I think the AWTGS is a reasonable starting point for a trail/track
difficulty scale that's relevant to Australia.
However, I wasn't clear whether Grade 5 was supposed to cover everything
above Grade 4, or whether there were things harder than Grade 5.
If the former, I'd think there would need to be a better way of breaking
down Grade 5. Otherwise, it will cover too wide a range of walks from
the slightly rough to the genuinely hair-raising
If the latter, then there's a gap at the harder end.
Michael's categories below are also quite good (though I feel like the
"push-chair/stroller" should be in the "elderly mother" category?!)
cheers
Tom
----
Canyoning? try http://ozultimate.com/canyoning
Bushwalking? try http://bushwalkingnsw.com
On 28/01/2022 5:18 pm, Michael Collinson wrote:
Ian,
+1. The AWTGS looks excellent as it works from an international
perspective. I've also struggled with the SAC scale in the UK and
Sweden, also both countries where the bulk of rural footpaths are barely
"alpine" and also came to the conclusion that what matters is the type
of people wanting to use the path rather than specific physical
attributes of the path. And particularly at the less hardcore end. If
one substitutes "hiking" for "bushwalking", it works in those countries
as well, IMHO.
The categories I've played with conceptually are:
- I could take my very elderly mother
- Suitable for inexperienced walkers in everyday footwear (which could
include high heels). Less charitably: City folks stroll.
- Could I get a push-chair/stroller down here? (and by extension
assisted wheel-chair)
- I'm fine with walking but don't want to be using my arms, (balance,
holding-on, hauling myself up).
- I'm fine with scrambling but don't take me anywhere where I'll be
nervous about falling off.
- Bring it on
I think the system satisfies the above in a nice linear fashion without
too many categories. I'd be interested to know what the mysterious AS
2156.1-2001 6th one is. Copied from the URL provided:
* Grade One is suitable for people with a disability with assistance
* Grade Two is suitable for families with young children
* Grade Three is recommended for people with some bushwalking experience
* Grade Four is recommended for experienced bushwalkers, and
* Grade Five is recommended for very experienced bushwalkers
Mike
On 2022-01-28 16:41, [email protected] wrote:
I think we should be considering the Australian Walking Track Grading
System. It seems to have been defined by the Victorians (Forest Fire
Management -
https://www.ffm.vic.gov.au/recreational-activities/walking-and-camping/australian-walking-track-grading-system).
The AWTGS defines 5 track grades.
It appears to have been adopted by National Parks here in WA, NT, SA,
QLD and NSW, and Bush Walking Australia.
I have tagged a few tracks (where there were officially signed with a
“Class”) as “awtgs=” (however someone in Germany has since deleted
those tags without reference to me!)
Australian Standard AS 2156.1-2001 is titled “Walking Tracks, Part 1:
Classification and signage”. However, I don’t have a subscription to
read the contents of this standard to see how it compares with the
AWTGS. Other documentation I have seen refers to the AS scheme as
having 6 levels
Ian
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