Calgary Outdoor Club - Difficulty Ratings

It is challenging to quantify the difficulty rating for various events, but in keeping with our mandate of being a variety club, and not a hard-core single-activity club, our rating system/guidelines are described in detail below.

Adventure Ski - Cross-Country
Camp Ski - Downhill
Cycle - MTB Snowshoe
Cycle - Road Social
Cycle - Urban Sport - Golf
Gym Sport - Misc
Hike Sport - Racquet
Hike - Backpack Sport - Run
Hike - Urban Sport - Swim
Learn Sport - Team
Meeting Volunteer
Skate - Ice Water - Flat
Water - Moving


Adventure

Adventure events are rated according to required skill level and/or risk.
Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
2 Easy to Moderate Easy activity that doesn't fall neatly into a regular event type For example: Waterpark, RCMP Dog Training Demonstration
3 Moderate Moderate activity that doesn't fall neatly into a regular event type For example: Dog Sled Tour; Paintball



Camp

Camp events are rated according to the amount of knowledge and skill required.
Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
2 Easy to Moderate Front-Country car camping For example: Dinosaur Provincial Park, Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park
3 Moderate Walk-in tenting For example: MA-WE-GA Tipi Camping, Elk Island Walk-In
4 Moderate to Difficult Winter Camping For example: Mount Kidd Winter Camping, Quinzee Camping



Cycle - MTB

Mountain biking is rated according to terrain and technical difficulty
Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
3 Moderate
 		 Easy terrain. Easy hills, hard packed trail, beginners are often welcome.
Often equivalent to Eastcott's Backcountry Biking in the Canadian Rockies "easy/novice" rating.		 For example, Riverview Trail
 
4 Moderate to Difficult
 		 Some steep hills, tree roots, muddy sections, loose surface, narrow trail.
Often equivalent to Eastcott's Backcountry Biking in the Canadian Rockies "moderate/novice" or "moderate/intermediate" rating.		 For example, Goat Creek
 
5 Difficult
 		 Technically challenging. Steep hills, mud, roots, rocks/scree, loose surface, narrow trail.
Often equivalent to Eastcott's Backcountry Biking in the Canadian Rockies "difficult/intermediate" or "moderate/advanced" rating.		 For example, Prairie View/Jewel Pass
 



Cycle - Road

Road biking is rated according to distance, pace, hills and hazards (ie. traffic)
Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
3 Moderate Highway ride. 30k-50k For example, road ride on Highway 66
4 Moderate to Difficult Highway ride, often in the mountains. 50k-100k. May include simple self-supported overnight. For example, Bow Valley Parkway between Banff and Lake Louise, Banff Legacy Trail overnighter.
5 Difficult Highway ride, often in the mountains. 100+ km. Multi-day self-supported ride. For example, Icefields Parkway



Cycle - Urban

Urban biking is rated according to distance
Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
2 Easy to Moderate An urban bike ride on city trails. Less than 30k. For example, bike around the Glenmore Reservoir
3 Moderate Urban ride. 30k-50k For example, Calgary pathways and neighborhood streets



Gym

Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
2 Easy to Moderate Activity at official gym facility



Hike

Hikes are rated on a grid according to distance and elevation gain. Additional considerations include: Hikes posted that include any of the additional considerations listed above may be rated at a higher difficulty level than just the distance and elevation would indicate. No hikes involving a river ford are allowed.

Note: Hover your mouse over the D links in the chart to see examples of which hikes fall into this category. For the examples given, elevation gains were based on actual measurements, rather than on net elevation gains provided by many guide books. They are also rated according to our "actual" end point on typical events rather than just to the end of an official trail (which is frequently all that is provided in the guide books).

Hike Distance
Elev.
Gain		   0-6km 6-12km 12-18km 18-24km 24+km
0 - 350m D2 D2 D3 D4 D5
351 - 700m D3/D4 D3 D4 D5 D5
701 - 1050m D5 D4 D5 D5 D5
1051m+   D5 D5 D5 D5
Rating Codes
Difficulty (D) # Name
D2 Easy to Moderate
D3 Moderate
D4 Moderate to Difficult
D5 Difficult



Hike - Backpack

Backpack event difficulty ratings apply only to hike+camp events. Backpacking in general carries risks similar to hiking but on the more advanced trips, route finding, difficult creek crossing and sanitation skills may be required. Overnight events for other activities (e.g., snow shoeing, backcountry skiing, cross-country skiing, biking, boating) are covered under those activities.
Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
3 Moderate Maximum D2 Hike with pack to "base camp" with hub-and-spoke day hikes returning to "base camp" on well-marked, signed, maintained trails with maintained campsite. Not remote - access to roads/assistance less than one day.

