving -  there was a 'strenuous hike' listed of  300ft gain over 10 miles (the highest point is probably below 1000 elevation, and probably *much* lower.)  . . . .  we were rather   . . . incredulous?  awed? confused?  so, I wanted to get an idea of others perspective.  we might be a bit biased here, what with mts and all. . . .

 

an average EASY hike for us, that we do at least once a year . . . is 100' over a  half a mile (because the return trip is all downhill .... ) starts at 5,000ft.

 

my idea of strenuous - is (one I've done) 4 miles and 1700 ft. (the nps rates it as strenuous.  but the trailhead starts at 5,000ft.)

 

and dd and her dh day-hiked to camp muir (10,000+ft), requires no specialized equipment.  (it has a seasonal webcam.)  which is roughly 4,600+' elevation gain in four miles . . (with the next four miles being downhill.)   she didn't do a very good job of applying sunblock . . . boy, did she have some very red splotches.

Edited February 19, 2016 by gardenmom5

[Laurie4b]

In addition to what others have mentioned, I pay attention to hikes rated strenuous because in addition to a certain level of endurance,  they may require skills to surmount certain obstacles whether rock, water, slippery surfaces, etc. 

[SparklyUnicorn]

Up and down the stairs on grocery day.  Ugh.

 

:laugh:

[Rachel]

this is why I was asking:

 

I purchased dd a hiking book for where they are moving - there was a 'strenuous hike' listed of 300ft gain over 10 miles (the highest point is probably below 1000 elevation, and probably *much* lower.) . . . . we were rather . . . incredulous? awed? confused? so, I wanted to get an idea of others perspective. we might be a bit biased here, what with mts and all. . . .

 

an average EASY hike for us, that we do at least once a year . . . is 100' over a half a mile (because the return trip is all downhill .... ) starts at 5,000ft.

 

my idea of strenuous - is (one I've done) 4 miles and 1700 ft. (the nps rates it as strenuous. but the trailhead starts at 5,000ft.)

 

and dd and her dh day-hiked to camp muir (10,000+ft), requires no specialized equipment. (it has a seasonal webcam.) which is roughly 4,600+' elevation gain in four miles . . (with the next four miles being downhill.) she didn't do a very good job of applying sunblock . . . boy, did she have some very red splotches.

Do you mind to share where is she moving? Maybe some of us have hiked in that area.

[regentrude]

I purchased dd a hiking book for where they are moving -  there was a 'strenuous hike' listed of  300ft gain over 10 miles (the highest point is probably below 1000 elevation, and probably *much* lower.) 

 

For the average  untrained person, any 10 mile hike will be strenuous.

[Annie G]

There are so many variables....I'm a 55 year old woman and I only hike when I visit my sister, so a couple of times a year.   So what a 20 year old who hikes often finds strenuous would probably be impossible for me to conquer.   I figure the books are geared for people who want to casually take a hike - like to see a waterfall or something.   And it depends on how fast you're hiking...my sister practically sprints up the mountain while I huff and puff to keep up. It's rocky, slippery, and the path has a ton of exposed roots  to trip me up.     

 

I realize that there are lots of 50+ people in better shape than an average 20 year old. I am not one of them. I'm not making an age statement above- it's only referring to me.   I have arthritis, knee issues, and trouble catching my breath sometimes despite working out 5 days a week.  

[hellen]

Could a 300 foot gain over 10 miles have lots of hilly terrain? One could go up and down and up and down steep hills and only gain 300 feet in elevation over a long span.

 

I was hiking in North Carolina once to the bottom of a waterfall. The last section was hundreds of steps. Getting back to the top was a little strenous. The elevation change wouldn't have been much but it was all at once.

[gardenmom5]

Dfw - and they are in their 30s

Eta. out of shape me would consider 10 miles and 300 ft moderate. I've done more strenuous than my fitness level - I just take longer.

Edited February 19, 2016 by gardenmom5

[TrixieB]

I voted difficulty depends on elevation/distance, and then I remembered one of the toughest hikes I did.

 

It was 0.25 mile bushwack UP.  So trail, or lack thereof, plays a part too.  Crossing a scree slope, even if it is almost flat, is tough.  So is taking the goat trail across a hillside that has mostly fallen away.

 

20% grade is tough, both up and down.

 

But 10 miles with no elevation gain is easy.

[Granny_Weatherwax]

Agreeing that the physical condition of the hiker is important.  

 

Personally - 10 miles with an elevation gain of 300ft is a literal walk in the park.  I do that two to three times a week.

Climbing the Manitou Incline - that's strenuous, partly due to acclimation, partly because that thing is a beast.

 

Disclosure - I am planning a hike of the AT so my experience may be different than others.  My idea of strenuous at the moment includes wearing a 25-30 pound pack.

[SKL]

Well I don't know much about elevation change, so I just picked the middle bubble so it would let me vote on the others.

 

I think the answer to "what is strenuous" depends on how old/healthy the hiker is.  I answered assuming a young, healthy hiker.  But if the book you bought is targeted at middle-aged or retired folks working on their bucket list, then maybe I should have chosen a different answer.

 

I have hiked 5-10 miles without really "feeling it," so I chose 10+ as strenuous.  Though at my age, depending on the day, I might "feel" 5-10 miles.  :P

[Laura Corin]

I can walk seven miles without thinking about it; over ten miles and I'll be sore the next day but still not unhappy.  Serious elevation (1000ft) makes me meep and want to go home.

[creekland]

this is why I was asking:

 

I purchased dd a hiking book for where they are moving -  there was a 'strenuous hike' listed of  300ft gain over 10 miles (the highest point is probably below 1000 elevation, and probably *much* lower.)  . . . .  we were rather   . . . incredulous?  awed? confused?  so, I wanted to get an idea of others perspective.  we might be a bit biased here, what with mts and all.

 

We chose a hike once that was 12 miles, but only had 200' elevation change.   What they failed to mention was that 200' elevation change was repeated about a dozen times... ;)  We enjoyed the hike, but we were sore that evening - not the next day fortunately.

 

As others have said, what's strenuous totally depends upon the person doing the hike.  In our geocaching days we had a man lament to us that one cache was a long hike from the parking area.  It had to be at least a mile!  (flat)  That assessment stunned us, but your book is likely written with folks like him in mind.  Those who hike regularly will make their own assessments.

 

With (mostly) flat hiking we can easily go miles (10+).  Add elevation change and I start to get issues, but that's due to a lower lung capacity and getting older.  I don't stop, but I slow down. Heck, going from my basement to my second floor will have me breathing more heavily than most, but I haven't yet used that as an excuse to stop doing laundry ;) .  With packed beach sand we can go miles.  With loose beach sand one starts looking for alternatives after just a couple of miles.  Nice sunny, but not hot, day and we love walking forever.  Hard rain or super cold wind?  Driveway to door is long enough.

 

With my mom with us we can't go much more than half a mile and not every day.

 

In general around our house, when the weather is warmer, we walk about 1 3/4 miles minimum per day.  This includes small hills.  Both hubby and I consider it easy - it's quite relaxing which is why we choose to do it. The hills always affect my breathing, but we just allow for it.  It's not like my lungs are going to improve.  Lower lung capacity is lower lung capacity.

[Carrie12345]

I have no idea, for myself.  My kids hike way more than I do.

Dh has walked from the auto repair shop to our house, which is about 6 miles and 1200ft higher.  And paved! While slim, he's quite sedentary. It was fairly difficult for him, but not "fall down at the finish line" difficult.

The kids have done multiple 1800-2000' hikes of maybe 3-7 miles or so.  They sleep well afterward.