[AlpineZone]

Originally Posted by Ashlar

Trigonometry is very good.

However, if you have a partner and a pencil, small stick or even a thumb, you hold it vertical in front of your face and walk backwards until the top and bottom of the pencil/stick/thumb line up with the top and bottom of the tree/cliff or whatever you are measuring. Turn the stick/pen/thumb sideways, still keeping the base on the bottom of what you are measuring. Ask your partner to walk from the bottom of what you are measuring to a point that lines up with the end of the pencil/stick/thumb, counting out the paces.

Your partner has just measured the height of the object. If your partner paces out the distance in approximately one foot increments, you know the approximate height in feet.

Never heard it done like that. Thanks for the tip ashlar.