Route numbers
Elevation gain calculator
Calculate net gain and gross ascent across a simple sequence of camps or waypoints. This distinguishes summit elevation from how much climbing a route actually contains.
Net gain and gross ascent are different
If a route climbs continuously, net elevation gain and gross ascent are the same. If the route climbs to a pass, descends and climbs again, gross ascent becomes larger because the second climb adds vertical metres even though the summit elevation has not changed.
What the calculator assumes
The tool treats your numbers as a chronological sequence. It does not read a GPS track or account for every small rise and fall between waypoints. For a detailed trail statistic, use a properly sampled route profile rather than a handful of camp elevations.