Suitable for beginner backpackers.		 Example: Hike to Elbow Lake campground as "base camp", hike to The Forks campground as "base camp".
4 Moderate to Difficult Maximum D3 Hike packing each day for a max of three days OR D3 Hike to "base camp" with hub-and-spoke day hikes on well-marked, signed, maintained trails with maintained campsite(s). May involve simple creek crossings. Easy access to water and accessible exit points. Not remote - access to roads/assistance less than one day.

Suitable for beginner backpackers who are strong, experienced hikers.		 Example: Tombstone (because of creek crossings), Ribbon Lake from Buller Pass.
5 Difficult Maximum D4 Hike packing each day for a max of five days. Hiking on maintained trails and camping at maintained campsite. Trip may involve a one-way route with vehicle shuttle.

Not remote - access to roads/assistance less than one day.

There may be challenges with access to water, lack of exit points, creek crossings.

Not suitable for beginner backpackers.		 Example: Skyline one-way, Egypt Lake one-way, Whaleback, Skoki, Berg Lake, Rockwall



Hike - Urban

Urban hikes (walks) are rated easier than mountain hikes because of the extra considerations introduced by any activity in the mountains.
Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
1 Easy Less than 8km distance and negligible elevation gain For example, Inglewood Sanctuary
2 Easy to Moderate Approx 8-12km with gentle elevation gain (100m-150m gain to 1km distance), or less than 8km with more cumulative elevation gain and steeper slopes (150m-250m gain to 1km) up to 500m total gain. For example, Weaselhead
3 Moderate More than 12km, more than 500m of cumulative gain, or hill-training events with constant steep elevation gain, regardless of total amount For example, Glenmore Reservoir or Douglas Fir Trail



Learn

Learn events are rated according to required skill level and/or risk.
Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
1 Easy Classroom, Seminar, no hands-on For example: Cycle-touring presentation
2 Easy to Moderate Classroom or seminar with hands-on For example: First Aid course
3 Moderate Moderate hands-on For example: Wilderness First Aid course
4 Moderate to Difficult Challenging hands-on For example: Avalanche Rescue training



Meeting

Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
1 Easy Meeting/discussion with no physical activity component



Skate - Ice

The degree of difficulty in ice skating generally is affected by conditions only - each participant can, of course decide how fast/hard they want to skate. Beginners are always welcome on ice skating events.
Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
2 Easy to Moderate Groomed ice For example, Olympic Oval
3 Moderate Outdoor ice For example, Bowness Lagoon



Ski - Cross-Country

Cross-Country Skiing is rated according to terrain, trail conditions, distance, amount and type of hills, and expected pace.
Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
2 Easy to Moderate Intended for beginners. Groomed trails, green (easy) trails only. For example, green trails at Kananaskis Village
3
 		 Moderate
 		 Not intended for beginners. Generally on groomed trails, green and blue trails, expectation for pace and distance posted. For example, blue and green trails around Peter Lougheed Info Center
 
4 Moderate to Difficult Experienced skiiers only. Often trails are ungroomed, significant distance and hills. For example, Brewster Creek
5 Difficult Experienced skiiers only. Often trails are ungroomed, significant distance and hills. Greater distance and elevation gain. For example, Chester Lake



Ski - Downhill

When downhill skiing, it is generally up to the individual how difficult the day will be. They choose which runs to take and how many of them.

Note that events involving skiing out-of-bounds are not allowed.

Difficulty (D) # Name Specs
3 Moderate Beginner to blue runs, or all levels welcome.
4 Moderate to Difficult Mostly blue runs
5 Difficult Mostly black to double-black diamond runs



Snow Shoe

Snow Shoe events are rated on a grid according to distance and elevation gain. Although terrain is not considered in our grid, coordinators will adjust their difficulty to reflect special terrain considerations.

