Trip Rating System
Backpacking and Bus Camping Day Hike Rating System:
A good trip for you and your group relies on your physical conditioning and gear selection. Due to the distance traveled from San Diego and the altitudes at which our outings are conducted, all participants should have backpacking experience prior to embarking on one of our fantastic journeys.
A trip rating of H10D, for example, can be translated as follows: 10 = the number of miles traveled on the longest day of the trip. A H10D is a hard trip covering at least 10 miles one day and gaining at least 2001 feet on the hardest day. For our bus trips, participants should also consider that these trips will be at much higher elevation than what is found around San Diego. Our typical trail head begins at around 7,000 feet and higher.
The Sierra Club San Diego uses a 3 part code to describe the level of a backpack or a hike. The first capital letter refers to the ease or difficulty of the trip based on experience level. The number, represents the number of highest number of miles on a day within the trip. The last letter represents the total elevation gain/loss for the day.
Backpacking Trips
Difficulty
E = Easy: Reasonable physical condition required and recent experience recommended, unless specifically stated in the outing description..
M = Moderate: You should follow a regular conditioning program, and have some experience with easy backpacks. Recent experience required, unless specifically stated in the outing description.
H = Hard: You should follow a regular conditioning program, and have comfortably completed a few moderate backpacks first. Look carefully at the mileage and elevation gain. Recent comparable experience preferred, unless specifically stated in the outing description.
S = Strenuous: A high level of conditioning and experience is assumed, and required. Talk about this outing with the leader. A fast pace or other challenges may be involved.
V = Very Strenuous: Same as for Strenuous outings above.
Mileage
This is the number of miles, rounded to the nearest mile, traveled (it's the longest day for a multi-day trip).
Elevation Change
A = less than 500 ft.
B = 500 - 1,000 ft.
C = 1,001 - 2,000 ft.
D = 2,001 - 3,000 ft.
E = over 3,000 ft.
U = Unrated
For Example:
M8B is a moderate backpack which requires going 8 miles (on the longest day), and which could climb or descend up to 1,000 ft on that day. This would tend to be the hardest day of the trip, however, all the days could be at the same level.
Bus Camping - Day Hikes
Camping experience is highly recommended.
Difficulty
E = Easy: Anyone in reasonable condition can do this trip.
M = Moderate: You must be in good shape, but previous hiking experience is not required.
H = Hard: You should have comfortably done a few moderate trips before attempting this. Look carefully at the mileage and elevation gain.
S = Strenuous: Talk about this trip with the leader. A fast pace or other challenges may be involved.
V = Very Strenuous: Same as for Strenuous outings above.
Mileage
This is the number of miles, rounded to the nearest mile, traveled (it's the longest day for a multi-day trip).
Elevation Change
A = less than 500 ft.
B = 500 - 1,000 ft.
C = 1,001 - 2,000 ft.
D = 2,001 - 3,000 ft.
E = over 3,000 ft.
U = Unrated
For Example:
H10C is a hard day hike which requires going 10 miles (on the longest day for a multi-day trip), and which could climb or descend up to 2,000 ft (in any one day for a multi-day trip).
