96 



A MANUAL FOR NORTHERN WOODSMEN 



mation. As against chaining, pacing has the advantage 

 of cheapness, it can be done by one man alone, and its 

 accuracy is frequently quite sufficient. 



The natural gait of the woodsman should be tested on 

 measured lines and in pacing for distance he should always 

 walk at his natural gait, not try to take a three-foot stride. 

 The slope of the ground, if it is considerable, affects the 

 length of step ; the step is shortened whether one goes up 

 or down hill. 



This matter has been investigated accurately and the 

 results of one extensive test are given in the table below, 



INFLUENCE OF SLOPE ON LENGTH OF PACE AS TESTED 

 Otf MOUNTAIN TRAILS 



but for practical work it is better for each man to train 

 himself on measured distances and learn to discount on 

 slopes by experience and the sense that he develops. Sim- 

 ilarly, rough bottom and bushes have an effect on the pace. 

 This is best dealt with in the same way. 



Harder perhaps to allow for, are the errors arising from 

 a man's own condition. A man steps shorter when trav- 

 elling slowly than when going at a good rate; he steps 

 shorter when tired unless he forces himself to the work; 

 he is not sure of himself in the morning or after a longer 

 rest until he gets " into his gait " ; he has his " off times " 

 when nothing seems to go right. Keeping the count also 

 is a source of frequent error. Woods travel is too uneven 



