56 replies to this topic

[Aaron]

The TV-Index formula for a one way hike is:

TV-Index = (C * 0.0015) + (D * 0.0005) + M

Where:
C = Climbing elevation in feet (one way)
D = Descending elevation in feet (one way)
M = Distance in miles (one way)

Okay I found this very early in this topic. It's one of the first five posts in this topic.

--Aaron

[Malok]

Coons, that sounds about right to me. I think you are calculating it accurately. It is still quite a significant ways up to the top of Longs when compared with Mt. Lady Washington.

[coons10]

That good enough for me Malok. Like I said, I've never hiked either route yet, but if you think it sounds about right I'll take your word for it.

The TV-index could be quite a useful tool! Thanks to Tom Veik for all your hard work!

[DeeCeeM]

As long as we're asking questions . . .

Are the figures posted at the start of the thread one way or round trip? Do I need to double, say, Mills Lake to accurately compare it to the Bear Lake to Fern Lake TH one-way hike?

Personally, that kind of comparison - where I've been vs. where I'm thinking of going - is most helpful to me.

--

[waterrat]

I'll take a stab at an answer DeeCee as I was looking at these the other day. I think the numbers at the front are accurate, and do not need doubling for a return trip. What I'm basing this on is quick figures I did for trips Tom did not list on this forum.

[Veik]

This may sound a bit silly and I'm not sure that I am capable of choosing the right terms to properly describe my question.

I just want to be clear on this basic assumption of mine... a tv-index of 10 is twice as difficult as a hike with a score of 5?  Am I understanding the relationships between these scores correctly? Its been a long time since I took a statistics class, so I don't remember too many of the terms.

So for example... if the hike to Mt. Lady Washington is a 19.8 and Longs Peak is a 26.9, then (19.8/26.9 = .736)  So then I should assume the Mt. LW is ~26% less strenuous than the hike to Longs.  Does that sound logical to everyone? That sounds like too big a difference to me.

Since I have not hiked either trail, (yet) can anyone shed some light on this for me? Anybody thats hiked both Long Peak and Mt.LW agree with the math? Is Mt.LW 26% easier than Longs.

Thanks!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good catch! You have the math right but I have the score for Mt Lady Washington wrong. A score of 10 is twice as difficult as a score of 5. I double checked the route and found an error in it. The score for Mt Lady Washington should be more like 21.8.

[Veik]

Are the figures posted at the start of the thread one way or round trip?  Do I need to double, say, Mills Lake to accurately compare it to the Bear Lake to Fern Lake TH one-way hike?
--

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The numbers are for the whole hike whether it be a one way hike or a round trip hike, so no doubling necessary.

[Veik]

By the way, this index could sure use a better name. Any suggestions?

[Veik]

During the STOMP, we wondered what to add in for snowshoeing.  Also, a few of us were wondering about a TV calorie burning index for these destinations.  Whaddya say Tom?

--Aaron

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Let's just say... um... this hiking stuff is way better than a thigh-master. Or, do this hike and you'll have buns of steel.

[Out of Breath]

By the way, this index could sure use a better name.  Any suggestions?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I like "TV index", it's easy to remember. You should take credit since it was your idea. "Veik index" would work as well but I'm not sure I would pronounce Veik correctly.

[Veik]

I'm not sure I would pronounce Veik correctly.

Veik rhymes with hike. The common miss-pronunciation rhymes with peak.

I was in Korea several years ago and the Koreans gave me a nametag with my name written with Korean characters. And wouldn't you know, the first time one of the locals saw me with my nametag, he looked at my name tag, then looked at me and said Veek (rhymes with peak).

[DeeCeeM]

Veik rhymes with hike. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I always figured it did - Veik's Hikes was too good for it not to!

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[weatherbe]

In all my years of hiking, I had not heard of the TV index ... I find this information fascinating!

Weather

The TV-Index formula for a one way hike is:

TV-Index = (C * 0.0015) + (D * 0.0005) + M

Where:
C = Climbing elevation in feet (one way)
D = Descending elevation in feet (one way)
M = Distance in miles (one way)

Okay I found this very early in this topic. It's one of the first five posts in this topic.

--Aaron

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[ProfHall]

As I've noted before on the forums, there don't seem to be any coincidences! Of course it has to rhyme with hike! And, I agree that "TV index" or "Veik's Index" is appropriate...it's easy to remember (esp. the TV version of the name) and it should refer to its inventor! Way to go, Tom...

[John]

Maybe someone should start a poll.  How much harder is up-hiking than down-hiking?  2 times?  3 times? etc.

Tom

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just found this today and it is wonderful! My hiking buddy and I like to walk at our own pace. He has lungs of steel and beats me to camp when we're going uphill. However his knees slow him down when we're headed the other way and I outpace him. Uphill or downhill difficulty depends on what part of the body is the weak link.

I remember hiking to West Creek Falls (from Cow Creek TH, I think). You go over a big ridge and then back down to get to the falls. Then coming back you naturally have to climb over again. However the elevation gain listed in the hiking books naturally lists only the elevation gain for one way. (Subtract the high point from the low point.) The round trip elevation gain is nearly twice that amount. At the end of that hike, I wished for a more accurate way to calculate elevation gain when the destination involves going over a mountain and back. The TOPO software I bought has helped alot...