SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/scout-pace-count

When orienteers count paces to judge distance, what usually counts as one pace?

Each time your right (or left) foot touches the ground.

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  1. Every step with either foot
  2. Each time the same foot touches down ✔
  3. Every 10 steps

Why: Counting one foot only, like every right footstep, keeps the count smaller. Practice on a measured course to learn your paces per 100 meters.

Huh, didn't know that: Your pace count changes uphill, downhill and in thick brush, so measure each kind of terrain.

The dad joke
Why did the hiker count his steps? He wanted to keep things in perspective, one foot at a time.
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References

Answer: Each time the same foot touches down. Counting one foot only, like every right footstep, keeps the count smaller. Practice on a measured course to learn your paces per 100 meters.

  1. Orienteering merit badge pamphlet filestore.scouting.org/filestore/Merit_Badge_ReqandRes/Pamphlets/Orienteering.pdf
    counting every time your right (or left) foot touches the ground over a given distance
    Checked 2026-10-09.

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