Adventures in the Southern Appalachians & Beyond!  

 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

---HIKE RATINGS---
 
The following is reference for how I come up with my hike rating system:
 
 
Bill's Overall Rating: 

          Purely subjective of 1-5 stars based on the how much I enjoy the hike.

 
Distance:
          Simply the estimated mileage of the entire hike.
 
Difficulty (based on terrain and elevation gain per day):
          VERY EASY - almost no elevation gain
          EASY - mild grade
          MODERATE - less than 1000 feet gain, but may have some very steep areas
          DIFFICULT - 1000-2000 feet elevation gain
          VERY DIFFICULT - Over 2000 feet elevation gain
 
Type:
          OUT & BACK - hike to a stopping point & then backtrack on the same trail
          LOOP - starts at one point, but utilizes different trail to return to that point
          CONT. - has a different starting and ending point
 
Mountain Vistas (value of 1-5 stars based on the beauty & amount of vistas):
          1 - very little or no views, mostly wooded            
          2 - some occasional views with modest grandeur, possibly with obstructions
          3 - sporadic views, non or slightly obstructed, medium grandeur
          4 - many medium grandeur views, or single views with high grandeur
          5- Many different views with high grandeur, non-obstructed
 
Waterfall Rating (if any):
        Numerical value based on the Waterfall Rating System           
 
Water Crossings (number + difficultly....  number is based on total crossings on out and back hikes, rating doesn't include bridges or very small streams, difficultly is seen below):
          NONE
          EASY - you shouldn't get wet above the soles of your boots                  
          MODERATE - shallow but you'll have to use caution and moderate rock-       
                    hopping to keep your boots dry
          DIFFICULT - ankle to knee-deep water, requires tough rock-hopping or 
                    cables to stay dry
          VERY DIFFICULT - you're probably gong to get wet
 
Rock Scrambling/Climbing (difficulty based on the following criteria):
          NONE
          EASY - some steep steps and/or slopes, or very short climbs over rocks or
                    boulders not using hand-holds
          MODERATE - Occasional, short climbing using some hand-holds, but risk of
                    fall is minimal
          DIFFICULT - some steep, longer climbing using hand-holds to pull up, with
                    slight risk
          VERY DIFFICULT - higher risk, some climbing skills possibly required, longer,
                    vertical, or very steep slopes, ropes possibly required                
           
Potential Hazards:              
          Noted as "open bridges, one-rail bridges, ladders, steep steps, avoidable
          cliffs, unavoidable cliffs, steep slopes, slippery areas, etc."
 
Significance:              
          Noted as "waterfall, historical, wildflower, highpoint, structure, railroad,
          or a combination of the above"
 
Recommendation:          
          Noted as "family/beginner, average, advanced, or highly advanced"
        
 

 

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