Choosing a trip that suits your level of ability gives you the best chance to enjoy and experience a successful journey. Be sure to pay close attention to the required levels to avoid compromising your enjoyment or safety.

You’ll find the criteria (which should be compared with your technical sheet) after the explanation of the different level types.

Different Types of Levels

 

Physical Level
All trips come with a required physical level. This refers to your endurance capacity, meaning your ability to maintain a given level of effort over a prolonged period.

When it comes to hiking (and other activities as well), keep in mind that the difficulty of the terrain (mountain trails, rocky or uneven paths, etc.) can significantly affect your endurance if you’re not used to these kinds of environments or lack the necessary agility. You might walk at the same pace as a friend in the countryside, but one of you might tire faster on a challenging trail due to lack of familiarity or concentration needed on that terrain.

It’s crucial to assess your physical level relative to the terrain’s demands.

Terrain Difficulty Level
As mentioned, the type of terrain is a limiting factor for your endurance if you’re not accustomed to it. This is an important consideration. Some terrains are very easy and require no special skills, while others demand agility, flexibility, and motor skills.

Orientation Level
This applies only to "self-guided" trips (without a guide). It refers to your ability to navigate in nature (mountainous or otherwise): knowing how to read a map, use a compass or altimeter, and interpret instructions in a guidebook when there is no signage.

Keep in mind that even though mobile phones can help, they are not always reliable, especially in the mountains. The cold can drain their battery, they can fall, break, or end up in a stream. Plus, the network may not always be available. Some routes require the ability to navigate independently, even under challenging weather conditions.

In less harsh environments, we encourage you to use your phone for convenience.

Here are the scales you should compare with the levels required for your chosen trip.

Physical Level

Regardless of the required physical level, you must be capable of performing the activity in question (walking without difficulty for hikes, cycling for bike trips, swimming for aquatic activities, etc.).

  • LEVEL 1 (Easy): Light to moderate endurance effort. Suitable for beginners or those with basic fitness. It’s recommended to practice regularly (at least twice a week) for a few weeks before your trip.

  • LEVEL 2 (Moderate): Moderate to sustained endurance effort. Suitable for individuals with an average fitness level. Regular physical activity recommended, or at least consistent endurance training.

  • LEVEL 3 (Intermediate): Sustained endurance effort. Suitable for individuals with good fitness and some experience. Regular training is required.

  • LEVEL 4 (Difficult): Significant endurance effort. Suitable for individuals with excellent fitness and good experience. Intensive and regular training is recommended.

  • LEVEL 5 (Very Difficult): Extremely high endurance effort. Suitable for very trained and experienced individuals. Specific and detailed physical preparation is mandatory.

Terrain Difficulty Level

  • LEVEL 1 (Basic): No difficulty related to terrain. No requirements for agility, flexibility, or motor skills. Suitable for all levels of practice.

  • LEVEL 2 (Easy): No technical or steep passages. Low requirements for agility, flexibility, or motor skills. Suitable for all levels, but beginners should expect some muscle and joint strain.

  • LEVEL 3 (Moderate): Some narrow or irregular passages, slightly rugged terrain. Requires some agility, flexibility, and motor skills. Accessible to those with good mobility.

  • LEVEL 4 (Difficult): Demanding route with frequent technical passages. Steep sections requiring significant agility, flexibility, and motor skills. Suitable for experienced participants.

Orientation Level

  • LEVEL 1 (Beginner): Marked or well-defined routes. No special orientation skills required. Suitable for those without experience navigating in nature.

  • LEVEL 2 (Intermediate): Routes with some unmarked or faintly marked sections. Requires understanding of topographic maps and basic navigation. Suitable for those with some experience in orientation.

  • LEVEL 3 (Advanced): Routes without markers or few obvious visual cues. Requires proficiency in interpreting topographic maps and instructions, using a compass, and navigating accurately, even in poor visibility (fog, etc.). Suitable for experienced individuals with solid orientation skills.