Difficulty Levels and Health and Safety Considerations

Difficulty Levels

To assist you in determining which tour is right for your fitness and experience levels, we include the following ratings on our scheduled hikes:

Easy: This rating applies primarily to our lodge-based and mule-assisted trips. You will carry only a day pack. You should be comfortable walking 3-5 miles in a day, taking as many breaks as you need.

Moderate: This rating describes trips with long days of moderate to easy on-trail hiking. You should be comfortable walking/hiking over uneven terrain with only occasional breaks.

Strenuous: This rating denotes trips with steep, long days of both on and off-trail hiking. You should be comfortable running/biking/hiking for several hours without many breaks.

Extreme: This rating denotes a trip with very strenuous off-trail hiking (you may encounter boulder fields, steep side slopes, gullies, and thick vegetation). You should be able to hike all day with a 45 pound pack over varying terrain. You must be able to exercise vigorously at home (extended runs, swims, bike rides, etc.) to join a hike with an extreme rating.

These ratings will accompany each trip’s description. Try to get an idea of which category is right for you. If you are in doubt about which trip is right for you, please do not hesitate to call us.

Safety Considerations

Your safety is our top priority, followed by fun and comfort. Your hiking tour will be led by a professional guide. All of our guides are wilderness-certified first responders or EMTs, each with years of guiding and medical experience. Most tours also have a satellite phone along in case of an emergency. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-4453 (HIKE) for more information.