From Mount Wiki

Contents 1 General information 2 Grading systems 2.1 French Alpine 2.2 Italian Walking Rates 2.3 Mountain and Alpine Walking Rates 2.4 Simplified walking and hiking rates

General information

For a full overview please visit:Climbing Grades. On Mount Wiki the widely used French mountaneering scale is used.

Grading systems

French Alpine

The French alpine grades give an overall difficulty grade to a route, taking into consideration the length, difficulty, exposure and commitment-level (e.g. how hard it may be to retreat). These are, in increasing order:

Rate	English Translation	SAC-CAS Rate	UIAA(rock)	Example routes
F:facile	easy	L: Leicht	I-II	Monte Rosa Hut from Rotenboden railway station
PD: peu difficile	moderately difficult	WS: wenig schwierig	II-III	Pollux W face
AD: assez difficile	fairly difficult	ZS: ziemlich schwierig	III-IV	Zinalrothorn N ridge
D: difficile	difficult	S: schwierig	IV-V	Dufourspitze E face (Marinelli Couloir)
TD: très difficile	very difficult	SS: sehr schwierig	V-VI	Strahlhorn E face
ED1/2/3/4: extrêmement difficile	extremely difficult	AS: ausserst schwierig	VI-VII	Signalkuppe E face Centenary Route (ED1/2)
ABO: Abominablement difficile (Abominable)	extremely difficult as well as being dangerous

Often a + or a − is placed after the grade to indicate if a particular climb is at the lower or upper end of that grade (e.g. a climb slightly harder than "PD+" might be "AD−").

Be aware though that even an F route is only easy in terms of an alpinist. The route is easy but you will probably need technical equipment such as crampons, a rope or an ice axe. Some huts or bivouacs in Switzerland, such as the Arben Bivouac, are only in reach of alpinists. As a hiker these huts are unreachable (at least not via a safe route) without the use of equipment and technical skills.

Italian Walking Rates

The Italian walking rates give an overall difficulty grade to a route, taking into consideration the length, difficulty, exposure and commitment-level (e.g. how hard it may be to retreat). These are, in increasing order:

Rate	English Translation	Description
T:Turistico	Touristic	Walk on a good footpath
E:Escursionista	Hiker	Some surefootedness. Hiking shoes are recommended. Elementary orientation property
EE:Escursionista Esperto	Expert Hiker	Familiarity with exposed or equipped with fixed ladders, cables, and bridges routes. Track not necessarily available.
EEA:Escursionista Esperto Attrezzato	Expert Equiped Hiker	Secure site assessment guidance and very good orientation. Familiarity with exposed or equipped with fixed ladders, cables, and bridges routes. Track not necessarily available. Elementary knowledge in dealing with ice axe and mountaineering equipment (helmet, climbing harness, .

Mountain and Alpine Walking Rates

Rate	Road\terrain	Requirements	Example Routes
T1 Hike	Road well prepared. If SAW conform marked: yellow. Terrain flat or slightly tilted, no danger of falling.	No requirements, even with sneakers suitable. No orientation problems, usually even without a map.	Mont Raimeux Hut
T2 Mountain Hike	Way with continuous tracks. If SAW conform marked: white-red-white. Some steep terrain, crash risk is not excluded.	Some surefootedness. Hiking shoes are recommended. Elementary orientation property.	Täsch Hut
T3 Demanding Mountain Hike	Track is not necessarily fully visible. Some parts maybe secured with ropes or chains. Maybe you need your hands for balance. If marked: white-red-white. Some parts with exposed crash hazard, scree plots, trackless.	Good surefootedness. Good trekking shoes. Average orientation assets. Elementary alpine experience.	Fründen Hut
T4 Alpine Hike	Track not necessarily available. At some points we need the hands to come forward. If marked: white-blue-white. Terrain already exposed, delicate grass heaps, some simple Firn and aper glacier passages.	Familiarity with exposed terrain. Sturdy hiking shoes. Certain terrain assessment guidance. Alpine experience. With fall weather it can be a difficult retreat.	Schreckhorn Hut, Dossen Hut, Mischabel Hut,
T5 Demanding Alpine Hike	Often trackless. Some easy climbing posts. If route marked: white-blue-white. Exposed, demanding terrain, steep parts. Glaciers and Firn with slippage danger.	Hiking boots. Secure site assessment guidance and very good orientation. Good alpine experience and high-alpine terrain. Elementary knowledge in dealing with ice axe and rope.	Dent Blanche Hut
T6 Difficult Hike	Mostly trackless. Climbing up to II. Most places are not marked. Often very exposed. Glaciers with increased slippage danger.	Excellent orientation property. Sophisticated alpine experience and familiarity in dealing with mountaineering equipment.	Glärnisch Guppengrat

This rating is a translation of the SAC-CAS rating table. Please note:

• The hiker rates are always under the assumption of favorable conditions, so in good weather conditions and visibility, dry terrain, snow and appropriate Firn etc.
• An alpine hike in the upper area of difficulty (T5, T6) is usually significantly more demanding than, for example, a the tour with a valuation of L.

Simplified walking and hiking rates

Some books (e.g. the Alpine Club Guide Book series) may use simplified hiking rates for the easy approaches from valley to hut and easy ascents (always below F).

Rate	Description	Example Route
W1	Walk on a good footpath with little in the way of objective danger and suitable for any reasonably fit person	Mountet Hut from Zinal
W2	Routes more suitable for experienced mountain walkers who can find their way when paths become indistinct or non-existent; rough ground, easy snow slopes and/or dry glaciers may have to be traversed and there may be steeper sections where a fall could prove fatal. Snow covered glacial crossings with possible crevasses or exposed mountain scrambles with rock moves of I/II are not present. (These latter routes are F and higher)	Mischabel Hut from Saas Fee.