Ratings

A summary of the Rocky Mountain Rambler Association rating system, used with permission. Every rating is a trip category and a technical difficulty level: what type of trip it is, and how hard the hardest section is — which might be short or long.

The number is a single continuous scale from 1 to 9, not a scale per category. SC5 sits directly above OT5, and MN6 above SC7. The letters say what kind of terrain you are on; the number says how hard it gets.

Ratings describe the conditions I found on the day. Mountains change, and a route I plotted fifteen years ago will look and feel different now. Travel prepared for what is actually in front of you.

TLTrail hikingnon-winter

TL1

Well maintained, easy terrain suitable for running shoes

for example Upper Kananaskis Lakes circuit

3 trips rated TL1

TL2

Purpose-built, graded with switchbacks if necessary

for example Healy Pass

28 trips rated TL2

TL3

Sections of trail, few purpose-built sections, non-bridged streams

for example Prairie Mountain

17 trips rated TL3

TL4

Hiking poles are a definite asset, rougher sections of trail that could be slightly overgrown

for example Memorial Lakes

17 trips rated TL4

OTOff-trail hikingnon-winter

OT1

Flat, easy gradients on firm, open ground

for example alpine lakes with no trails but a good shoreline

2 trips rated OT1

OT2

Moderate slopes, pretty easy terrain with some stream hopping possible

for example alpine meadows with no trails and little bush

36 trips rated OT2

OT3

Steeper slopes, rougher terrain, hiking poles an asset

for example Whaleback

72 trips rated OT3

OT4

Sustained steep grassy or wooded slopes, hiking poles required for balance

for example Kent Ridge

78 trips rated OT4

OT5

Steep slopes including grass, wood and scree. Little use of hands required but some exposure on route

for example Opal Ridge

27 trips rated OT5

SCScramblingrated for dry or optimal conditions

SC5

Kane “easy” — YDS 1 — rocky gradients slightly more serious than OT5

for example Grotto Mountain

215 trips rated SC5

SC6

Kane “moderate” — YDS 2 — steep, exposed sections with moderately loose rock, route-finding

for example Mount Temple

281 trips rated SC6

SC7

Kane “difficult” — YDS 3/4 — very steep, exposed sections with slabby or loose rock, lots of exposure and tricky route-finding in an alpine setting

for example Mount Chephren, Smuts, Northover

112 trips rated SC7

MNMountaineeringin dry or optimal conditions

MN6

Low angle glaciers, under 20 degrees, with minimal crevasses

for example Saskatchewan Glacier

27 trips rated MN6

MN7

An SC7 scramble with simple glacier terrain or snow slopes added

for example Mount Patterson

29 trips rated MN7

MN8

An SC7 scramble with more complex glacier travel and steeper snow slopes, or extreme exposure where most would find a rope reasonable

for example Mount Victoria

21 trips rated MN8

MN9

YDS 5.0 to 5.4 — protecting the leader is good practice. Extreme exposure on steep but easily climbed rock, possibly with snow or ice couloirs

for example Assiniboine north ridge, King George south glacier, Harrison ice couloirs

11 trips rated MN9

OTOff-trail skiingwinter

OT1

Easy. Low angle slopes with minimal avalanche hazard, on partial approach roads or easy summer trails

for example Elephant Rocks, Healy Pass

2 trips rated OT1

OT2

Easy to moderate. Low to moderate angle slopes, some avalanche hazard, partial trail on approach

for example Burstall Pass, Bow Summit, Parker Ridge

36 trips rated OT2

OT3

Moderate. Follows established winter routes with avalanche terrain and possible navigation issues in some conditions

for example Crowfoot Glades, Dolomite Circuit

72 trips rated OT3

OT4

Moderate to difficult. Further off-trail, requires more stable snow, more exposure to avalanche hazard, may require boot packing to the summit

for example Bow Peak, Citadel Peak, Ramp Peak

78 trips rated OT4

OT5

Difficult. Completely off-trail in severe avalanche terrain, requires very stable snow and good weather

for example Spray Traverse, Crowfoot Mountain, Snow Peak

27 trips rated OT5

MNSki mountaineeringwinter

MN6

Fairly low angle approach on established winter routes. Avalanche hazard and easy glacier travel requiring crevasse and avalanche rescue gear

for example Rhondda, Gordon, Thompson, French / Haig / Robertson

27 trips rated MN6

MN7

Moderately hazardous approach through crevassed and avalanche or serac-exposed terrain, usually with overnight winter gear

for example North Twin, Mount Baker

29 trips rated MN7

MN8

Hazardous approach, severely crevassed terrain, large avalanche slopes, usually requiring winter camping

for example Balfour, Columbia, Resplendent

21 trips rated MN8

MN9

Hazardous approach and hazardous winter. Cornices and glaciated terrain to the summit, severely crevassed and avalanche-exposed, usually requiring winter camping

for example Collie, Twins Tower, South Twin, The Helmet

11 trips rated MN9