Hiker

The following standards are used to classify abilities. The classification is made in terms of ability to traverse distances and gain altitude over a variety of trail conditions.

Class 4: 1hr/1 mile ; 1hr/1000’ (A) Beginner Novice

Class 3: 1hr/2 mile ; 1hr/1000’ (B) Intermediate

Class 2: 1hr/2 mile ; 1hr/2000’ (C) Experienced

Class 1: 1hr/4 mile ; 1hr/2000’ (D) Advanced

Class 4: Beginner; cover 1 mile of (flat) trail in 1 hour, gain 1000’ of elevation in 1 hour. Is capable of hiking at this rate for 4-6 hours per day. Example, a 2 mile trip with 2000’ elevation gain would take 4 hours.

Class 3: Intermediate; cover 2 miles of (flat) trail in 1 hour, gain 1000’ of elevation in 1 hour. Capable of hiking at this rate for 6-8 hours per day. Example, a 2 mile trip with 2000’ elevation gain would take 3 hours.

Class 2: Experienced; cover 2 miles of (flat) trail in 1 hour, gain 2000’ of elevation in 1 hour. Capable of hiking at this rate for 8-10 hours per day. Example, a 2 mile trip with 2000’ elevation gain would take 2 hours. Most of the AMC trail book uses roughly this as a measure of how long it takes to traverse a trail from one point to another.

Class 1: Advanced; cover 4 miles of (flat) trail in 1 hour, gain 2000’ of elevation in 1 hour. Capable of hiking at this rate for 10 or more hours per day. Example, a 2 mile trip with 2000’ elevation gain would take 1½ hours. Under some circumstances, a long flat easy trail for instance, the AMC guidebook may use these parameters to determine the time to traverse a trail.

Hiking

The following standards are used to classify trips. The classification is made in terms of walking distance, altitude gain, difficulty of various trails and special problems.

Class A: 8 miles maximum round trip, and/or with altitude gain up to 1200 feet.

Class B: 12 miles maximum round trip, and/or with altitude gain of 1200 to 2500 feet. Class B trips may include overnights and easy backpacking to base camp. Flat terrain snow hikes.

Class C: 15 miles maximum round trip, and/or with altitude gain up to 3500 feet. Steep or rough terrain may be encountered. Hilly terrain snow hikes.

Class D: More than 15 miles round trip, altitude gain of over 3500 feet. Trips in this classification may require additional skills. Steep terrain snow hikes.

Class E: Designates trips of any classification as dangerous. Basic Mountaineering School graduation is required. Technical snow hikes.

Backpacking

Novice: Easy trip for a beginner to learn about equipment and backpacking techniques. These trips are designed for beginners; however, others may be accepted to fill the trip to the limit.

Easy: Trail travel of 5 miles maximum per day, 1500 feet maximum elevation gain per day.

Moderate: Mostly trail with travel of 8 miles maximum per day, 2500 feet maximum elevation gain per day.

Advanced: Trail; however, part of trip may be without trail, 12 miles maximum travel per day, up to 3500 feet maximum elevation gain per day.

Difficult: Any of the following - no trail, steep slopes, some rock, over 12 miles per day, over 3500 feet elevation gain per day.

Note: If you are B or C hiker, this does not qualify you for a backpack. A backpack must be considered a separate trip classification.

Note: Snow/Winter trips usually bump things up one grade.

Touring

Mt Isolation trip

Note: my book says permits required to enter this area.

Sr. trip – Rocky Branch trail, isolation trail, Davis path, (overnight), Davis path, Stairs col trail

Shelter #1, Rocky branch out to Rt16 via Shelter #2.

0.0 miles @1200’

2.8 (2.8) miles @3100’ to Engine hill 1:40 1900’ gain in 2.8 miles = 1:8

3.3 (0.5) miles @2900’ to Shelter #2 0:30 200’ loss in 0.5 miles = 1:13

5.8 (2.5) miles @3750’ to Davis Path 1:40 1850’ gain in 2.5 miles = 1:7

6.4 (0.8) miles @4005’ to Mt Isolation 0:20 250’ gain in 0.8 miles = 1:16

n.n (n.n) miles @3600’ to overnight site

12.1(5.7) miles @3100’ to Stairs col trail 2:40 900’ loss in 5.7 miles = 1:33

14.0(1.9) miles @1500’ to Shelter #1 (overnight) 1:55 1600’ loss in 1.9 miles = 1:6

20.0(6.0) miles @2900’ to Shelter #2 2:15 1400’ gain in 6.0 miles = 1:23

20.5(0.5) miles @3100’ to Engine Hill 0:30 200’ gain in 0.5 miles = 1:13

23.3(2.8) miles @1200’ to Rt 16 1:40 1900’ loss in 2.8 mails = 1:8

24 miles total, 5600-5800’ gain over 3 days (2 overnights)

6-7 miles 4000-4100’ gain day 1 4:10

7-8 miles 2500’ loss day 2 4:35

9-10 miles 1600’ gain day 3 4:25

13:10

Class D-Advanced-Difficult, >3500’ gain in one day, >10miles per day

1hr/1m, 1hr/1000’ = 23+6 = 29 hours for class 4 (beginner) hiker

1hr/2m, 1hr/1000’ = 12+6 = 18 hours for class 3 (intermediate) hiker

1hr/2m, 1hr/2000’ = 12+3 = 15 hours for class 2 (experienced) hiker <book value, but slightly faster!>

1hr/4m, 1hr/2000’ = 6+3 = 9 hours for class 1 (advanced) hiker

Jr. trip – Rocky Branch Trail to Shelter #2, then back out next day

1.0 miles @1200’

