Trail Ranking: Beginner
- In general good health
- No specific fitness or ability prerequisites
Trail Ranking: Beginner/Intermediate
- Average of 4-5 hrs hiking per day
- Good track conditions
- Up to 5kg of pack weight
- Daily altitude gains up to 600m
- Moderate level of fitness required
- No previous hiking experience required
Trail Ranking: Intermediate
- Average of 6 hours hiking per day
- Good track conditions
- Pack weights up to 6kg
- Daily altitude gains up to 600m
- Moderate level of fitness required
- Short but sometime steep climbs
- No previous hiking experience required
Trail Ranking: Intermediate/Difficult
- Averaging 4-6hrs hiking per day but up to 9hrs on hardest days
- Pack weights up to 12kg
- Daily altitude gain average 800m. Hard days may exceed 1000m.
- Some technical trail features eg. Loose rocks, tree roots or creek crossings
- Good strength and endurance required
- Some long climbs on steeper section
- Some hiking experience required
- Ability to hike multiple consecutive days
Trail Ranking: Difficult
- Average 8-9hrs of hiking per day
- Pack weights up to 15kg
- Daily altitude gains average 800-1000m but may exceed 1000m some days
- Many technical trail features eg. Loose rocks, tree roots or creek crossings
- Varying degrees of exposure eg. heights, altitude, weather
- High level of fitness required
- Hiking experience required (navigational and survival skills not required)
- Ability to hike multiple consecutive days
- Repeated or sustained physically arduous climbs