Practical field guide

Understand walking difficulty

Distance alone does not describe a walk. Read ascent, terrain, exposure and estimated time together, then consider your group.

The essential point

  1. A short steep climb or rocky descent can take longer than a longer easy track. Check where the ascent occurs and read warnings about technical passages.
  2. Published times are estimates. Add breaks and allow for heat, wind, slippery ground and navigation. Difficulty ratings can differ between sources.
  3. Choose for the person with the smallest margin. If the description leaves doubt about a passage, pick a simpler route or ask a qualified guide.

Article sources

Original French article ↗

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