Adventure Hikers

Grade Designations


 Grade I: A route in this category can be of any technical difficulty, but it should only require a few hours to complete. Grade I describes a short day climb.

 

 Grade II: A route in this category can be of any technical difficulty, but it is a day climb, requiring a half-day or more to complete.

 

 Grade III: A route in this category can be of any technical difficulty, but it requires a full day to complete. Routes of this grade are long day climbs.

 

 Grade IV: This category generally applies to a route that is at least as hard as 5.7 and is a very long day climb, expected to take the entire day. There are no Grade IV routes in this guide.


Class Designations


 Class 1: This rating includes hiking along a maintained trail or hiking cross-country over terrain that is no more difficult than walking along a trail.

 

 Class 2: This rating describes off-trail hiking, including bushwhacking, hiking up talus slopes, or negotiating marshy terrain. The use of hands for movement is not necessary in this class.

 

 Class 3: This class leaves the range of walking and enters the realm of climbing, utilizing the most basic technical climbing methods. The most common technique used to ascend a Class 3 route is called "scrambling," which requires the use of hands for upward movement.

 

 Class 4: This class describes intermediate technical climbing, although many experienced climbers opt to forgo the use of a rope when a climb is rated Class 4. Good climbing skills, the use of hands for upward movement, and thoughtful hand and foot placements are all required. A fall on Class 4 terrain could be serious or even fatal.

 

 Class 5: This is serious technical climbing. A rope and natural or artificial protection are recommended on all routes within this category. Plenty of previous experience and well-honed climbing skills are required to ascend routes in this class safely.

Grade and Class Designations

Grade/Class

Designations