The grading system is designed to help you in making your right decision, before booking your trip. Please read carefully the description of the tour, its rating and what is that means and be sure that you won’t overestimate your abilities.
Grading System For Hiking, Trekking and Backpacking Tours (in accordance with SGLM Scale)
| Very Easy |
DIFERENCE of Elevation | Low < 300m |
| EXPOSURE (Passages with risk of sliding or falling from the trail) | Low (almost non-existent) | |
| FREQUENCY of exposed passages (equiped or not with cables and chains) | None | |
| Easy |
DIFERENCE of Elevation | Medium 300 – 600 m |
| EXPOSURE (Passages with risk of sliding or falling from the trail) | Low or Medium | |
| FREQUENCY of exposed passages (equiped or not with cables and chains) | None or just a few short ones | |
| Medium |
DIFERENCE of Elevation | High 600 – 900 m |
| EXPOSURE (Passages with risk of sliding or falling from the trail) |
Low or Medium. There is a longer one or few short ones. |
|
| FREQUENCY of exposed passages (equiped or not with cables and chains) | Low or Medium | |
| Difficult |
DIFERENCE of Elevation | Very High >900 m |
| EXPOSURE (Passages with risk of sliding or falling from the trail) | High or Very High. There are more passages equiped with cables and chains. | |
| FREQUENCY of exposed passages (equiped or not with cables and chains) | Medium or High | |
| Alpine Trail |  |
Mountain route with no improvements for hiking. Can be considered the low level of scrambling or rock climbing. |
Grading System for Via Ferrata routes (in accordance with UIAA, the Italian scale has been adopted as international standard)
| F | Equipped path, with low exposure and long walking tracts. Good fixed protections, consisting mainly in metalic ropes (or chains) used only to increase safety. |
| PD |
Short Via Ferrata with low exposure. The itinerary usually presents couloirs, chimneys, short vertical tracts where chains. ropes, pegs and stairs help the progression. |
| D | Via Ferrata with a medium-long length, requiring a good physical condition and technical competency. Often, the itinerary is vertical and overhangs may be present. Equipped with metallic ropes, chains, pegs and stairs. |
| TD |
The itinerary presents exposed and technical sequences; a very good physical condition and technical competence required. The itinerary is vertical, and overhangs are climbed with few artificial aids. Equipment consists of metallic ropes, with pegs and stairs. |
| ED |
The itinerary presents several exposed and technical sequences, possibly created on purpose; in order to increase the engagement, only few artificial pegs/ stairs are in place. Therefore, a very good physical condition and some climbing technical competences are required. |
- F = facile (easy)
- PD = peu difficile (not very difficult)
- D = difficile (difficult)
- TD = très difficile (very difficult)
- ED = extrêmement difficile (extremely difficult)
ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTIONS & GRADES
| TECHNICAL ENGAGEMENT | 1. Null or low technical difficulty, very good equipment. |
| 2. Equipped with pegs, stairs, bridges: sometimes it is required to climb using natural holds. | |
| 3. Many vertical or overhanging segments; it is necessary to climb using natural holds; advisable a minimum knowledge of rope techniques. | |
| PHYSICAL ENGAGEMENT | 1. It requires a physical effort equivalent to a moderate walking excursion. |
| 2. It requires a good physical condition (force and resistance). | |
| 3. It requires a very good physical condition (force and resistance). | |
| EXPOSURE | 1. Low Exposure |
| 2. Moderate Exposure, some aerial steps | |
| 3. Very exposed with many aerial sequencese | |
| ENVIRONMENT | 1. Low altitude, often warm and safe weather. easy escape. |
| 2. Mountain environment, altitude between 1000 and 2000 m; beware of thunderstorms, wind and cold weather. | |
| 3. High mountain environment; altitude higher than 2000 m; possible presence of snow section; beware of thunderstorms. wind and cold weather. |
Grading System for Snowshoeing Tours
Introductory. Full instruction is given on snowshoe technique and equipment. Designed for those who have done little or no snowshoeing, but who take regular exercise and have a reasonable level of fitness. This is ideal for walkers who want to explore the mountains in winter. Expect to walk on a variety of terrain from flat to undulating, on and off the beaten tracks. Expect to walk for up to 4-6 hours a day.
Intermediate. Suitable for most summer mountain-walkers, but generally involving longer days at a moderate altitude (up to 1,800m). Routes taken are mainly off the beaten track. A good level of fitness is required as these trips can involve considerable amounts of ascent and descent and the occasional difficult day. Expect to walk 5-7 hours per day.
Advanced. These holidays are very physically challenging and are suitable for regular mountain-walkers who are used to extended days. These treks can involve difficult and sometimes demanding days, as well as lengthy periods at higher altitudes(up to 2,500m). A high level of fitness and previous snowshoeing experience is essential. Expect to be walking 5-7 hours per day with the occasional longer day.
