|  | |  | | |  | |  | | | |
|  |  |
The PNW Leisure Hiking Custom Hike Rating System was designed after a trip to a guidebook-rated level "1" hike (Twin Falls), when your esteemed organizer decided PNW Leisure Hiking needed to have a more appropriate rating to our hikes. Using a very complicated formula (wink wink), the PNW Leisure Hiking Custom Hike Rating System was born. Click on the link to the left to view the chart.
 These ratings are only an indicator of the hike difficulty. Each hike has variables beyond elevation gain and distance such as weather, trail conditions, etc (Special Circumstances). Your organizer and assistant organizers make every attempt to take known Special Circumstances into consideration when rating each hike. You can find more information about each hike's Special Circumstances under the "Special Notes" section under each hike event listing.
You can check the rating of your own hikes using our Custom Hike Rating System Chart. Just find your distance in the top column, and your elevation gain in the left column, and at the meeting point of those two indicators you will find a number. Use that number to determine the difficulty of your hike. (ie 1-8 are Easy).
Please keep in mind that only you can determine your abilities. If you'd like some guidelines, you can view "How Do I Know What Level I'm Ready For?" in the left-hand column.
What it really boils down to is, only you can know how much you can handle! You can use the below chart as a guideline for helping you to figure that out, but please be honest with yourself in deciding which hikes you should attempt.
The numbers (ie Easy is 0-8) indicate HOW "easy" a hike is, depending on the distance and the elevation gain. The lower the number, the easier the hike is. Sometimes when hikes fall into the middle of the range (ie a hike rated an "8" or a "13), the hike will be listed as both- Easy/Moderate (8) or (Moderate/Challenging (13).
Sometimes even when a hike falls into a specific category, it will be listed as a higher number due to the third deciding factor, "Special Circumstances." This might be due to the quality of the trail, water crossings, how overgrown the trail tends to be, roughness of the footing, etc. You can find more information about each hike's Special Circumstances under the "Special Notes" section under each hike event listing.
What Level am I Ready For?
See which of the below statements fits your experience and fitness level.
0 - 8
EASY
|
You are just starting out, minimal elevation gain and/or distance
|
9 - 13
MODERATE |
You have completed at least a handful of PNWLH hikes, moderate elevation gain and/or distance
|
14 - 18 CHALLENGING
|
You are in good hiking condition, and have completed at least a handful of Moderate PNWLH hikes, significant elevation gain and/or distance
|
19 - 23
DIFFICULT |
You are in excellent hiking condition, and have completed at least a handful of Challenging PNWLH hikes, significant elevation gain and/or distance
|
24 - 27
VERY DIFFICULT |
You are in excellent hiking condition, and have completed at least a handful of Difficult PNWLH hikes, significant elevation gain and/or distance
|
28 +
EXTREME |
You are in exceptional hiking condition, and have completed at least a handful of Very Difficult PNWLH hikes, significant elevation gain and/or distance |
| |
Overall Roundtrip Distance in Miles |
| |
0.5 |
1 |
1.5 |
2 |
2.5 |
3 |
3.5 |
4 |
4.5 |
5 |
5.5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
Overall Elevation Gain in Feet
|
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
| 50 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
| 100 |
9 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
| 150 |
13 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
| 200 |
17 |
9 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
| 250 |
21 |
11 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
| 300 |
25 |
13 |
10 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
| 350 |
30 |
16 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
| 400 |
|
18 |
13 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
| 450 |
|
20 |
14 |
11 |
10 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
| 500 |
|
22 |
15 |
12 |
11 |
10 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
| 550 |
|
24 |
17 |
13 |
12 |
11 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
11 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
16 |
| 600 |
|
26 |
18 |
14 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
16 |
| 650 |
|
28 |
20 |
16 |
13 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
11 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
| 700 |
|
|
21 |
17 |
14 |
13 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
18 |
17 |
| 750 |
|
|
22 |
18 |
15 |
13 |
12 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
18 |
17 |
| 800 |
|
|
24 |
19 |
16 |
14 |
13 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
18 |
17 |
| 850 |
|
|
25 |
20 |
17 |
15 |
14 |
13 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
18 |
17 |
| 900 |
|
|
26 |
21 |
17 |
15 |
14 |
13 |
13 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
18 |
17 |
| 1000 |
|
|
29 |
23 |
19 |
17 |
15 |
14 |
14 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
17 |
| 1100 |
|
|
|
25 |
21 |
18 |
17 |
15 |
15 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
| 1200 |
|
|
|
27 |
22 |
20 |
18 |
16 |
16 |
15 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
17 |
18 |
| 1300 |
|
|
|
29 |
24 |
21 |
