Difficulty Scale

My Difficulty Scale

I created my difficulty scale back in 2013 after being asked for my favorite easy trails. I have been using it since then, and am mostly happy with it. So, I will continue using it, but I am playing with some icons.

Previous article located here.

Instead of using the standard Easy, Moderate, Hard I came up with the following scale:

DR1: Get out and look Seriously drive up to and see. May need to take a few steps. This is used mostly for viewpoints etc.

DR2: Paved (or like paved) most likely wheelchair accessible.

DR3: Mostly flat, slight elevation gain, well maintained trail.

DR4: Steep uphill terrain and/or rocky footing. Possible short sections with steep drop offs.

DR5: Long steep segments. rocky trail, bush whacking, steep drops offs.

DR6: Too much for me to handle. Extreme heights, rock climbing, above waist water crossing, etc. Honestly I don’t think I will post any of these

I have been posting my DR# rating system for quite a few years now, my only complaint is sometimes I feel like I need something between 2 and 3, but otherwise I like it. I am toying around with using the icons I created with my super useful MS paint skills.

My difficulty rating system is based upon my personal experience as an out of shape ex-smoker, your experience may differ greatly.

Lastly, part of why I chose this more detailed scale and, partially the reason I didn’t have one before, is I think its quite subjective. We’ll hike something marked easy and we don’t think it was easy. Hike something marked as moderate and we think it was a cake walk. Also aside from this being from my own experience, there are other factors that really just make this my opinion, which can change. Not to mention sometimes we will do an easy trail, but it was smoky that day, which bumped that up to difficult. So, again, it is subjective, but I do try my best to let you know what you might be in for.

Squirrel Ratings.

This is just a spot to hold my squirrel rating icons. I think it is pretty clear way to show much I enjoyed a trail. Although, it too can be subjective for various reason, including what other trails I have done recently, weather, crowds, and other factors.