Explanations of Hiking Parameters

Each hiking sheet contains a blue box with essential information to help you plan your hike: distance, average duration, difficulty, elevation gain, etc.

To help you better interpret these parameters, here are some detailed explanations. Click on the criterion of your choice to go directly to the corresponding section:

➡️ Difficulty
➡️ Average duration
➡️ Distance
➡️ Vertiginous

 Difficulty

We classify our hikes into five difficulty levels, from very easy to very difficult. This classification is based on two main factors:

• The physical difficulty: distance covered, estimated duration and elevation gain.
• The technical difficulty: type of terrain, exposed passages, equipment required , etc.

Our five levels explained

Good to know: The difficulty of a hike is not just a question of its duration or altitude difference. For example, a route with only 150 m of ascent and a one-hour hike can be classified as hard if it includes tricky technical passages such as unstable scree or exposed ridges that require special attention.

Average duration

The duration given on our hiking sheets is the total time required to complete the entire route, including short breaks. For a round trip, the estimated time includes the outward and return journeys.

How do we calculate the duration?

Our estimate is based on the pace of an average hiker and takes into account three main factors:

• The total distance covered
• The cumulative elevation gain over the route
• The nature of the terrain (technical nature of the paths, obstacles, scree, etc.)

Our reference values

For terrain without any particular technical difficulties, we use the following parameters:

Management of breaks in our calculation

⏱️ What our duration includes:

• 5-minute short breaks every hour (hydration, photos, equipment adjustments)
• Orientation time at intersections and decision points

⏱️ What our duration does not include:

• Meal breaks (lunch, picnic)
• Longer stops to contemplate a panorama
• Detours to optional points of interest

Adapt the estimate to your profile

🥾 Experienced hikers: If you are in excellent physical condition and can keep up a steady pace, you can reduce the indicated time by 20-30%.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Beginners or families: Allow 15 to 25% more time than indicated.

🚶‍♀️ 🚶‍♂️ 🚶 Groups: Walking in a group generally slows down the pace. Add 10 to 20% to the time indicated.

Practical advice: Regardless of your experience, always allow for a safety margin, especially in the mountains where conditions can change quickly. Take a headlamp with you, even on day hikes, in case your return is delayed.

Distance

The distance indicated on our hiking sheets is the total distance measured in kilometers. Although this parameter may seem simple at first glance, it is worth clarifying that it is an estimate that can vary depending on several technical factors.

Why distance measurements can vary

Accurately measuring a hiking route is a real technical challenge for several reasons:

• Variable GPS accuracy: GPS devices for hiking have an inherent margin of error (usually between 3 and 10 meters) that gradually accumulates over the entire route.
• ‘Cutoff’ effect: GPS tracks tend to simplify sharp turns and switchbacks, which often leads to an underestimation of actual distances, particularly in mountainous terrain where trails meander.
• Sampling interval: Your GPS records points at regular intervals. The longer the interval, the more likely it is that the route will ‘cut’ across the meandering path, ignoring small variations that add up.
• Route deviations: Slight deviations from the official route (bypassing temporary obstacles, exploring a nearby viewpoint) inevitably change the total distance traveled.

In mountainous and rugged terrain, the difference between the distance measured and the distance actually travelled can be as much as 10% to 20%, mainly due to the density of the switchbacks and the constant changes in altitude.

Good to know: It is perfectly normal for your GPS watch or mobile app to show a different distance at the end of your hike than the one indicated on our sheet. This variability is an integral part of the hiking experience and does not indicate a measurement error on our part or yours.

Vertiginous

This parameter assesses the degree of exposure to the void and the sensations of vertigo that may be felt during the hike.

Our exposure scale:

• No: Total absence of exposed passages. No sensation of void, even for people who are very sensitive to vertigo. Wide paths and/or far from areas of steep incline.
• Slightly: Some sections with slight exposure, generally short and/or well secured. People who are moderately sensitive to the fear of heights will be able to progress without excessive apprehension.
• Moderatly: Presence of more significant or longer exposed sections. Balcony paths or crossings of areas where there is a sensation of void. May be uncomfortable for people prone to vertigo, but can still be crossed with concentration.
• Highly: Pronounced aerial sections requiring good management of the fear of heights. Narrow ledges, ridges or exposed crossings. Not recommended for those with severe vertigo.
• Very highly: Route with very exposed sections where the feeling of void is omnipresent. Technical passages on cliffs, sharp ridges or narrow ledges. Reserved for experienced hikers with no fear of heights.

Important: The assessment of vertigo remains subjective and varies from person to person. Consult the photos and detailed descriptions of the route to get a clearer idea of the passages in question.