19 |
17 |
16 |
16 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
16 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
18 |
| 1400 |
|
|
|
|
26 |
22 |
20 |
19 |
17 |
17 |
16 |
16 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
16 |
16 |
17 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
| 1500 |
|
|
|
|
27 |
24 |
21 |
20 |
18 |
17 |
17 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
18 |
19 |
| 1600 |
|
|
|
|
29 |
25 |
22 |
21 |
19 |
18 |
18 |
17 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
17 |
17 |
18 |
18 |
19 |
| 1700 |
|
|
|
|
|
27 |
24 |
22 |
20 |
19 |
18 |
18 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
18 |
18 |
19 |
19 |
| 1800 |
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
25 |
23 |
21 |
20 |
19 |
18 |
18 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
18 |
18 |
19 |
19 |
20 |
| 1900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
26 |
24 |
22 |
21 |
20 |
19 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
19 |
19 |
20 |
| 2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
27 |
25 |
23 |
22 |
21 |
20 |
19 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
19 |
19 |
20 |
20 |
| 2100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
26 |
24 |
22 |
21 |
20 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
| 2200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27 |
25 |
23 |
22 |
21 |
20 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
20 |
20 |
21 |
| 2300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
26 |
24 |
23 |
22 |
21 |
20 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
20 |
20 |
21 |
21 |
| 2400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27 |
25 |
24 |
23 |
21 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
21 |
21 |
| 2500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
26 |
24 |
23 |
22 |
21 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
21 |
21 |
22 |
| 2600 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
27 |
25 |
24 |
22 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
22 |
| 2700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27 |
26 |
25 |
23 |
22 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
22 |
22 |
| 2800 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
27 |
25 |
24 |
22 |
22 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
22 |
22 |
22 |
| 2900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27 |
26 |
24 |
23 |
22 |
22 |
21 |
22 |
22 |
22 |
23 |
| 3000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
27 |
25 |
23 |
23 |
22 |
21 |
22 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
| 3100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
25 |
24 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
| 3200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
26 |
25 |
24 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
24 |
| 3300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27 |
25 |
24 |
24 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
24 |
24 |
| 3400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27 |
26 |
25 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
| 3500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
26 |
25 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
| 3600 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
27 |
26 |
25 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
25 |
| 3700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27 |
26 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
| 3800 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
26 |
26 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
| 3900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
27 |
26 |
26 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
26 |
| 4000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
| 4100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
27 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
| 4200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
27 |
27 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
| 4300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
27 |
27 |
27 |
27 |
27 |
| 4400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
27 |
27 |
27 |
27 |
27 |
| 4500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
27 |
27 |
27 |
27 |
| 4700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
28 |
28 |
28 |
PNWLH Custom Hike Rating System Copyright PNW Leisure Hiking, Alecia J. Rivas and Gryph. Please give credit when using this information.
This website & its contents including photographs © Alecia J. Rivas, Gryph, and PNWLH except where otherwise indicated.
Please note: Hiking, camping and backpacking are potentially dangerous activities. The web mistress of these pages is not an instructor or an authority in any of these areas. You are responsible for your child's, your canine's and your own health, welfare and actions. The web mistress assumes no responsibility for the use of information contained within this web site.
PNW Leisure Hiking does not tolerate or condone harassment in any form including racial intolerance, unwelcome advances, verbal abuse, sexual harassment, etc. We do not support or represent any political causes or religious causes. Please notify the Organizer if you feel that you are being harassed so that appropriate steps may be taken. PNW Leisure Hiking is NOT a singles club. If you are looking for a date, we strongly recommend you look elsewhere.
 |
| | | | | | |
| |
|
