[MUSIC] In previous lessons, we've focused on getting ready to go into the mountains, how to dress and what to bring. This time let's focus on how to plan to your trip. When we head out on a mountain adventure, it's critical to know how big or how long the trip is going to be. The easiest way to gain these types of insights is by reading a local guide book or trip report. Most guide books, whether they're for hiking, scrambling, mountaineering or skiing will suggest really good places to go, as well as the recommended experience level required to safely pull it off. Other information often included is distances, elevation gains and losses and estimated travel times. There may even be trip highlights or options. Less traveled areas may not have extensive guidebook coverage, so you may need to figure out this info on your own. In this context, you'll need a topographical map of the area which gives you a flat, two dimensional representation of the 3D world. With a lot of practice, looking at a topo map ends up feeling like looking at the real terrain. So let’s hear from Matt, our expert in the field, with some quick tips on how to read maps. >> We're here in the Heritage room at the Alpine Club of Canada’s National Clubhouse in Canmore and we're looking at maps. So let's start with the basics. The colors give you an indication of ground cover, with green being below treeline and white being above. Lakes are blue with darker blue borders, glaciers are blue but without the borders. Streams are lines of the same color as the lake borders. Topo maps have a scale, so you can figure out your distance of travel. And then there are contour lines indicating the changes in elevation. Where the contour lines are close together, the terrain is steeper, and as they spread out, the terrain angle relaxes. The datum of the map tells us when that map was surveyed, and through that we can extrapolate how things like treeline or glaciers may have changed. Also, recognize that to use a compass with the map, we need to understand that the grid north on the map is different from the magnetic north on your compass. The way to compensate is typically shown on the side of the map, and this is called declination. The info that I need to calculate my trip time is first the distance between Point A and Point B, second elevation gains and losses, and third some idea of the type of terrain that I'm in. Then, I apply simple formula. On a good trail, we can normally walk at a rate of about five kilometers an hour. On a rough trail, that rate slows to three kilometers an hour while off trail travel is typically between one and two kilometers an hour. Every 300 meters of elevation gained adds an hour to our overall travel time. Typically, we leave elevation loss as neutral with respect to timing. So, if I know the distance in my trip and the amount of elevation that I am planning to gain, I can calculate my trip time. Having a good trip plan before you head out really sets you up to understand the magnitude of the day, which in turn lets you fine tune what you bring. Now that everything's planned, the bag is packed, we're dressed for success, it's time to head out into the mountains. [MUSIC]