Note: Hover your mouse over the D links in the chart to see examples of which trails fall into this category. For the examples given, elevation gains were based on actual measurements, rather than on net elevation gains provided by many guide books. They are also rated according to our "actual" end point on typical events rather than just to the end of an official trail (which is frequently all that is provided in the guide books).
Distance
Elev.
Gain		   0-6km 6-10km 10-14km 14-18km 18+km
0 - 200m D2 *D5 D2 *D5 D3 *D5 D4 D5
201 - 500m D3 *D5 D3 *D5 D4 *D5 D5
501 - 800m D3 D4 *D5 D5
801+   D5  
* Difficulty rating higher due to avalanche terrain
Rating Codes
Difficulty (D) # Name Terrain (Avalanche)
D2 Easy to Moderate based on Distance and Elevation Terrain considered to be generally free from avalanche hazards per COC Winter Safety policy
D3 Moderate based on Distance and Elevation Terrain considered to be generally free from avalanche hazards per COC Winter Safety policy
D4 Moderate to Difficult based on Distance and Elevation Terrain considered to be generally free from avalanche hazards per COC Winter Safety policy
D5 Difficult based on Distance, Elevation and Terrain Simple (Class-1) Avalanche Terrain (per COC Winter Safety Policy) allowed when avalanche risk is low



Social

Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
1 Easy Social gathering with no physical activity component Any social event (e.g., an outdoor picnic) which involves people entering water is subject to our Sport - Swim Risk Management, per below.



Sport - Golf

Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
2 Easy to Moderate Recreational golf outing
4 Moderate to Difficult Competitive golf outing



Sport - Miscellaneous

Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
2 Easy to Moderate Recreational sport outing which does not fall under our other Sport categories
4 Moderate to Difficult Competitive sport outing which does not fall under our other Sport categories



Sport - Racquet

Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
2 Easy to Moderate Recreational racquet sport (e.g., Pickleball, Tennis)
4 Moderate to Difficult Competitive racquet sport (e.g., Pickleball, Tennis)



Sport - Run

Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
2 Easy to Moderate Run activity - beginners allowed, no expectations of attendees
4 Moderate to Difficult Run activity with expectations for distance/pace/ability



Sport - Swim

Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
2 Easy to Moderate Swim event at supervised pool Swim, Indoor
  • Includes: Indoor pools
  • Either a lifeguard must be on duty or the event must have a certified swim instructor (other from the COC coordinator).
3 Moderate Swim, Outdoor, Flat (Class 1)
  • Includes: Outdoor man-made water facilities (i.e., Sikome Lake) and natural flatwater lakes (i.e., Two Jack Lake, Sylvan Lake)
  • Excludes: Any event where a watercraft of any type (kayaks, rafts, inner tubes, etc.) are used. Refer to our Boating Policy, and Water Risk Management Plans - Flat and Moving - below.
  • Mandatory Equipment:
    • PFD when entering water to swim or where the water is more than calf-deep - one PFD per participant. (The water can be entered for wading up to calf-deep only without a PFD).
    • 50’ heaving line/throw rope - one throw line required for the group
    • The event must:
      • Consist of at least four attendees and one attendee must remain on shore with the heaving line/throw rope readily accessible.
      • Have a coordinator pre-approved to allow people into water.
      • Include the following statement: Hypothermia is a risk for any natural water. Understanding Hypothermia: https://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/understanding-hypothermia/
4 Moderate to Difficult Swim, Outdoor, Moving (Class 1)
  • Includes: Natural moving water (i.e., river). This shall be Class I water only
  • Excludes: Any event where a watercraft of any type (kayaks, rafts, inner tubes, etc.) are used. Refer to our Boating Policy, and Water Risk Management Plans - Flat and Moving - below.
  • Mandatory Equipment for Class I water (i.e., Bow River by Edworthy Park):
    • PFD with sound signaling device (i.e., whistle) per participant who enters the water, which must be worn at all times
    • 50’ heaving line/throw rope - one throw line required for the group
  • The event must:
    • Consist of at least four attendees and one attendee must remain on shore with the heaving line/throw rope readily accessible.
    • Have a coordinator pre-approved to allow people into moving water.
    • Include the following statement: Hypothermia is a risk for any natural water and can incapacitate a person within minutes. PFDs must be worn at all times while in the water. Understanding Hypothermia: https://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/understanding-hypothermia/



