Event Gradings for our Activities
Bush Walking
Grade 1
No bushwalking experience required. Flat even surface with no steps or steep sections. Suitable for wheelchair users who have someone to assist them.
Grade 2
No bushwalking experience required. The track has a hardened or compacted surface that may have a gentle hill section or sections and occasional steps.
Grade 3
Suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Some bushwalking experience recommended. Track may have short steep hill sections, a rough surface and many steps.
Grade 4
Bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may be long, rough and very steep. Directional signage may be limited.
Grade 5
Challenging long walks for experienced bushwalkers with specialised skills, including navigation and emergency first aid. Tracks may be very rough, very steep and unmarked.
Comments by Hans: The way Tassie NP uses it is great e.g. Cradle Summit: "8hours return walk with a 600m climb; walk includes crossing large rocks".
I would prefer to mention distance rather than time, because time changes with the individual. So my idea of grading say the Wet Gully truck from Bright to Freeburgh would be: Grade 4, 11 km, 800 m climb. Anderson's Peak on Mt Buffalo would be Grade 5+, 8km 200m climb.
Stage 1 of Hume and Hovell track could be described as mainly Grade1, some Grade 2 and a short part Grade 3.
Canoeing
Grade 1
Canoeing in still waters with snags or without snags
Grade 2
Canoeing in mild currents with or without snags.
Grade 3
Canoeing in medium currents with or without snags
Grade 4
Canoeing in medium currents with or without snags and occasional rapids.
Grade 5
Canoeing in strong currents with snags and rapids
Grade 6
Canoeing in unknown waters or upstream canoeing.
Abseiling
Grade 1
A fairly flat rock face with a reasonably easy access to the departure point. A grade 1 to grade 3 walk from bottm to top of the descent area. Up to a 25 meter drop.
Grade 2
Medium size rock variations with possible overhangs to negotiate. Exposed areas. A grade 2 to grade 4 walk from the bottom to the top of the descent with possible rock scrambling.
Grade 3
Numerous and large rock variations to negotiate. Exposed areas. Overhangs to negotiate. A grade 2 to grade 5 walk from the bottom to the top. Up to 100 meter drop. Rock scrambling.
Cycling
- Proposed gradings for Cycling – discussion points
- For cycling we need to identify degree of difficulty (Grade 1 to Grade 5) and the distance
- Mountain bike and road bike events grading to be separate – on track or off track for mountain bike events needs to be specified – might be mix of both
Grade 1
Flat road no hills eg bike tracks in Albury Wodonga
Grade 2
Some undulating hills –eg West Wodonga to Chiltern
Grade 3
Medium grade of climbing – eg Wodonga to Yack
Grade 4 – some steep grades ride eg Wodonga to beechworth
Grade 5 – prolonged steep grades eg Mt Buffalo and Falls creek