We just returned from a three night trip to Kootenay National Park last night. Everything went really well, the weather was perfect, the trails we in good shape, and everyone had a good time. I took along my heart rate monitor on this trip to get some data on how elevation affects calorie comsumption. I’m basing the distances on the official Kootenay trail map, but I have my doubts that those distances are accurate. While the straight point-to-point distance may be correct, I don’t think the map distances account for elevation gain properly (or at all). I’ll be taking along the footpod for my heart rate monitor for the upcoming Yoho trip, so I’ll be able to refine the data.

Day 1: 6.6 km
Numa Creek – Gradual uphill – 1 hour 55 minutes – 750 cal

Day 2: 7.1 km
Tumbling Pass – Approx. 1330 ft elevation gain – 3 hours 51 minutes – 1713 cal

Day 3: 9.3 km + 16.8 km
Tumbling Creek – Mostly downhill – 3 hours – 1000 cal
Helmet Creek Loop – Approx. 800 ft elevation gain – 4 hours – 1934 cal

I think most significant is how much slower we were moving with any serious elevation gain. Next trip with the footpad I’ll be able to see what our actual speed is.