Hiking parameters

Each hike page brings together in the parameters box, in the right-hand column, the essential information you need to prepare your outing: distance, average duration, difficulty, elevation gain, etc. To help you better understand these parameters, here are some detailed explanations.

Difficulty

I classify my hikes into five difficulty levels, from very easy to very hard. 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.

My five levels explained

Difficulty	Description	Duration	Elevation gain
Very easy	Route accessible to all, with no technical difficulties. Ideal for families and beginners.	Less than 2 h	Less than 200 m
Easy	Hikes with little to no technical difficulties. Suitable for occasional walkers.	Less than 4 h	Less than 450-500 m
Moderate	Some technical difficulties possible. For regular hikers.	Less than 6-7 h	Less than 900-1000 m
Hard	Demanding hike with possible technical sections. For experienced hikers.	Less than 8-9 h	Less than 1500 m
Very hard	Challenging route with significant technical difficulties possible.	Can exceed 9-10 h	Can exceed 1500 m

Via ferrata grades

For via ferratas, the difficulty of the protected route is graded separately. Two scales coexist: the Schall scale, the most widely used in the Alps and the Dolomites, from A to E, and the French scale, from F (facile, easy) to ED (extrêmement difficile, extremely difficult). My guides give the Schall letter, followed by the matching French level: “C Fairly difficult”.

The two scales side by side

Schall ≈ French	What to expect
A ≈ F – Easy	Straightforward but exposed path, with plenty of climbing aids (cables, steps) and possibly short ladders. A good first via ferrata.
B ≈ PD – Moderately difficult	Some steep terrain, smaller footholds, but climbing aids provided.
C ≈ AD to D – Fairly difficult to difficult	Steep to very steep rock, adequate climbing aids, long ladders possible. Arm strength and a head for heights are needed.
D ≈ D to TD – Difficult to very difficult	Very steep to vertical rock: strong arms and hands are essential. For experienced climbers.
E ≈ ED – Extremely difficult	Vertical to overhanging, sustained arm strength required. For seasoned climbers only.

A double grade (A/B, B/C, C/D) means a route between two levels. A third scale, Hüsler (K1 to K6), is sometimes used.

A grade doesn't tell the whole story

A grade only describes how technical the equipped sections are: their steepness, their exposure and the strength they require. It takes no account of the length of the route, the approach and return, the altitude, or the commitment (escape options, exposure to bad weather).

Two via ferratas with the same grade can therefore mean very different days. My guides grade the Torre di Toblin via ferrata C, an hour and a half with 150 m of elevation gain, just like the Ivano Dibona and Marino Bianchi traverse, eleven hours and 1,810 m of elevation gain up to 3,150 m.

That is why every via ferrata guide also gives a hiking difficulty, rated like all my other hikes: it reflects the effort of the whole day, approach and return included. The hike to the Torre di Toblin is very easy, the one linking Ivano Dibona and Marino Bianchi very hard.

Average duration

The duration given on my hike pages is the total time required to complete the entire route, including short breaks. For an out-and-back route, the estimated time includes both the outward and return journeys.

How I calculate the duration

My 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.)

My reference values

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

4 km/h on flat or slightly undulating terrain
350 m of elevation gain per hour
5 min break per hour

Adjustments made according to the technical nature of the trail (scree, rocky passages, exposed paths, etc.)

Breaks in my calculation

What my duration includes

Short breaks of 5 minutes every hour (water, photos, snacks, equipment adjustments)
Orientation time at intersections and decision points

What my 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

− 20 to 30%

Experienced hikers

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

+ 15 to 25%

Beginners or families

Allow 15 to 25% more time than indicated.

+ 10 to 20%

Groups

Walking in a group generally slows down the pace. Add 10 to 20% to the time indicated.

Distance

The distance indicated on my hike pages is the total distance measured in kilometres. Although this parameter may seem simple at first glance, it deserves some clarification as 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 metres) 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 noticeable in mountainous terrain where trails wind.
Sampling interval: your GPS records points at regular intervals. The longer the interval, the more likely it is that the track will ‘cut’ across the meanders of the trail, 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 travelled.

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 switchbacks and constant variations in altitude.

Vertiginous

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

My exposure scale

Level	What you will find
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 steep drops.
Slightly	Some sections with slight exposure, generally short and/or well secured. People who are moderately sensitive to vertigo will be able to progress without excessive apprehension.
Moderately	More significant or longer exposed sections. Balcony paths or crossings of areas where there is a feeling of void. May be uncomfortable for people sensitive to vertigo, but can 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 people with marked 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.

My rating

The stars under the title of each hike page are my rating of the hike, from 3 to 5, in half stars.

What the rating measures

My rating is not the sum of a points system: it is a blend of several criteria.

The beauty of the landscapes along the way and of the one waiting at the end.
Variety: lakes, ridges, forests, viewpoints that keep changing along the route.
The balance between effort and reward: a steep climb is forgiven when the summit view is worth it.
What you feel out there: being alone with the mountain, the silence, the sense of being far from everything.

Crowds can cost half a star: a panorama shared with dozens of people is not experienced in the same way.

Why no rating below 3

I only publish hikes that are worth the trip. Even though I sort them before setting out, about 10 to 15% of the hikes I try are not worth it in my eyes: they have no page. A 3-star hike is therefore already a fine outing; a 5-star hike brings together all the criteria, or nearly all.

A rating as objective as possible

I try not to let myself be swayed by my personal tastes, by how fit I feel that day or by exceptional conditions, such as a stunning sunset, that would embellish the memory. I also take into account the opinion of other hikers: those who come with me, and those I meet on the trail.