Walk Grades
Modified from Walking World web site. If you are submitting walks for the Web site, please use the 5 main categories shown below to roughly characterise your walk. Then give more detail by using the Costa Blanca Mountain Walkers grading codes. (see bottom of Page)
(i) Gentle Stroll: the walk is likely to be under 5 Km and there are no obstacles, such as difficult terraces, rocky paths, steep slopes, etc. The route is well-surfaced, and could be done in almost any type of footwear.
(ii) Easy Walk: the walk is likely to be under 10 km. Paths and tracks
are easily walked, there are no significant navigational difficulties. In dry
weather the route could probably be walked in trainers or other lightweight
shoes.
(iii) Moderate Walk: the walk is likely to be more than 10 km. There
may some more awkward obstacles, like badly maintained paths, and places where
navigation involves more thought and skill. The walk should be done in boots
or walking shoes.
(iv) Hill Scramble: the walk may be short or long. It goes into regions
where exposure to weather and difficult terrain means that walkers should always
be equipped with proper footwear, spare clothing and food and drink. Map and
compass skills are necessary, though they may not have to be used. The route
may require some mild scrambling - the use of hands as well as feet - but the
dangers are limited. Walking the route in high summer should be carefully assessed.
(v) Mountain Challenge: the walk may be short or long It reaches higher altitudes (e.g. over 1000 m) where weather conditions can change rapidly. The group should always have an experienced leader. There may be sections where the path is exposed or difficult and a fall could be serious. Participants must be fit, familiar with this type of terrain, and equipped for every eventuality.
COSTA BLANCA MOUNTAIN WALKER ROUTE GRADES
E______Easy terrain, minimum ascent
M______Moderate distance, ascent
MS_____Moderately strenuous
S______Strenuous
VS_____Very strenuous
A______All good tracks
B______Some rough terrain
C______Mostly rough terrain
X______Experienced mountain walkers
Scr____Scrambling. Steeper rock needing use of hand and foot holds.