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