The energy requirement for walking different Smoky Mountain trails

The purpose of this study was to measure the energy requirement for walking two Smoky Mountain Trails in order to (l) compare the direct measures of the energy expenditure with the estimated energy expenditure based on grade, speed, and distance of the trail; and (2) to construct tables in terms of multiples of resting metabolic rate (METs) for the trails so that a guide will exist concerning the strenuousness of that particular trail.

Six physically active subjects (four female and two male) participated in the study. The test situation required the subject to walk up Chimney Tops and Laurel Falls Trails at his/her own pace with a portable respirometer on the back. Measurements taken from the meter at specific intervals during the test jncluded: (1) actual volume of the expired air, and (2) a sample of that expired air. The oxygen uptake was calculated from these data.

The slope of the trail was calculated with the use of an altimeter measure the vertical displacement and a rotary measuring device to measure the distance of the trail. The estimated energy requirements for walking these two trails were systematically higher than the directly was 23.8 for the estimated, and 22.0 for the measured for Chimney Tops; the mean VO2 ml (kgmin) was 19.9 for the estimated, and 17.4 for the measured for Laurel Falls. The mean estimated MET levels were 7.0 and 5.8; the mean measured MET levels were 6.6 and 5.1 for Chimney Tops and Laurel Falls, respectively. The difference between the estimated and measured energy requirement was not significant (p < 0.05) for either trail.