Hike prep report

Hiking time — using a weighted combination of three established models: Naismith's Rule, Tobler's hiking function, and Book Time. The wizard applies your fitness level, group size, and trail conditions to give a realistic range rather than a single optimistic number.

Calorie burn — using the Pandolf load-carriage equation, the same formula used in military operational planning and sports science research. Unlike basic MET calculators, Pandolf accounts for pack weight, terrain gradient, and walking speed to give a meaningfully more accurate result.

Water needs — based on your hike duration, expected temperature, exertion level, and body weight. The calculator applies altitude adjustments above 2,500m where breathing rate increases fluid loss beyond what temperature alone would suggest.

Trail difficulty — using a modified Shenandoah National Park difficulty formula that accounts for elevation intensity rather than raw distance, preventing long moderate-gradient trails from incorrectly scoring as extreme.

Step 1 asks for your route details — distance, elevation gain and loss, highest point altitude, and trail surface. If you don't know these numbers, help links on each input explain exactly where to find them on AllTrails or your national park website.

Step 2 asks about you — body weight, pack weight, sex, fitness level, group size, and planned start time. These inputs personalise every calculation in the report.

Step 3 covers conditions — expected temperature and trip type. For overnight and multi-day hikes it also generates a sleeping bag temperature recommendation based on your overnight low and whether you sleep warm or cold.