Multi‑Day Trek Planning: Pace, Food, Fuel, Margin

Objective

Plan 2–5 day movements without surprises by sizing legs, calories, water, and time margins correctly.

Route & Pace

• Naismith’s Rule baseline (adjust for load/terrain): ~5 km + 600 m ascent per 1 hr.
• Breaks: 10 minutes each hour; longer at midday.

Food & Fuel

• 2,800–3,500 kcal/day depending on load and temperature.
• Quick‑cook staples: couscous, instant rice, ramen + protein packs.
• Stove fuel: 15–25 g/person/meal for canister stoves; more in cold/wind.

Water

• Carry 2–3 L; identify refill points; have treatment redundancy.

Risk & Margin

• Set turn‑back times; add 10–20% time margin per day for terrain/weather.
• PACE for shelter, heat, comms.

Real Example

A three‑day loop used 12–14 km legs with 500–700 m ascent, two refills daily, and 18 g/person/meal fuel; they finished with one spare meal and a half canister.

Checklist

• Route card with legs and turn‑back times
• Meal plan & fuel estimate
• Treatment (filter + tablets)

Contingencies

• Storm delay → zero‑day shelter plan.
• Injury → shorten legs; identify bailout points beforehand.

After‑Action

Log actual distances/ascents vs. plan; adjust pace factor for the next trek.

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