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 
ON MOUNTAIN TRAILS 
Slope 
Length of step ascending 
Length of step descending 
0° 
2.53 
2.53 
5° 
2.30 
2.43 
10° 
2.03 
2.36 
15° 
1.84 
2.30 
20° 
1.64 
2.20 
25° 
1.48 
1.97 
30° 
1.25 
1.64 
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 
