Simplified Class Descriptions for Visual Learners

[XterraRob]

Class 1: 1 point of contact (pogo-stickable)
Class 2: 2 points of contact (walkable)
Class 3: 3 points of contact (scrambable)
Class 4: 4 points of contact (climbable)
Class 5: 4 points of contact + rope (ropeable)

[Jeeves042]

Don't forget about Class 2+

[polar]

Class 5: 4 points of contact + rope (ropeable)

Speak for yourself. I maintain 5 points of contact on class 5.

[AlexeyD]

If a CO Class 4 is the same as a CA Class 3, what is a CA Class 4? Do we start Class 5 at a different difficulty level?

Well, the term "5.4th class" did originate in the Sierra...

In seriousness though, not, not really. As I wrote in an earlier comment, I think it's more that 3rd and 4th class may have a broader interpretation in CA than they do in CO.

Now what Montana Class 4 means, I shudder to think...have yet to find that out!

[daway8]

Class 1: 1 point of contact (pogo-stickable)
Class 2: 2 points of contact (walkable)
Class 3: 3 points of contact (scrambable)
Class 4: 4 points of contact (climbable)
Class 5: 4 points of contact + rope (ropeable)

Nice... Now you just need the illustrations to go with it... (Though I agree with polar that you should list class 5 as 5 points so it keeps the sequence going)

[letitbeirie]

I like to use routes with controversial ratings to sort of establish boundaries between the classes - if it's harder than ____, it's probably class ___.

Personally, I usually compare any route I'm doing that's on the border between class 4 scrambling / 5.easy climbing to Freeway on the Second Flatiron:


Powhound posted a good pic the other day in the thread talking about the dihedral crossover on Crestone Needle - it seemed like opinions were about evenly split between class 3/4:


As far as deciding between the others:

Class 2/3: Could you carry a coin in each hand without putting them down for the entire route? Probably class 2.

Class 1/2: Are you hiking on a trail? Class 1.

[XterraRob]

Class 5: 4 points of contact + rope (ropeable)

Nice... Now you just need the illustrations to go with it... (Though I agree with polar that you should list class 5 as 5 points so it keeps the sequence going)

It's there to drive OCD-prone individuals into a frenzy.

[Broken Knee]

Speak for yourself. I maintain 5 points of contact on class 5.

There you go, making it all about you.

Now what Montana Class 4 means, I shudder to think...have yet to find that out!

If a bear is chasing you on Colorado class 3, that qualifies as Montana class 4.

[daway8]

Class 5: 4 points of contact + rope (ropeable)

Nice... Now you just need the illustrations to go with it... (Though I agree with polar that you should list class 5 as 5 points so it keeps the sequence going)

It's there to drive OCD-prone individuals into a frenzy.

[daway8]

I like to use routes with controversial ratings to sort of establish boundaries between the classes - if it's harder than ____, it's probably class ___.

That's what I was basically trying to do a little ways above with my comments about the ending segments on Pyramid and Crestone Needle but no one seemed to want to bite - it seems these boundaries are just so blurry that it's 50% definition and 50% personal preference as to whether or not you classify a disputable route as say 3 or 4.

[LetsGoMets]

Easy California Class 3. Mount Muir summit block.

https://www.summitpost.org/mt-muir-3rd- ... ute/364878

[719BR]

when i said heavy, i guess that was a poor choice of words. the general idea is that a route in colorado would be graded about one grade higher than in california. for example, the following routes (which i've done personally) are all graded class 2 according to this site:

LiCamBro - this would be class 1 in California

Democrat - this *might* be class 2 in California - it's been a while since I've done it, but I seem to remember the route up to Democrat was a bit talus-ier than the rest. Or maybe that was the snow making it slick.

Huron - Class 1 in California. I don't recall any difficulties at all.

Culebra - Class 1 in California.

Princeton - Class 1 in California. *Maybe* class 2 if you got off route on some of the talus.

Torreys - to be fair, I did kelso ridge on the way up, then linked it up with Grays. but looking at the main trail on the way down, it looked pretty straightforward. Probably class 1 in Cali.

Massive - this is maybe class 2 in California. *Maybe*. And it's listed as one of the more challenging class 2 routes here.

To be fair, there are other routes that are graded as they would be graded in California. Example, Sneffels south slopes. the spirit is that the grade is the grade of the crux move. the crux on sneffels is class 3, and it would graded class 3 in california as well. Same goes for Kelso Ridge, it's a true class 3 scramble, and when people from California ask me about it, people who know about the grading difference, i make sure i tell them kelso is legit california class 3 so they know what to expect.