An estimated time would be no good to me I`m far to nosey I can`t walk a route without exploring off trail I have found some of my favourite places this way.

I go along with your logic, Geo. I was surprised when walking the Tour of Mont Blanc that times were displayed on most signposts.

The amount of ascent/descent, the underfoot conditions and the distance all influence how long a walk will take. If all that info were displayed on a junction of several paths the notices would be huge.

The thinking behind displaying the time to reach the next col or refuge must be that hikers don't have to do any calculations for themselves. They are given a single figure. By the end of our first day on the Tour we knew how our performance compared with the calculated times, and thereafter we found it a handy check on progress (but not essential).

Slightly off topic but when I've used Trailblazer guides they show times along their maps rather than mileage. As you say you soon get used to it and work out how your own pace compares to the author's. I guess the same would apply to these trail signs that SC mentions. It just seems odd when first mentioned as we are used to good old milage on our signage.

Hi Stottie. Agreed. However, the problem I found with some 'time' markings here, is that walks that had them had been marked by DOC (Government's Dept. of Conservation) and different areas had obviously been gauged by different members of DOC, with the result that you couldn't work off a 'standard' estimate.
Maybe the optimum would be to display the mileage plus the estimated time. That way anyone contemplating a wander would have some idea of whether the walk was considered to be over strenuous or easy terrain.


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That reads like a good compromise, Geo.
"I commend this suggestion to the House!"

In general terms, the concept of distance/time varies between "serious" walkers and "casual" walkers.

The former tends to be distance orientated and can base the time on their individual ability and knowledge (or perception) of the terrain. The latter tend to be time orientated and likes a rough estimate of how long a walk will take.

This is certainly evident in TICs. A fully equipped walker will tend to ask "how far is ........" the casual walker will ask "how long will it take me to ......"

Strangely, for example, a casual walker will enquire about doing a walk. "5 miles" will sometimes deter them. "About 2 hours" is a far more attractive proposition. Signposting is then a balancing act based on the nature and users of a path/walk.