HIKE GRADING

HIKE GRADING

is shown by the NUMBER OF BOOTS

1 Boot : the level is easy to very easy, 3 to 6 hours of walking per day, with a total climb of 300 to 700m per day. Walking pace is between 200m and 250m climb per hour. For these hikes, you don’t need to be an athlete ! But nevertheless you must arrive in good health and fair fitness if you want to make the most of your holiday.

2 Boots : the moderate level involves from 5 to 8 hours of walking per day and will see you climbing from 500m to 1000m per day. The pace is a bit brisker, with from 300m to 350m climb per hour. You should be confident of your physical condition.

3 Boots : the STRENUOUS level means walking from 7 to 10 hours daily with climbs from 800m to 1500m. This demands preparation. The pace will be around 400m to 450m climb per hour. Excellent physical condition necessary.

The intermediate levels are shown by small boots : 1.5 boots = between Easy and Moderate.

TECHNICAL LEVEL

Other symbols give complementary information about grades, or may show that the activity involved is other than hiking.

HIKING

The type and colour of boot shows both steepness and type of terrain, factors which may make walking more difficult. Therefore these symbols show the technical aspect of a route. :

	These hikes use trails, without any particular technical difficulties. But beware, it’s rarely flat ...
	Hiking is sometimes off-trail and may involve crossing scree, grassy slopes and perhaps snow.No tricky or exposed passages involved.
	Off-trail hiking with some tricky passages where you may need to use your hands.
	High-altitude hikes on glaciers or mixed terrain, needing mountaineering skills (crampons, ice-axe, roping up ...)

For the " Balaguère Altitude " holidays, we have added details concerning your mountaineering skills.

	Glacier technique level 1 : basic skills for use of crampons, ice-axe and roping-up.
	Glacier technique level 2 : mastery of ice-axe and crampon technique, steep slopes, good regular experience of roping-up and climbing techniques.

SNOWSHOEING

	Easy Level : hikes on easy terrain without technical difficulty (a minimum of physical fitness is necessary)
	Moderate level : more mountainous terrain, with steeper slopes. But still within the domain of hiking.
	Strenuous level : walking will alternate between use of snowshoes and crampons.

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING

	For beginner or elementary skiers. 4 or 5 hours of skiing per day.
	For skiers with some experience and technique, mastering snow-plough turns and traverse / conversion.
	For experienced skiers (mastering descents) and able to ski in all sorts of snow.

SKI DE RANDONNEE

	Able to use "Stem" turn on pistes.
	Able to use Parallel turn on pistes.
	At ease off piste and in all sorts of snow.