Fitness Levels; Skill Levels

FITNESS LEVELS 

We use a 1 to 4 scale with 1 being easy, 4 being extremely strenuous.

1. Easy (or minimal): Comfortable doing the activity in question for a few hours at a casual pace.
2. Intermediate: Able to go at a casual pace for much of the day or at a brisk pace for a few hours.
3. Advanced: Able to sustain a brisk pace all day or medium aerobic output for several hours.
4. Expert (or competition): Able to sustain high aerobic output for much of the day.

SKILL LEVELS 

• In general: 1=Beginner, 2=Intermediate, 3=Advanced, 4=Expert.
• For each sport, the following definitions help clarify what we mean.

Biking-Mountain

1. Beginner: Wide dirt and gravel roads. Fairly flat terrain with short, well-graded climbs.
2. Intermediate: Rougher roads and well-maintained single-track (trails). Long climbs or descents possible but on well-graded trails/roads.
3. Advanced: Single track with steep ascents and descents. Pushing of bikes likely on some ascents. Spills possible on some descents. Trail surface may be rocky, rutted, or rooty.
4. Expert: Ascents entail more pushing. Descents may be wicked steep, rough, rocky and or loose. Jumps, ramps, teeter totters, elevated logs and catwalks all possible.

Biking-Road

1. Beginner: Use of mountain or roads bikes on bike paths with no drafting at speeds of about 12 mph.
2. Intermediate. Use of mountain or road bikes on roads with wide shoulders at speeds of about 15 mph. Some drafting.
3. Advanced: Use of road bikes on good roads in pacelines moving at speeds of about 20 miles per hour.
4. Expert. Use of performance road bikes on roads that may be busy and/or narrow. Tight pacelines moving at high speeds (25+ mph).

Climbing-Ice

1. Beginner: Lower skill level needed. Water Ice rating of 1(WI1)or below.
2. Intermediate: Ability to climb Water Ice 2 and 3 (WI2 and WI3).
3. Advanced: Ability to climb WI4 and WI5.
4. Expert: Ability to climb WI6 and WI7.

Climbing-Mountaineering

1. Beginner: No leading, follows up to 5.4.
2. Intermediate: Follows around 5.7, and/or leads about 5.6. Or A0 to A1.
3. Advanced: Follows easy to mid 5.10, and/or leads up to hard 5.9. Or A1 to A2.
4. Expert. Leads mid 5.10 and up. Or A3.

Climbing-Rock

1. Beginner: No leading, follows up to 5.4.
2. Intermediate: Follows around 5.7, and/or leads about 5.6. Or A1.
3. Advanced: Follows easy 5.10, and/or leads around 5.9. Or A2.
4. Expert. Leads hard 5.10 and above. Or A3

Family Fun

1. Beginner.
2. Intermediate.
3. Advanced.
4. Expert.

Hiking-Backpacking

1. Beginner: Flat or undulating terrain with wide, well-graded trails.
2. Intermediate: Moderate climbs and descents on well-graded trails.
3. Advanced: Long, steep climbs and descents on poor or rough trails.
4. Expert: Cross-country travel over rough terrain without trails. Scrambling possible. Good route-finding skills needed.

Paddling-Flatwater 

1. Beginner: Lakes/reservoirs with no current, wind hazard, or long crossings.
2. Intermediate: Strong winds, medium waves, and crossings under a mile long possible. Or river or tidal currents with small riffles and weak eddies.
3. Advanced: Strong winds, canoe-swamping waves, crossings over a mile long all possible. Or river or tidal currents up to easy class 2 (River Classification System).
4. Expert: Saltwater paddling on exposed coastlines, or long trips on huge wilderness lakes, or moving water that is solidly class 2.

Paddling-Whitewater

1. Beginner: Proficient on class 1 and easy class 2 rapids.
2. Intermediate: Competent on class 2 and 3 rapids.
3. Advanced: Can safely paddle class 3 and 4 rapids.
4. Expert: Can safely paddle class 4 and 5 rapids.

Paragliding 

1. Beginner.
2. Intermediate.
3. Advanced.
4. Expert.

Skiing-Alpine 

1. Beginner. Green runs.
2. Intermediate. Blue runs.
3. Advanced. Black-diamond runs.
4. Expert. Double-black-diamond runs.

Skiing-Backcountry 

1. Beginner: Ascents and descents of mellow slopes (less than 15 degrees steep).
2. Intermediate: Ascents / descents of slopes between 15 and 30 degrees.
3. Advanced: Ascents / descents of slopes between 30 and 45 degrees.
4. Expert: Ascents and descents of slopes greater than 45 degrees in steepness.

Skiing-Nordic

1. Beginner. Classic or skate skier that has just begun.
2. Intermediate. Classic or skate skier competent on undulating terrain.
3. Advanced. Classic or skate skier with solid technique for climbing and descending steeper trails.
4. Expert. Instructor-quality classic or skate skier.

Snowshoeing 

1. Beginner.
2. Intermediate.
3. Advanced.
4. Expert.

Trail Running

1. Beginner: Flat or undulating terrain with wide, well-graded trails.
2. Intermediate: Moderate climbs and descents on well-graded trails.
3. Advanced: Long, steep climbs and descents on poor or rough trails.
4. Expert: Cross-country travel over rough terrain and some scrambling possible. Route-finding or orienteering skills may be needed.