The message <
[email protected]>
from Roger <
[email protected]> contains these words:
> The message <[email protected]>
> from Gordon <[email protected]> contains these words:
> > Everyone is different, and age takes it's toll at different rates on
> > different people.
> > How does Naismith deal with that problem?
> > Or is his Rule calculated on the average walker, who doesn't actually
> > exist?
> If you search this ng for previous years you will probably find the
> message in which I quoted the origin of Naismiths Rule.
I decided to do a search myself and eventually found it much earlier
than I had thought.
*****************************************************************************
21/1/98
Quite by chance I happened to come across what purports to be the
true derivation of Naismiths rule in the June 1974 edition of Climber
and Rambler under the heading 'What did Naismith really say?'. I quote
in full:
"Eric Langmuir {same one as above} writes - You would expect such a
sacred formula to be written up in an article somewhere, supported by
lengthy arguments. In fact, it first appears, as far as I can find
out, in the 'Notes and Queries' section of Volume 2, S.M.C.J. of 1892.
Naismith is giving an account of an ascent of Cruach Ardrain,
Stobinian and Ben More on May 2nd when, he says, the hills did not
have their customary cover of spring snow (changed days!). He points
out the route entails 10 miles of walking, 6,300 ft of climbing and
that it took him 6 and a 1/2 hours. He concludes, 'This tallies with
a simple formula, that may be found useful in estimating what time
men in fair conditions should allow for easy expeditions, namely, an
hour for every 3 miles on the map, with an additional hour for every
2,000 ft of ascent.'
So spoke the great man, but it is probably worth reminding your
readers to allow for the well known fact that members of the SMC are
at least a mile an hour faster than ordinary mortals."
*********************************************************
Note that he intended it for "easy expeditions" which doesn't quite
tally with my previous comments about a full days walking. OTOH I don't
think the sample mentioned above would ever have been an easy day for
me.
--
Roger Chapman so far this year 39 summits
New - 22 (Marilyns 8, Sweats 5, Outlying Fells 11)
Repeats - 17( Marilyns 6, Sweats 12, Wainwrights 11)
Knackered knee - 4 times
