[at-l] Measuring Wheels (More)

[Bob C]

I believe a measuring wheel more accurately measures the trail as a hiker experiences it. I forget the name of the wheel I use. But it is a large wheel that clicks a counter every foot. I think it measures around five feet or more with each rotation. What's the formula for circumference? I forget. Pi (3.1416) times the wheel's diameter?

I have never used a gps to measure a trail, though I suspect its inaccuracy is offset by being much easier to use than a wheel. Also I don't think a small diameter wheel would work for trail conditions. A large wheel will roll over everything. A small wheel, it seems to me, would be constantly fetching up on rocks and blow downs.

I suspect the small wheel versions are mostly used by engineers measuring paved roads, and by assessors measuring properties for tax purposes. Foresters I've seen have all used large diameter wheels as does the Maine Appalachian Trail Club.

Weary



> ------------Original Message------------
> From: Walt Daniels <wdlists at optonline.net>
> To: at-l at mailman.backcountry.net
> Date: Tue, Feb-13-2007 5:41 PM
> Subject: Re: [at-l] Measuring Wheels (More)
>
> As previously posted we use a Rolotape 623 which measures 6 ft per
> revolution. It has pegs aroung the rim so it counts in feet. I have 
> used
> smaller ones and they are difficult to control on steep rocky 
> stretches. You
> need a large enough counter that you don't have to reset it during the 
> day
> or count rollovers on a piece of paper, so you need to go as high as 15
> miles or so. We are currently measuring trails in smaller parks so we 
> rarely
> have a single trail longer than a mile. I have never tried doing a 
> bushwhack
> with a wheel but it not unusual to have to deal with measuring through 
> a
> large messy blowdown. If it is bad enough we estimate or pace off the
> distance, walk the wheel around and then spin it enough for the 
> estimated
> distance. Ours has open wire spokes and occasionally a stick gets 
> kicked
> into it and stops the rotation. It is easily removed and causes no 
> problems.
> If this happened frequently it might be a pain. Since the distance you
> measure depends on the diameter of the wheel to some extent (what bumps 
> it
> sees) it is good to standardize on a single size. NYNJTC has at least 5
> wheels and perhaps a few personal ones as well.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: at-l-bounces at backcountry.net 
> [mailto:at-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On
> Behalf Of Jim Lynch
> Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 5:20 PM
> To: at-l at mailman.backcountry.net
> Subject: [at-l] Measuring Wheels (More)
> 
> Thanks for all the input.
>    I've found some more information.
>    Wheels are made by the following companies (Keson, Digiroller, 
> Redington,
> Meter-Man, Rolatape, Lufkin, Hanson, Berger, MeasureMark, Calculated
> Industries).  There may be others, but these are what I've found so 
> far. 
> There are several variables.  One is wheel size which varies from 6" to 
> 25" 
> diameter.  While something larger than 6" would seem to be better for 
> trail
> measuring, I don't know how large is 'good enough'.  Wheels come in 
> either
> spoke or solid types.  The literature indicates that solid wheels are 
> better
> for working in brush (any experience with these wheels?).  And the 
> counters
> reset at 1000 (feet or meters), up to 100,000 (any thoughts about what 
> is
> the best for typical trail work?).  And the readouts can be either 
> analog or
> digital.  I guess the analog simply counts the rotations of the wheel.  
> Not
> sure what the digital units do for you.
>    And of course I'd just as soon not spend an arm and a leg either. :)
> 
> 
> 
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