Posted by Ian on December 18, 1999 at 20:19:46:
In Reply to: Walking time posted by Judy on November 28, 1999 at 19:53:45:
Dear all
I have had a number of comments about the walking times. When I decided to put times into the guidebook, I realised that they are the one part of the guidebook likely to be questioned. You see, everyone walks at different speeds! Ask two mountaineers roped together to cross a glacier!
Let me explain how the times were recorded during the research. On each day's trek I recorded my start and stop times, each time I started and each time I stopped walking. I used these later to compile the actual walking times given in the guide. Thus the times exclude ALL rests.
To get an indication of your actual times, you would have to record all the time spent resting, and calibrate the times I give against your own walking speed. For instance if you find that you are 50% slower than me, then if my time is 2 hours, you will take 3 hours. Next, if you like to have an hour for lunch, add an hour - making it 4 hours.
I too found that my porter guide, after a day or so, could predict the day's trekking time to within 15 minutes, once he had got to know me.
Now, when I was putting the guidebook together I did create a calibration chart for people to use, but when I tried it out on other people, most found it too difficult to use. I also considered giving time ranges, but this would have made the guide full of times. I also considered leaving the times out! However I decided to put them in as they are useful.
Mountaineering guidebooks often give times - It took me 3 years of trips to the French Alps before I could do a climb in guidebook time. I know the feeling well of not making a guidebook time. But it's not very important really!
Ian
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There are two times that I may change - the second day of the Circuit which I believe may be in error, and the first day of the Sanctuary - which is my actual time - but I had just completed the Circuit and then rested for 5 days in Pokhara. I just about ran up it.
: Also our walking times were 50% greater than those Ian suggests. However, a better indication for us was our guide, after walking with us for a day his times were spot on. To each his own, the best advice is to have extra time, that way no one feels pushed and you can add in rest days if and when needed.
: Our porter/guide has his own business in Pokhara, he does his own thing and works for himself. He was great spent time with us and then with his friends. We paid him USD 12 per day this included his lodging and food. We then tipped him USD 20 at the end of the trek.