Number of days, average walking time, altitudes, altitude intervals, terrain & trails and weight of luggage.
A - Easy day hikes
Easy day hikes or short treks on easy trails and at low altitudes.
Fitness: available to all people with a general fitness and a love for walking.
Rucksack weight: 2-6kg.
B - Easy
Easy treks on easy, but steeper trails in hilly, mountainous terrain. Many trek/climbing days at 2000m or higher. The highest point reached is more or less 4000m. The average daily walking time is about 4-5 hours.
Fitness: one should have a general fitness through some training: walking, running, mountain biking and/or fitness exercises.
Rucksack weight: 6-8kg.
C - Intermediate
Intermediate treks on reasonable trails with short steep and wilder parts. Many trek/climbing days at 3000m or higher. Altitude differences of 1000m or more. The highest point reached is more or less 5000m. The average daily walking time is about 4-7 hours and a possible single day of about 10 hours.
Fitness: one should have a reasonable good fitness through regular training: walking, running, mountain biking and/or fitness exercises.
Rucksack weight: 8-12kg.
D - Streneous
Streneous treks on reasonable trails with long steep and wilder parts. Many trek/climbing days at 4000m or higher. Altitude differences of 1000m or more. The highest point reached is more or less 4000-5000m. Possibility of glacier and difficult mountain pass crossings by possible use of climbing equipment. The average daily walking time is about 4-8 hours and a possible single day of about 10 hours or more.
Fitness: one should have a good fitness through structural training: walking, running, mountain biking and/or fitness exercises.
Rucksack weight: 8-14kg.
E - Very streneous
Very strneous and remote treks on reasonable trails with long steep and wilder parts. Many trek/climbing days at 5000m or higher. Altitude differences of 1000m or more. The highest point reached is more or less 5000-6000m. Possibility of glacier and difficult mountain pass crossings by possible use of climbing equipment. The average daily walking time is about 4-8 hours and a possible single day of about 10 hours or more.
Fitness: one should have a very good fitness through structural hard training: walking, running, mountain biking and/or fitness exercises.
Rucksack weight: 8-20kg.
Climbing angle, snow/ ice, scrambling and rock climbing grades, required experience and climbing techniques/competence's
0 - No climbing
1 - F (facile)2 - PD (Peu Difficile)
35° - 40° snow or ice slopes. Ropes are used for glacier crossings or at easy snow or ice slopes. Alpine climbing experience is advised but not always mandatory. Basic set of climbing equipment is necessary.
Examples: Kang Yatze, Mera Peak, Island Peak, Parchamo, Chekigo, Pisang Peak, Naya Kanga, Elbrus, Cotopaxi, Aconcagua, Muztag Ata, Mt Everest North Col, Mt Blanc du Tacul, Grand Paradiso, Weissmies.
3 - AD (Assez Difficile)
40° - 45° snow or ice slopes with short passages of 50°. Alpine climbing experience in snow and ice is necessary. Advanced set of climbing equipment is necessary.
Examples: Parilungbi, Paldor Peak, Amphu Labtsa, Mt Everest Western Cwm, Lobuche East, Huascaran, Weisshorn.
4 - D (Difficile)
45° - 50° snow or ice slopes with short passages of 50° - 70° snow, ice and/or rocks. Extensive alpine climbing experience is necessary. Specialized set of climbing equipment is necessary.
Examples: Mt Everest, Cho Oyu, Alpa Mayo, Khan Tengri, Carstenz Pyramid, Lenzspitze NE wall.