I’m e scouting for a deer tag I just picked up in a unit I’ve drove through but no boots on the ground experience. I’ve found a promising looking spot but I’m expecting it’s going to be a bigger hole then what it looks like on the map. From your experience how bad is a 1000ft drop in elevation over a .7 mile trip down. I measured it on GE with dropping down with the contours as best as I could. Thanks.
1000ft in .7 miles.
- Thread starter jvanhoy
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BAKPAKR
Well-known member
I wasn’t really sure what that would look like so I checked out the ridge I plan on going up for elk this fall. It is around 2000’ gain in .7 miles, which I know is very steep. It also includes working around some cliffs. Maybe we should trade spots. 
So your basically saying don’t be a wuss and drop down in there.I wasn’t really sure what that would look like so I checked out the ridge I plan on going up for elk this fall. It is around 2000’ gain in .7 miles, which I know is very steep. It also includes working around some cliffs. Maybe we should trade spots.
YesSo your basically saying don’t be a wuss and drop down in there.
Bullshot
Well-known member
1000 feet over .7 mile is 1:3.7. A decent hill but not a killer.
1:3 is getting pretty steep but its still just a good hard hike and you don’t need your hands. you are hunting the whole time. I would consider solo packing about a mile uphill at this, very slowly, even if I was up to around 12K.
Slightly more steep than that is really putting it to your ankles and knees with ample slip-sliding potential. Pack out becomes very difficult, I’d want a partner, cool weather, and lots of time to split it into two days.
Steeper than that is getting real steep, its handhold scrambling, for me at least we’d be in hell-hole category and I’d probably scratch it, no way doing it solo.
of course, few mountains are average slope, theres benches (yay) cliffs (boo!) and deadfall (kill me now) to always contend with
1:3 is getting pretty steep but its still just a good hard hike and you don’t need your hands. you are hunting the whole time. I would consider solo packing about a mile uphill at this, very slowly, even if I was up to around 12K.
Slightly more steep than that is really putting it to your ankles and knees with ample slip-sliding potential. Pack out becomes very difficult, I’d want a partner, cool weather, and lots of time to split it into two days.
Steeper than that is getting real steep, its handhold scrambling, for me at least we’d be in hell-hole category and I’d probably scratch it, no way doing it solo.
of course, few mountains are average slope, theres benches (yay) cliffs (boo!) and deadfall (kill me now) to always contend with
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blueridge
Well-known member
3:25am!?! Must have you worried. 
As above, steepish but not obscene.
As above, steepish but not obscene.
blueridge
Well-known member
The real question is what type of terrain is it over. Trail, deadfall, rock? That can make all the difference.
Night shift e scouting!3:25am!?! Must have you worried.
As above, steepish but not obscene.
Looks pretty open on the side I’m dropping down to a creek bottom. Heavy timber going up other side.
westbranch
Well-known member
I wasn’t really sure what that would look like so I checked out the ridge I plan on going up for elk this fall. It is around 2000’ gain in .7 miles, which I know is very steep. It also includes working around some cliffs. Maybe we should trade spots.
Is it full of alders and ceanothus? If so I know that spot.
Bullshot
Well-known member
my tablecloth with my morning coffee actually makes me feel like a wuss @ 1:3
TheNorthStar
Well-known member
Clever!my tablecloth with my morning coffee actually makes me feel like a wuss @ 1:3
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westbranch
Well-known member
Once it gets to be >2k ft in <1 mile I start considering alternative routes. And in north Idaho the vegetation can make it 100x worse.
BackofBeyond
Well-known member
There's a drainage that we hunt that the entrance/exit is very similar. It's not a deal killer, but it is a hump and a half getting an elk quarter out of there. If I were hunting that solo I'd find another way to get quarters out. Fortunately for us, you can swing around and come up from the bottom. Adds another 3 miles to the pack out, but it's all downhill or relatively flat.
D4570
Well-known member
Something I did not see mentioned. What altitude are you starting from and having to return to? 1000 feet is a lot less O2. and being from a very low state you have to remember your not firing on all 8 cylinders.
I have seen as little as 500 feet can suck the zip right out of you.
Just a thought.
I have seen as little as 500 feet can suck the zip right out of you.
Just a thought.
Nameless Range
Well-known member
I have learned to think of slopes in percents. It's a useful metric, because you can picture roads and trails and know their percent-slope and gage your hike against those.
That averages out to a 27% slope. Steep, but nothing insane.
That averages out to a 27% slope. Steep, but nothing insane.
one of my favorite local training hikes/trail runs does 958 feet of vert in the last 0.43 miles.
do i wanna pack an elk up that? no. never.
do i wanna pack an elk up 1000 feet in 0.7 miles? no. but this is the one i would choose.
do i wanna pack an elk up that? no. never.
do i wanna pack an elk up 1000 feet in 0.7 miles? no. but this is the one i would choose.
8200 dropping to 7200. I do have a lot of experience with elevation though. Other than the first few years we starting coming out west I adjust pretty well.
I’ll be dropping down near a private border so no other option then back up. From what I remember driving by this spot I don’t think I would dive down after a elk but maybe a deer won’t be to bad. Hopefully I’ll find out in about 50 days
