[pct-l] PCT Elevation gain/loss Stats

[Dan Welch]

There is no "definitive" number.  If you take all the elevation gains/losses at every mile, that will NOT add up to the gains/losses from every half mile.  Why?  Because between each data point there are numerous ups and downs that are not captured. For example, you drop 200 feet, but if you regain it before the next data point, the total will show zero loss or gain. (You ended at the same elevation you started at.) Other things being equal, the finer the resolution the higher will be the gains and losses.  I am assuming HalfMile's resolution is once every half mile since he was a waypoint recorded there. Are the other data sets finer?  Don't know...  Anyway, the point is, it is a squishy number.

Timberline   



-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Paint Your Wagon
Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2014 5:00 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] PCT Elevation gain/loss Stats

Porsche,

Well- that didn’t work out as well as I thought it would. 

The first page of each section has the gains and loses for that section, but nothing for the entire trail.

Whiteblaze had a figure for the PCT of well over 600,000 feet, but I could not find a source for the data. 

Another AT site had the figure at a little over 300,000 feet. That’s when I quit looking due to the discrepancies.

Adding the figures of each section from Half Mile’s maps will give you your answer with a modest effort. 

<>Paint<> 
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