[pct-l] (Guest Post) PCT Total Vertical Gain?

[ROYROBIN@aol.com (ROYROBIN@aol.com)]

<< While there are an infinite number of measurements, it is still a finite
 distance around the lake. Or how is it I can walk an "infinite" distance.
 Each measurement taken with a smaller tool produces a different value, but
 they will not increase without end. They begin to approach a limit witch is
 the actual total distance around the lake. Using a map/satellite photo might
 produce a distance of 5 miles. Walking it with a measuring wheel produces
 5.35 miles. Using a ruler: 5.3475 miles. etc. As the increment of
 measurement approaches zero, the distance measured approaches the
 true/accurate value. This is true of a finite distance like that around a
 lake. >>

You're right.  If the lake was a perfect circle (or square or triangle or 
whatever shape) it wouldn't matter what ruler you used.  You would always get 
the same answer.  But in the real world, there is always some irregularity 
factor, and the smaller the ruler, the longer the distance measured, always.  
A ridiculously short ruler will give you a ridiculously large distance.  

As Brick pointed out, the trick is to use an appropriate ruler.  (And that 
was also the point I was having fun with.)  When you walk around the lake, 
you are using an appropriate ruler, i.e., the length of your stride.  If you 
want to find out what the "real-world" vertical gain is on the PCT, you 
should add up the "up's" you accumulate with each stride.  Let's hike!