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A Water Bottle Altimeter for Hillwalkers and Mountaineers

Submitted by An Outdoor Idiots Team Member.



Here's a nice way to determine your altitude when on a mountain. It is especially useful when there isn't enough detail in your immediate vicinity for you to confidently pinpoint your location on the map.

Simply take:
  1. Clear weather. So that you can see...
  2. Another mountain nearby, that is also on your map
  3. A clear water bottle with water in it
You can use the water in the water bottle a bit like a spirit level. The surface of the water will always be horizontal when it has stopped moving. You can then look along the surface of the water and see where it meets with features on nearby mountains (see figure below). Those features will be at the same height as you. If you can find a distinctive feature on a nearby mountain that is also on your map, you can make a very good estimate of your height from that. Yes, I know you won't always have good visibility. Stop complaining.

Using a water bottle to judge height
NB: Not to scale. Eye makeup is optional.



The Wristwatch Altimeter

Our editor has asked us to point out that he does not condone the use of, nor acknowledge the existence of, new-fangled wristwatch altimeters.

[The Editor speaks: "Absolutely! Damned hocus-pocus nonsense! In my day, if we wanted to know how high we were, we'd send a man down with a piece of string. Since then, the world's gone mad!"]








If this top tip has taken you to dizzy heights, then settle down and say something about it here.

If you can't be bothered to enter the forums, then shame on you! But you can still leave a comment below. Please try to avoid the profane ramblings of a madman. That's our job.

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Your Comments

On 12 November 2007, Maranda said:
I did not like this mess it does not tell me anything

* Atitude Real Rude*




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