Grades
We use a two scale system to grade all of our courses and expeditions.
A number indicates the technical difficulty
and
a letter indicates the level of fitness required.
For trekking and mountaineering these grades are outlined below. Further down the page is our separate system for ski grades and a few comparisons for peaks and treks elsewhere in the world.
It is always best to phone or e-mail us before booking an expedition so that we can answer specific questions about your fitness and experience. All our expeditions are designed for fit and healthy people who are keen on the outdoor life, but the easier trips can be joined by fit and adventurous people with little previous experience of trekking or climbing. On some of our mountaineering expeditions members must have previous experience of winter hillwalking and on the most difficult we ask for previous experience of Alpine or winter climbing. To climb above 6000m always needs a very high standard of fitness, in particular good heart/lung fitness. Further details of the sort of experience and fitness required can be found in the individual expedition dossiers.
Trekking and Mountaineering Grades
|
DIFFICULTY Our numerical grade indicates the technical difficulty of the expedition. The higher the grade the more extensive previous experience of walking or climbing you'll need. |
FITNESS Our alphabetic grade is an indication of the level of fitness and general commitment you will need to bring to achieve your trek or summit. |
| 1 Walking, or climbing involving only paths, easy scree and rock or easy-angled snow. No previous experience of climbing is required and we don't expect to use ropes. | A Good general fitness. Similar to that required for a week of hillwalking in Britain. Only day sacks (up to 10kg) will be carried in the mountains. |
| 2 Either 1. Ropes used mainly for glacier travel and perhaps some very easy scrambling. Previous roped climbing experience may be useful but it is not essential. Or 2. Sustained rough mountain ground, perhaps with many boulders or deep snow. | B Good fitness needed with some light cardiovascaular training, such as circuits or running. Expedition rucksacks of up to 20kg may need to be carried occasionally, but only for very short periods or downhill or at low altitude. |
| 3 Climbing with short sections of ice where two tools may be necessary, e.g. Scottish grade II or Alpine PD or rock scrambling to about Diff./Alpine II. A little previous experience of roped climbing is essential. | C A very high level of fitness and stamina are required. You will need to be able to carry a heavy rucksack (20kg) on several days, often uphill at high altitude. Several months of training, particularly for cardiovascular fitness, will be necessary. |
| 4 More difficult or more continuous climbing e.g. Scottish grade III or Alpine AD or rock to about Severe/Alpine IV. Extensive climbing experience is required, e.g. several Alpine or Scottish winter seasons. |
Ski and Snowboard Resort Grades
For trips to ski resorts we normally list the grade as N/A (not applicable). This is because your fitness and ability will not affect the success of other members of the group, only yourself. However we do of course still recommend that you come out to the Andes fit for a week of downhill snowboarding or skiing.
Ski Mountaineering and Ski Touring
For ski touring and ski-mountaineering courses we use a three point technical or difficulty scale plus the same alphabetical fitness ratings as for our mountaineering and trekking expeditions.
|
DIFFICULTY Our numerical grade indicates the skiing difficulty of the expedition. The higher the grade the more extensive previous experience of skiing, particularly off-piste, you will need. |
FITNESS As in the table above our alphabetic grade is an indication of the level of fitness and general commitment you will need to bring to achieve your trek or summit. |
| N/A We don't quote a grade for our downhill, resort based ski and snowboard trips. This is because your fitness and ability will not affect others on the trip. However we do still recommend that to get the most from your trip you have good basic downhill ski or board fitness. | |
|
1 Good downhill ability required, with red runs being skied confidently. No previous off-piste, touring or mountaineering experience is required. |
A Good general fitness the same as for a week of Alpine skiing or hillwalking in Britain. Generally only day sacks (up to 10kg) will be carried while touring in the mountains. |
|
2 As for grade 1 but also requiring a little off-piste or ski-touring experience plus at least some previous mountaineering experience, including use of ice-axe and crampons. |
B Good fitness needed with some light training, such as circuits or running. You may need to carry your skis and boots to the snowline, and this may be at altitudes of up to 5000m. |
|
3 Excellent downhill skiing ability required, black runs being skied confidently. Previous ski-touring and more extensive mountaineering experience is also necessary, e.g. ropework and some Alpine climbs to PD. |
C A very high level of fitness and stamina are required. You will need to be able to carry a heavy rucksack (20kg) or tow a heavy sledge (20-30kg) for several days, sometimes uphill. Several months of training, particularly for cardiovascular fitness, will be necessary. |
Comparisons
As a rough guide for those who have climbed elsewhere in the world the following peaks would be graded by ANDES as follows.
West Highland Way 1A
Cairngorm 4000'ers on skis 2B
Everest Base Camp 1A
Kilimanjaro 1A
Mera Peak 2A
Mt. Blanc 2B, on skis 3B
Pik Lenin 2C
Denali 3C
Matterhorn 4B
Alpine Haute-Route on Skis 2B
