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the string conform to the trail, and then count off the number of measurement marks on the string to determine the total distance. No map is absolutely perfect, and many trails may twist and wind more tightly than can be expressed on a map, so the actual distance might be up to 20% longer or shorter than your best estimate.

If a leg is pretty much all uphill or downhill, you can calculate the average gradient by dividing the elevation gain by the distance of the leg, and your answer will be the gain per unit distance; for example: 200 feet of gain over 4 miles has an average gradient of 50 feet per mile, which means this leg of your journey will be a walk in the park. Calculating the average gain over a leg that has highly variable terrain won't give you an accurate picture of the difficulty, so if you have multiple hills in a leg, don't bother with the gradient, or sub-divide your leg into smaller sections.

Most people can manage a 2 or 3 miles per hour pace on level trails, even with a well-stocked backpack, but steep inclines will slow you down, and your pace may slow to a mile per hour, even before you factor in breaks to rest or pump water. Figuring out the elevation gain along your trail is important in planning the length of your trip.

Now that you have made your map into a custom survival tool, you need to protect it. There are tons of options for map sealants and cases, and choosing one is a matter of personal preference. MapSeal is a clear, waterproof coating made by AquaSeal that you can paint onto your map to make it waterproof. Omniseal makes the classic waterproof map holder out of clear, flexible plastic. Watchful Eye Designs make a 12x12 clear plastic map case that was designed for adventure racers: the case is large enough to show enough of your map that you won't need to take it out and refold it very often.

In the wilderness, your topographic map will be almost useless without a good compass. Make sure you are very familiar with using a compass. Many recreation centers and outdoor gear stores offer clinics on way-finding, and spending a weekend getting comfortable navigating with a compass will make you much more confident in the backcountry.

In the Backcountry

All of your preparation will pay off when you are using your topographic map in the backcountry. It's best to try to keep track of your progress on the map every few miles, or at least once per hour. You will also want to pay attention to your surroundings and make note of the landmarks

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