Trip Rating System

Mountaineering (Alpine)

Difficulty (D) # Name Description

1. Easy Easy mountaineering with few difficulties - IFAS* Facile (F)
2. Moderate Moderate mountaineering and climbing - IFAS Peu Difficile (PD) "a little difficult".
3. Difficult More Difficult mountaineering with harder climbing, steep snow or ice - IFAS Assez Difficile (AD) "fairly difficult".
4. Very Difficult Very Difficult mountaineering with steep sustained technical climbing on rock, snow or ice - IFAS Difficile (D) "Difficult".
5. Extremely Difficult Serious technical climbing IFAS Tres Difficile (TD) and harder.

• IFAS = International French Adjectival System

Scramble

Difficulty (D) # Name Description

1. Easy Gentle slopes. Travel on trails over fairly level terrain. Use of hands not required. Roughly YDS* Class 1.
2. Moderate Moderate slopes. Simple scrambling with occasional use of hands. Roughly YDS Class 2.
3. Difficult Travel in mountainous terrain. Use of hands required. Increased exposure. Roughly YDS Class 3.
4. Very Difficult Travel in difficult mountain terrain. High exposure. Most parties will want a rope. Roughly YDS Class 4.

• YDS = Yosemite Decimal System

Hike

Difficulty (D) # Name Description

1. Easy Gentle slopes. Travel on trails over fairly level terrain.
2. Moderate Moderate slopes. Hiking may be off trail. Some route-finding.
3. Difficult Hiking in mountainous terrain. Steep slopes likely. Complex terrain and route-finding.

Rock Climbing

Difficulty (D) # Name Description

1. Easy Easy YDS* climbing grades up to 5.5
2. Moderate Moderate climbing YDS grades 5.6 to 5.8
3. Difficult More difficult climbing YDS 5.9 to 5.10
4. Very Difficult Very difficult climbing YDS 5.11 and harder.

• YDS = Yosemite Decimal System

Skiing

Difficulty (D) # Name Description

1. Easy Gentle slopes - "green" runs. Beginner to intermediate skiing ability. ATES* "Simple" terrain classification. No glacier travel.
2. Moderate Moderate slopes - "blue" runs. Intermediate skiing ability. ATES "Challenging" terrain classification. Possible glacier crossings.
3. Difficult Difficult slopes - black diamond runs. Intermediate to advanced skiing ability. ATES "Complex" terrain classification. Glacier travel likely.
4. Very Difficult Very difficult slopes - double black diamond runs. Advanced/expert skiing ability. ATES "Complex" terrain classification with steep snow, ice or exposed glacier skiing.

• ATES = Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale

Snow Shoe

Difficulty (D) # Name Description

1. Easy Gentle slopes. Snowshoeing on fairly level terrain. On trail or easy route-finding.
2. Moderate Moderate slopes. Snowshoeing on steeper trails or routes. Intermediate ability. Some route-finding.
3. Difficult Snowshoeing on steep slopes. Complex terrain and route-finding.

Ice Climbing

Difficulty (D) # Name Description

1. Easy Grade 1 (WI1) - Low angle ice. Easy climbing.
2. Moderate Grade 2 (WI2) - Steeper ice with short sections up to 80 degrees. Moderate climbing.
3. Difficult Grade 3 (WI3) - More sustained steep ice up to 80 degrees.
4. Very Difficult Grade 4 (WI4) - Sustained full pitches of off-vertical or shorter lengths of vertical ice.
5. Extremely Difficult Grade 5 (WI5) and higher - Extremely difficult climbing. Full vertical pitches.

Training

Training difficulty ratings will depend on the activity(ies) planned for the course or workshop. Refer to each activity and the course description for specific descriptions about the difficulty levels.