Backpacking Light (independent publication)

Episode 144 | Trail Steepness Vs. Difficulty

The Backpacking Light podcast’s Episode 144 examines how trail steepness reshapes hiking difficulty, revealing that metabolic cost does not increase linearly with slope. It highlights that mild downhill grades (‑5 % to ‑10 %) are most energy‑efficient, while steep uphill (≥20 %) and downhill (≤‑25 %) introduce biomechanical penalties and safety limits. The episode also introduces TRIPS, a new terrain‑intelligence planning system that embeds grade‑dependent power regulation, and showcases Garmin Fenix watches as essential data sources for the model. These insights aim to improve trip‑planning accuracy for backcountry hikers.