Sport - Team

Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
2 Easy to Moderate Recreational team sport activity
3 Moderate Intermediate team sport activity requiring some skill/experience
4 Moderate to Difficult Competitive team sport activity requiring skill/experience



Volunteer

Adventure events are rated according to required skill level, physical challenge and/or risk.
Difficulty (D) # Name Specs Notes
2 Easy to Moderate Community Service with little physical challenge For example: Garage Sale, Food Bank
3 Moderate Community Service with some physical challenge and/or hazard For example: River Clean-Up
4 Moderate to Difficult Physically challenging activity For example: Kananaskis Trail Maintenance



Water - Flat

All Water events (Canoe, Kayak, Raft) are rated according to whether the water is flat or moving, and the class rating from Paddle Canada. This section describes the Difficulty Ratings for flat water (including sea).
Difficulty (D) # Name Paddle Canada Coordinator Knowledge/Skills Required Situations Where Event is to be Canceled
Class Environment
3 Moderate 0 Non-challenging protected waters with limited wind effect, little or no current, easy landings, and ready access to land-based assistance. Wind and sea state is calm to rippled (<16km/h or 8 knots).

For eg Glenmore reservoir, Vermillion Lakes, Two Jack Lake		 - Ability to swim short distances to shore wearing a PFD
- Able to assist in a rescue		 Water conditions become Class 2 or more
4 Moderate to Difficult 1 Non-challenging waters with mild wind effect (0-22 km/h or 0-11 knots), little or no current (0-1 km/h or 0-0.5 knots), uninterrupted easy landing options, and ready access to land-based assistance. Sea state is calm to light chop.

(Includes multi day long lake paddles such as Bowron Lake)		 - Ability to swim short distances to shore wearing a PFD
- Able to assist in a rescue		 Water conditions become Class 2 or more
5 Difficult 2 Moderately exposed coastline with frequent easy-landing opportunities and short crossings. Moderate potential wind effects (24-40 km/h or 12-19 knots), surf of less than 1 meter and a combined sea state of less than 1 metre, gentle to moderate non-turbulent currents (< 6 km/h or < 3 knots), and light surf beaches. Short delays in access to land-based assistance should be expected

(Typical of multi-day coastal trips such as to Desolation Sound)		 - Out of scope for self guided events
- Engagement of external guiding companies required
- Ability to Self rescue
- Ability to assist in a rescue
- Ability to swim short distances to shore wearing a PFD



Water - Moving

All Water events (Canoe, Kayak, Raft) are rated according to whether the water is flat or moving, and the class rating from Paddle Canada. This section describes the Difficulty Ratings for moving water.
Difficulty (D) # Name Paddle Canada Coordinator Knowledge/Skills Required Situations Where Event is to be Canceled
Class Environment
3 Moderate A Flowing under 3.2 km/h.
  • Few or no obstructions - all obvious and easily missed.
  • Fast-moving water with riffles and small waves.
  • Risk to swimmers is very low.
  • Self-rescue is easy.
For eg Elbow River, Milk River, Parts of Bow River (excluding Harvie South Passage), Parts of the Red Deer River		 - Ability to swim short distances to shore wearing a PFD Water conditions become Class 2 or B or more
4 Moderate to Difficult B Flowing 3.2 km/h to 6.4 km/h.
Parts of Bow River. For example, Harvie North Passage Bow River. Times of high river flows during spring run off.
  • Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels that are obvious without scouting.
  • Occasional manoeuvring may be required but rocks and medium-sized waves are missed easily by trained paddlers.
  • Swimmers are seldom injured and group assistance, while helpful, is seldom needed.
- Out of scope for self guided events
- Engagement of external guiding companies required
- Ability to Self rescue
- Ability to assist in a rescue
- Ability to swim short distances to shore wearing a PFD
5 Difficult C Flows greater than 6.4 km/h.
Typically white water areas		 - Out of scope for self guided events
- Engagement of external guiding companies required
- Ability to Self rescue
- Ability to assist in a rescue
- Ability to swim short distances to shore wearing a PFD

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