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The elevation you gain and lose while hiking will have a definite effect on how fast
you hike and how much ground you cover. Hiking up a steep grade will slow you way
down, forcing your muscles to work much harder. Hiking a downgrade will be easier
on muscles but much harder on joints. Creating a hike elevation profile will give you a
good idea on where the more difficult stretches are in your planned hike. Convert the
information on your topographic map into a chart of elevation versus distance. In this
example, a climb to the top of a peak and then the return on the same trail is
diagrammed. It is fairly consistent with just one short stretch halfway up that is fairly
flat.
Take into account the time of year when checking the terrain. A dry, dusty trail in July
may be a muddy mess in May. You may be able to hike across a frozen marsh in
January, but go around it in June. Also remember that higher altitude means cooler
temperatures and hypothermia is a real possibility anywhere below 15.5 C degrees. If
your hike takes you over 2700 m, read more about high altitude hiking.