In running, cycling, and mountaineering, cumulative elevation gain refers to the sum of every gain in elevation throughout an entire trip. It is sometimes also known as cumulative gain or elevation gain, or often in the context of mountain travel, simply gain. Elevation losses are not counted in this measure. Cumulative elevation gain, along with round-trip distance, is arguably the most important value used in quantifying the strenuousness of a trip. This is because hiking 10 miles (16 km) on flat land (zero elevation gain) is significantly easier than hiking up a large mountain with a round-trip distance of 10 miles (16 km). It is much harder to ascend vertically, or to increase elevation, than to walk on flat land because doing so also requires that the hiker increase his/her gravitational potential energy.
Read more about Cumulative Elevation Gain: Computation
Famous quotes containing the words cumulative, elevation and/or gain:
“Raising children is an incredibly hard and risky business in which no cumulative wisdom is gained: each generation repeats the mistakes the previous one made.”
—Bill Cosby (20th century)
“Through all opposition the personal benefits of the reform [dress] [bracketed word in original] have compensated; but had it been mainly sacrifice, the thought of working for the amelioration of women and the elevation of humanity would still have been the beacon-star guiding me on amid all discouragements.”
—Susan Pecker Fowler (1823–1911)
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
—Bible: New Testament Jesus, in Mark, 8:36.