What to Expect on a Trek
To help you get a better idea the fitness level you may need to partake in one of our Group Treks, we’ve given them a Grade of 1 – 10. As part of this we’ve tried to specify distances and time walking as best as possible, but this can vary from day-to-day. What we DO want is for participants to know what to expect, but what we DON’T want is for you to be put off by a Trek’s Fitness Grade. If you have any questions about specific routes and Treks we are always more than happy to discuss them in further detail, just contact us.
Easy
Grades 1 - 4
Easy graded walks usually involve walking no more than 8 miles (13km) in a day for around 6 hours on good paths.
Moderate
Grades 5 - 6
Moderately graded walks usually involve walking no more than 12 miles (20km) in a day for around 8 hours on undulating ground, including rough paths.
Strenuous
Grades 7 - 10
Strenuous graded walks usually involve walking no more than 16 miles (26km) in a day for around 10 hours on rough terrain, including boulder fields and steep slopes.
Common Questions and Concerns
If booking a bespoke trek with us, as fit as you are. We will plan your trekking experience to the level of the least fit member of your party and the kind of trekking experience you would like. It also depends what you would like to do. Fast trekking over a number of days across mixed terrain of high mountains and plateaux, with repeated descents and ascents in and out of valley systems, will need a very good level of fitness. A more leisurely Single Day trek through valley systems would be achievable with a much lower level of fitness. For our Group Treks you will need to have the required fitness to fit the appropriate Grade of walk – usually Moderate or Strenuous or, on occasions, Very Strenuous. Overall, what we really ask is that you are totally honest with us when you fill in our Medical and Fitness questionnaire.
If being active is a new or returning experience for you, we highly recommend that you discuss your fitness and physical well being with your medical practitioner. The best way to prepare for Wilderness Mountain Trekking is by frequent fast walking whilst carrying a small weighted rucksack, initially building up to 45 minutes and then longer local walks. Hill training can be gradually included in the form of stairs and stepping. Any aerobic exercise will also be of benefit and could include cycling, running, swimming and rowing.
When self-assessing your fitness, you need to be brutally honest. Kidding yourself that you are fitter than you actually are will only lead to disappointment and could mean not being able to complete a Wilderness Mountain Trek and being turned back from it. When self-grading your fitness, you need to base it on your current fitness NOT what you intend it to be OR how fit you were a year ago. If considering one of Multiday Day Treks you also need to consider your stamina and completing back to back days out in the Wilderness.
Age is of of no concern to us unless you are under 18. Our minimum age for Mountain Trekking is 13. We would then discuss fitness with the responsible adult.
This can be a major fitness concern for many people considering Wilderness.Mountain Trekking with a range of mountain terrains and steep ascents and descents really testing leg joints and knees in particular. If you have a known knee condition you will be aware of your limitations, especially in relation to the terrain you can tackle and how many days you can manage. We always recommend the use of trekking poles, especially for those who suffer from knee issues. Also, if you use occasional knee supports we recommend that you use these throughout a Trek rather than waiting until you have knee pain.
Grading your Fitness for your Client Form
When you have decided to book onto one of our treks, either Bespoke or Group, you will be sent a Client Form to complete online. Part of this is a fitness assessment where you Grade yourself 1 – 10. The following is to help you complete this section of the form.
- Measure yourself realistically using the Grades below – be honest!
- The Grades, when talking about walking for a full day, relate to carrying a small day pack, containing clothing, food and water. Stair assessment is without a pack.
- For Multi-Day Trekking we take into consideration that you will be carrying around a target weight of 10 to 11 kgs (22 to 24lbs) including food.
- The Grades are designed to allow relative novices, as well as more experienced hill and mountain goers, to decide their fitness for Trekking.
- We actively encourage novices who are fit enough to be involved on our Treks, including the more strenuous Treks. Having no mountain/hill going experience does not necessarily exclude you from these BUT you need to be prepared for a range of mountain terrains including rough and steep ascents and descents, boggy land, and some very uneven going with obstacles such as boulder fields. Having a good sense of balance and being surefooted is also important for our Moderate and Strenuous Treks.
- These grades are only a guideline. Please contact us directly if you would like more help with deciding your fitness level and suitability for one of our Treks.
GRADE 1
Can stroll on flat ground and easy paths [parks, towns etc.] for a number of hours, up to 2 hours, but get out of breath and feel tired. Can slowly walk up and down a flight of stairs but need to rest, feel out of breath and have aching joints. Distance of up to 3 miles [5kms].
GRADE 2
Can stroll on flat ground and easy paths [parks/towns etc.] for a number of hours, up to 3 hours, without getting out of breath or feeling tired. Can steadily walk up and down 2 flights of stairs without getting out of breath. Distance of up to 5 miles [8kms].
GRADE 3
Can walk briskly on flat ground and easy paths [parks/towns etc.] for a number of hours, up to 4 hours, with stops, without getting out of breath or feeling tired. Can steadily walk up and down a flight of stairs 5 times without needing to rest and without getting out of breath easily. Distance of up to 5 miles [8 kms].
GRADE 4
Can walk steadily on undulating ground on good paths [gentle hills] for up to 6 hours, with stops, but need to rest frequently going up moderate slopes. Can steadily walk up and down a flight of stairs 10 times without needing to rest and without getting out of breath easily. Distance of up to 8 miles [13 kms].
GRADE 5
Can walk steadily on undulating ground on good paths [gentle hills with some steeper sections] for a full day for up to 8 hours, with stops, and don’t need to rest going up moderate slopes. Can steadily walk up and down a flight of stairs 15 times without rest and without getting out of breath easily. Distance of up to 10 miles [15kms]
GRADE 6
Can walk briskly on undulating ground with some rough paths [moderate hills with some steep sections] for a full day for up to 8 hours, with stops, and don’t need to rest going up moderate slopes. Can steadily walk up and down a flight of stairs 20 times without rest and without significantly getting out of breath. Distance of up to 12 miles [20kms].
GRADE 7
Can walk steadily for a full day for up to 8 hours, with stops, on rough terrain on and off paths, including some boulders, bogs and up and down steep slopes. Can walk quickly up and down a flight of stairs 30 timeswithout feeling any significant adverse effects. Distance of up to 12 miles [20kms].
GRADE 8
Can walk steadily for a full day for up to 8 hours, with stops, on rough terrain on and off paths, including boulders, bogs and up and down steep slopes. Can walk quickly up and down a flight of stairs 40 timeswithout feeling any significant adverse effects. Distance of up to 14 miles [22kms].
GRADE 9
Can walk quickly for a full day for up to 9 hours, with stops, on rough terrain on and off paths, including boulders, bogs and up and down steep slopes. May include some easy scrambling with hands on rock. Can run up and down a flight of stairs 40 times without feeling any significant adverse effects. Distance of up to 16 miles [26 kms].
GRADE 10
Can walk quickly for a full day for up to 10 hours, with stops, on rough terrain on and off paths, including boulders and up and down steep slopes. May include some easy scrambling with hands on rock. Can run up and down a flight of stairs 50 times without feeling any significant adverse effects. Distance of up to 16 miles [26 kms]. For your safety, this is the minimum level of fitness we expect from our Guides.