Step 3 of 10 · Read a Trail Map and Not Get Lost
What contour lines tell you
What contour lines tell you — step 3 of 10 in Read a Trail Map and Not Get Lost. Contour lines connect points of equal elevation. The contour interval (printed in the margin, commonly 10 m or 20 m) tells you the height…
Free outdoor skills tip: What contour lines tell you (step 3 of 10 from "Read a Trail Map and Not Get Lost").
Contour lines connect points of equal elevation. The contour interval (printed in the margin, commonly 10 m or 20 m) tells you the height difference between adjacent lines. Close lines = steep. Wide-spaced lines = gentle slope. Concentric circles = hilltop. V-shapes pointing uphill = valleys or stream gullies.
Count lines between your position and a summit to calculate elevation gain. Five lines at 10 m interval = 50 m climb. This is more useful than 'it looks steep' — you can estimate time: roughly 1 minute per 10 m elevation gain at hiking pace on moderate terrain.
You'll need
- Contour interval identified
- Close lines = steep noted
- V-shapes = valleys understood
- Elevation gain calculated
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