{"id":2859,"date":"2020-03-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-05T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thetrailmaster.com\/?p=2859"},"modified":"2022-10-26T11:27:42","modified_gmt":"2022-10-26T18:27:42","slug":"choosing-a-difficulty-level-for-your-hike-is-a-key-to-wise-hike-planning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetrailmaster.com\/tips\/choosing-a-difficulty-level-for-your-hike-is-a-key-to-wise-hike-planning\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing a Difficulty Level for Your Hike"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Choosing a Difficulty Level for your hike is a key to wise hike planning. Easy? Moderate? Difficult? A trail\u2019s degree of difficulty\u2014also called its difficulty level or difficulty rating\u2014can greatly vary hiking time. Good hike planning means choosing a hike for your abilities and for the amount of time you have to spend on the trail.<\/p>\n

Park agencies and guidebook writers often assist hikers out by rating the degree of challenge a trail presents to the average hiker. Of course the \u201caverage\u201d hiker varies widely as does the average hiker\u2019s skills, experience and conditioning. No matter how skilled the trail-evaluator, \u201cdegree of difficulty\u201d for a particular hike or trail is inevitably subjective.<\/p>\n

\"difficulty<\/a>

A more lyrical way to describe a hike’s difficulty level: “Trail Beyond Here is Steeper But Very Scenic”<\/p><\/div>\n

A path\u2019s elevation gain and loss, exposure to elements, steepness and the natural obstacles a hiker encounters along the way (boulder field, six creek crossings, etc.) figure prominently in the hike difficulty equation, too. High or low temperatures climatic conditions also influence a hike\u2019s difficulty rating.<\/p>\n

During my many years as the Los Angeles Times hiking columnist, I\u2019ve rated hikes with a modified easy-moderate-difficult system.<\/p>\n

My Hike Difficulty Level Rating:<\/h3>\n

Easy<\/strong> Less than 5 miles with an elevation gain of less than 700 to 800 feet. An easy day hike is suitable for beginners and children.
\nModerate<\/strong> 5 to 10 miles with less than 2,000 feet of elevation gain. You should be reasonably fit for these.
\nDifficult<\/strong> 10 miles or more, and those with more than a 2,000-foot elevation gain.<\/p>\n

U.S. Forest Service Difficulty Level Ranking:<\/h3>\n

The U.S. Forest Service uses a Level of Difficulty system<\/a> that seem to rate the hiker as much as the hike:<\/p>\n

Easiest<\/strong> A trail requiring limited skill with little challenge to travel.
\nMore difficult<\/strong> A trail requiring some skill and challenge to travel.
\nMost difficult<\/strong> A trail requiring a high degree of skill and challenge to travel. Such a hike may be at high altitude, be extremely rugged or have a major elevation gain.<\/p>\n

By all means, challenge yourself with a moderately difficult or difficult hike. In fact, in order to reach some scenic treasures by trail you might need to take a hike that\u2019s a real \u201cbutt-kicker,\u201d a term used by some hikers I know but rarely used on official hike difficulty ratings.<\/p>\n

Choose the hike that\u2019s right for you and hit the trail to fun and adventure.<\/p>\n

Hike on.
\nJohn McKinney<\/p>\n

P.S. No matter how difficult the hike is, you can always wear great gear. Check out our T-Shirts<\/a>![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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