We often need to estimate distances in forest
stewardship. The need to estimate the length of a boundary line, the
area of a management unit, or the length of a road segment arises in
many situations. A quick and reasonably accurate way of estimating
distance is counting the number of paces it takes to walk the
distance. Best yet, you always have this measuring tool with you.
Pacing is useful when exact measurements are not
necessary. For example, when trying to locate a marked property
corner, start from a known corner. Take a bearing with a compass, and
pace off the approximate distance. This should put you close enough
to find the missing corner without taking a great deal of time to use
a steel tape.
You can also use pacing to estimate the number of acres treated by a contractor. For example, if you are paying for an operator to thin a stand on a per acre basis, you can estimate the number of acres treated by pacing the perimeter.
Everyone has a different pace. You need to
establish your pace before it can become a useful measurement. A pace
is usually counted as 2 steps, each time your right or left foot hits
the ground.. Be consistent here - always use the same foot.
To set your pace:
- Accurately measure a pacing course on level ground. Put stakes at each end
- Repeatedly pace off the course, counting off the number of paces it takes to complete the distance.
- Keep a natural comfortable pace that can be held all day. Don’t try to adjust to even standard, but try to count your pace to the course distance
It is usually easier to adopt the number of paces per distance, say 13 paces per 1 chain (66 feet) or 20 paces per 100 feet, than it is to calculate the number of feet per pace.
Check your pacing against known distances whenever
possible. Your pace may change between the morning when you are fresh
and the afternoon as you get more tired.
On steep terrain, or in dense brush skip a pace
now and then rather than trying to maintain your standard pace. That
is, on moderate slope count every 10th pace twice. On steeper slopes
count every 5th pace twice. Some people carry a counter to keep track
of the number of paces, especially over long distances. The counter
is clicked at every pace or every 10th pace.
Under very difficult conditions, steep cliffs or
deep ravines, estimate the number of paces from the edges of the
obstacle until where you can begin pacing again.
Remember pacing is an approximation, errors of 50-100’ per mile are considered reasonable accuracy for the method. If you need more accuracy, use a steel tape.
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Publication of this series was in part funded by the
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
under Contract numbers 8CA96027 and 8CA96028