2.8 (2.8) miles @3100’ to Engine hill 1:40 1900’ gain in 2.8 miles = 1:8

3.3 (0.5) miles @2900’ to Shelter #1 0:30 200’ loss in 0.5 miles = 1:13 (overnight)

3.8 (0.5) miles @3100’ to Engine Hill 0:30 200’ gain in 0.5 miles = 1:13

6.6 (2.8) miles @1200’ to Rt. 16 1:40 1900’ loss in 2.8 mails = 1:8

6.6 4:20 2100’

total 6.6 miles w/2100’ total gain over two days

3.3 miles 1900’ gain day 1 2:10

3.3 miles 200’ gain day 2 2:10

Class B-Easy to Moderate

Camp:

1hr/1m, 1hr/1000’ = 7+2 = 9 hours for class 4 (beginner) hiker

1hr/2m, 1hr/1000’ = 3+2 = 5 hours for class 3 (intermediate) hiker

1hr/2m, 1hr/2000’ = 3+1 = 4 hours for class 2 (experienced) hiker <book value>

1hr/4m, 1hr/2000’ = = 3 hours for class 1 (advanced) hiker

Libert/Flume trip

Sr. trip

2.0 miles @1400’

0.5 (0.5) miles @1800’ to flume slide trail 400’ in 2600’ 1:7

3.0 (3.0) miles @3500’ to slide 2:15 1700’ in 3m 1:9

4.2 (0.7) miles @4300’ to ridge 3:15 800’ in 3700’ 1:5

4.3 (0.1) miles @4327’ to mt. Flume 3:20 200’ in 600’ 1:3

5.4 (1.1) miles @4460’ to mt. liberty 3:55 400’ in drop 275’, up 400’

5.7 (0.3) miles @4200’ to lib spring trail 4:10

6.0 (0.3) miles @3800’ to lib spring camp 4:30

6.0 miles 3500’-4000’ gain

2.4 miles

8.4 miles total.

Class D-Difficult, >3500’ gain, steep slopes, rock, and scree encountered.

1hr/1m, 1hr/1000’ = 6+4 = 10 hours for class 4 (beginner) hiker

1hr/2m, 1hr/1000’ = 3+4 = 7 hours for class 3 (intermediate) hiker

1hr/2m, 1hr/2000’ = 3+2 = 5 hours for class 2 (experienced) hiker <book value>

1hr/4m, 1hr/2000’ = = 3.5hours class 1 (advanced) hiker

Jr. trip

0.0 miles @1400’

0.5 (0.5) miles @1800’ to flume slide trail 400’ gain in 2600’ 1:7

2.4 (1.9) miles @3800’ to Lib Spring Camp 2:00 2000’ gain in 10000’ 1:5 (mod. Steep)

2.7 (0.3) miles @4200’ to ridge 2:20 400’ gain in 1500’ 1:4 (fairly steep)

3.0 (0.3) miles @4460’ to Mt. Liberty 2:40 260’ gain in 1500’ 1:5 (mod. Steep)

3.3 (0.3) miles @4200 to ridge 3:00

3.6 (0.3) miles @3800 to Lib spring camp 3:20

3.6 miles ~3000’-3500’ gain

2.4 miles

5.0 miles total IF go to Mt Liberty peak.

Class C-Advanced, >3000’ gain, steep spots (1:5-1:4 slopes).

Camp:

Class 4: 2.4+2.4 = 4.8 (4:50)

Class 3: 1.2+2.4 = 3.6 (3:40)

Class 2: 1.2+1.2 = 2.4 (2:20)

Class 1: .6+1.2 = 1.8 (1:55) <book value>

Peak:

Class 4; 1hr rule, 3.6+3 = 6.6 (6:40) (beginner) hiker

Class 3; 1hr rule, 1.8+3 = 4.8 (4:50)

Class 2; 1hr rule, 1.8+1.5 = 3.3 (3:30) <book value>

Hiker

The following standards are used to classify abilities. The classification is made in terms of ability to traverse distances and gain altitude over a variety of trail conditions.

Class 4: 1hr/1 mile ; 1hr/1000’

Class 3: 1hr/2 mile ; 1hr/1000’

Class 2: 1hr/2 mile ; 1hr/2000’

Class 1: 1hr/4 mile ; 1hr/2000’

Class 2: Experienced; cover 2 miles of (flat) trail in 1 hour, gain 2000’ of elevation in 1 hour. Capable of hiking at this rate for 8-10 hours per day. Example, a 2 mile trip with 2000’ elevation gain would take 2 hours. Most of the AMC trail book uses roughly this as a measure of how long it takes to traverse a trail from one point to another.

Class 1: Advanced; cover 4 miles of (flat) trail in 1 hour, gain 2000’ of elevation in 1 hour. Capable of hiking at this rate for 10 or more hours per day. Example, a 2 mile trip with 2000’ elevation gain would take 1½ hours. Under some circumstances, a long flat easy trail for instance, the AMC guidebook may use these parameters to determine the time to traverse a trail.

Hiking

The following standards are used to classify trips. The classification is made in terms of walking distance, altitude gain, difficulty of various trails and special problems.

Class A: 8 miles maximum round trip, with altitude gain up to 1200 feet.

Class B: 12 miles maximum round trip, with altitude gain of 1200 to 2500 feet. Class B trips may include overnights and easy backpacking to base camp.

Class C: 15 miles maximum round trip, with altitude gain up to 3500 feet. Scree and steep or rough terrain may be encountered.

Class D: More than 15 miles round trip, altitude gain of over 3500 feet. Trips in this classification may require additional skills.

Class E: Designates trips of any classification as dangerous. Basic Mountaineering School graduation is required.