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An Explanation of
Ratings and Grades
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Ratings
| Class 1 | Walking, perhaps along a trail. The Mt. Whitney Trail is a good example of class 1. |
| Class 2 | Generally defined as walking over difficult cross-country terrain, and in the Sierra, usually on talus. Sometimes your hands are used for balance. The north slope of Split Mountain is a good example of class 2. |
| Class 3 | This is where the climbing begins. 3rd class climbing demands the use of hands for balance, to hold on, and to ascend. 3rd class is generally steep, but with good, big holds, and a certain amount of exposure*. The East Ridge of Mt. Russell is an excellent example of 3rd class, easy but scary. A fall may be fatal. |
| Class 4 | Class 4 climbing is very steep, but still with good holds, and generally with wild exposure. A fall on class 4 terrain will almost certainly be fatal. A common analogy that I have heard equates class 4 to climbing a ladder - steep, good holds, but if you let go, it's over. Many people will feel more comfortable with a belay on 4th class terrain. The Northwest Face of Mt. Humphreys is a good, fun, example of class 4. |
| Class 5 | The simple explanation is that class 5 terrain requires a belay, for most people. The holds are smaller and less obvious, the terrain is steep, the exposure is big, and a fall is ok if belayed. None of the fourteeners (with the exceptions of Starlight and Thunderbolt) requires a 5th class ascent, but many of them offer fun 5th class routes. |
| Class 6 | Climbing via direct aid. |
Grades generally relate to technical routes, and are not used here. The time commitment for these peaks listed varies wildly due to climber fitness, weather conditions, terrain conditions, commitment level, experience, competence, route-finding ability, acclimation, and a number of other factors. Every peak listed in these pages I have climbed car-to-car in one day.
*Exposure is a euphemism for the amount of air beneath your heels