Canyoneering Classification System

          The technical adveture of canyoneering in this web site are classified using the Canyoneering Grade System (CRS). The grade is divided in four parts:

Technical Classification

• 1 Canyon Hiking: Non-technical. No rope is required. See the route description for difficulties.
• 2 Basic Canyoneering: Scrambling, easy climbing or downclimbing. A rope may be handy for handlines, belays, lowering packs and emergency use. Exit or retreat possible upcanyon without fixed ropes.
• 3 Intermediate Canyoneering: Rappels or technical climbing and/or downclimbing. A rope isrequired for belays and single pitch rappels. Retreat upcanyon would require fixing ropes.
• 4 Advanced Canyoneering: Aid climbing, multi-pitch rappels and/or complex rope work (such as re-belays, tyrolleans and guided rappels) may be required. Might also require difficult pothole escapes, serious squeezing, extensive high-risk downclimbing, or have difficult-to-establish natural anchors.

• A - Normally dry or with very little water. Wading to waist deep at most.
• B - Water with no current or light current. Still pools. Falls are normally dry or running at a trickle. Swimming expected.
• C - Water with strong current. Waterfalls. Wet canyon rope techniques required.

Risk / Seriousness

• (no rating) - Normal risk factors are present on this adventure.
• R - Risky: One or more extraordinary risk factors exist that will complicate the descent. Solid technical skills and sound judgement required. Not appropriate for beginners, even in competent company.
• X - Extreme: Multiple risk factors exist that will complicate the descent. Errors in technique or judgement will likely result in serious injury or death. Descent should be attempted by expert canyoneers only.

The presence of an R or X in the rating suggests that the canyon will involve higher than average risk, over and above the many risk factors found in canyons normally. Some examples of additional risks: long and/or difficult rappels, station to station rappels, exposed climbing or traversing, extensive 4th or 5th class climbing unroped, difficult anchors, sections of loose or dangerous rock, difficult or committing route finding, prolonged immersion or extensive swimming. Specific factors should be addressed in the route description.

Grade - Time Required and Seriousness

• I - Short. A couple of hours.
• II - Requires about a half day.
• III - Normally requires most of a day.
• IV - Expected to take a long day. Get up early, bring a headlamp. Possible bivy.
• V - More than one day. Normally done in two days.
• VI - Two full days or more.

Yosemite Decimal System
Rock climbing classification system

          Rock climbing on this site are classified using the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS).   The grade is divided in four parts: 

TECHNICAL CLASSIFICATION

1 = Walking

2 = Hiking up steep trail

3 = Steep hiking

4 = Steep hiking / scrambling. Some parties may want a rope.

5 = Climbing. Most parties will want a rope. Exposed terrain.

6 = Aid climbing only

In free climbing most grades will be class 5. Mountaineering typically involves everything from class 1 to 6. Aid Climbing focuses mainly on difficult class 5 climbs and class 6 climbs.

Sub-Grade (Yosemite Decimal System)

The sub-grade ranges from 1 to a theoretically infinite number (today the highest number is 15). The number is increased when a 'harder' climb is developed.

5.1-5.6 Easy

5.7-5.9 Intermediate

5.10-5.11 Difficult

5.12-5.13 Very Difficult

5.14-5.15 Expert

Suffix (Yosemite Decimal System)

A suffix is often found on grades 5.10 and higher.

Suffix have two traditional formats. Alphabetic suffix range are 'a','b','c' or 'd'. 5.10a is the easiest 5.10. 5.10d is the hardest 5.10. The alternative is '+', '-'. 5.10+ is a difficult 5.10 and 5.10- is an easier 5.10.

Danger Factor (Yosemite Decimal System)

Danger factors describe the protection available (or that can be placed) on a climb. Most ratings do not have a danger factor rating and this indicates that the climb is well protected (but always use your own discretion).

PG Runouts may be present but falls will not be dangerous

R Long runouts are present. There is enough protection to stop you from hitting the ground but injuries may occur.

X Little or no protection. There are areas where falling is not acceptable. Death can occur from a fall on this climb.

S This is a fairly new danger factor rating scale. 'S' stands for 'serious' and is similar to an 'R' danger factor except that 'S' values are affiliated with a 'Sub-Grade' value. An example grade would be: 5.11b S9

9 is the sub-grade value affiliated with the 'S' value. This sub-grade indicates that there is a potentially hazardous 5.9 move on the climb but the crux (the 5.11 move) is well protected. This system is good because many 5.12 climbers would be willing to runout 5.9 moves but not willing to runout 5.11 moves.

Multipitch Grades

Multipitch grades indicates the amount of time a strong party will complete the route in. The standard format is shown below. Grade [Roman-numerical value]

Grade I Quick climb.

Grade II Two - three hours.

Grade III Half a day

Grade IV All day

Grade V Two days

Grade VI Longer than two days