Resources, Tools, and Processes for Planning Nontechnical, Off-Trail Backpacking Routes

This was a fantastic read, one I wish I had consumed before my own trip into the Absaroka-Beartooth this autumn ;) Much appreciated, Ryan! It is difficult to find detailed, intricate and helpful guidelines for such matters.

Thanks for the article. This is literally exactly what I was looking for.

I was just on google earth planning a route through the Gore Range in Colorado and I was wondering what the best way to plot a course through some pretty rough high altitude terrain would be. Your slope angle analysis tool as well as energy mile and difficulty multiplier are two fantastic concepts.

Question: Do you have any type of multiplier that you add in for hiking at altitude? I’ll be going over some 13,000ft passes and obviously this is way more taxing than lower elevations but I’m wondering if there is some kind of standard multiplier or rule of thumb.

Great stuff!