Trip Grading

Trips within the club are given a grade by the leader and trips committee, this is to help you decide whether a trip is within your ability, and at a risk level you are willing to accept.  The grade is split into two components, indicating difficulty and risk.  High risk trips can be just fine, as long as you understand what those risks are, the grading system is designed to provided maximum protection to the unwary punter!

Easy: A trip involving:

• A track of a good standard (defined as well marked, major streams bridged, largely free of obstruction).
• Up to 5 hours walking each day.
• Climbs should be no more than 600 m.
• Accomodation in huts during winter months or designated campsites during summer.
• Groups should be limited to no more than 12 participants per leader

Moderate:  A trip with a mix of the following characteristics.

• Greater than a 1000 m climb. Or multiples of climbs / descents.
• Substantial travel on well marked but rough track.
• More than 6 hours continuous walking per day.
• Off-track travel at an unhurried pace.
• Significant river-crossing required.
• Accomodation in either huts or undesignated campsites.
• Groups should be limited to no more than 8 participants per leader.

Hard:  A trip involving several of the following elements:

• Greater than a 1500 m climb. Or multiples of climbs / descents.
• Is likely to involve travel above bushline.
• Significant scrambling with exposure may be required.
• Significant route-finding required with possible time pressure.
• More than 10 hour days required.
• Accomodation to be found en-route, and may be have poor shelter.
• High possibility of route changes required or delays due to unforeseen circumstances (eg, river too high, weather conditions, adverse terrain etc).
• Groups should be limited to no more than 4 participants per leader.

Alpine Technical: A trip predominantly onto snow slopes, and alpine areas.

• Greater than 2000 m climb.
• Involves substantial travel above the bush line, often in exposed alpine terrain.
• Exposure requires the technical use of ropes, and other alpine equipment.
• Substantial route-finding required, possibly at night or in poor visibility.
• Often more than 13 hour days required.
• Accomodation (usually bivvy) to be found en-route, may have poor shelter/high exposure.
• High possibility of route changes required or delays due to unforeseen circumstances (eg, weather conditions, snow conditions, avalanche danger, adverse terrain etc).
• Groups should be limited to no more than 4 suitably experienced participants per leader (depending on the difficulty of the trip this may be reduced to a total group size of 2 where both participants are competent individuals with a similar level of experience/skill).

Low Risk

• Track is easily followed and the exposure to falls is minimal. Higher risk areas have ropes or barriers.
• Shelter: consist of huts or camping areas with good shelter from the weather
• Water is readily available either en-route, or at huts.
• All significant rivers are bridged, and only exceptionally heavy rainfall will result in delays.
• In an emergency, walking time to nearest assistance is less than 4 hours.
  Leader has a cautious and conservative approach to tramping.

Medium Risk:

• Track is mostly well defined, but may include rough or hazardous travel in places.  There is some exposure to situations where a fall is likely to result in significant injury.
• Camping areas have some shelter, but may be vulnerable during significantly adverse weather.
• Water is mostly readily available, but may involve some searching if dry weather.
• Major rivers are bridged, but lesser rivers are likely to require fording, and heavy rain is likely to result in delays crossing.
• A change of route / plans, or delays are likely in poor weather conditions.
• In an emergency, walking time to nearest assistance is up to a days walk.
• Leader is unfamiliar with the route taken, but has good experience in the type of terrain expected.
• Some travel may be required at night, but on a track.
• Trip is within, or at the limit of the leaders experience.

High Risk:

• Track/Route: Significant exposure to areas where a fall is very likely to result in serious injury or death.
• Navigation is likely to be challenging with limited alternative routes available.
• Camping areas are very vulnerable to high winds in poor weather.
• Water may be difficult to locate during dry weather conditions.
• Few rivers are bridged resulting in likely delays during moderate rainfall.
• High probability of delays due to rain, cloud or wind.
• In an emergency, walking time to nearest assistance is more than a day.
• Significant risk of night travel, which may be off track.
• Leader is unfamiliar with route, and has a big ego to meet.
• Trip is likely to be at or beyond the limits of the leaders experience.