To help participants select appropriate Mountain Experience adventures, we have developed our "trip rating" schedule. These ratings should only be used as a rough guide, since it is impossible to capture and represent all the elements of an adventure using a single numbering system. Hopefully though, the ratings will give you a sense of what kind of effort and skill level each trip requires. For more information on trip requirements, please contact our office.

Trekking and Climb Ratings—Defined

One Mountain        
Two Mountains      
Three Mountains   
Four Mountains     
Five Mountains     
Plus Marks             +

  Trips with a rating of One Mountain generally require the least amount of effort. Most all "activities" are optional, and altitudes of no more than 8,000 feet will be encountered. Some walking can be expected between lodges and transport vehicles.

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Participants need to be fit enough to ride in vehicles and other transportation mediums for long periods of time, and be fit enough to handle moderate elevations without undue stress.

Our trips rated with Two Mountains are generally very relaxed, with many optional activities. In order to take advantage of all trip offerings, participants may want to prepare for our activities using a regular aerobic training program. Light daypacks and easy hikes of 1 to 4 hours may be taken. Some of the optional hikes may last up to 6 to 8 hours. Activities range from sea level to 12,000 feet.

A regular aerobic walking program is suggested to help participants enjoy all adventure offerings.

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Trip ratings of Three Mountains represent our "trekking" category, where participants carry day packs for 2 to 8 hours each day, over an extended trip of 5 to 30 days. Porters will likely carry personal and group gear, and trekking altitudes will vary from 4,000 to 19,000 feet.

There may be possible "summit days" on these trips of an easy "trekking peak," where an actual summit or high pass may be ascended. These days can be long, lasting up to 8 to 14 hours. Some activities, including the summit days on these trips, may be optional. Elevation gain each day can range from 500 to 3,000’ per day.

Most reasonably fit individuals find these trips somewhat challenging but not overtaxing. Participants will need to be in a regular aerobic training program 3-12 months prior to trip departure in order to enjoy all offered activities and travel opportunities. Practice hikes are also very helpful for these adventures and are highly recommended.

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Trips with Four Mountains represent adventures that are very physically challenging and demanding, but they may not require a high skill level, expertise or background. Basic technical training and experience in either snow, ice or rock techniques are required. These trips are generally shorter (4 to 16 days), and may ascend to altitudes up to 21,000 feet. Heavy packs are possible, but due to the shorter trip length, possible porter assistance or survey nature of the programs, multiple carries between camps are not likely (a couple may be required, depending on objectives).

Typical climb days can range in length from 3-8 hours (or longer), and summit climbers should be prepared for long summit ascents of 3,000-4,500 feet of elevation gain, taking 8-18 hours of climbing to reach and descend from a summit objective.

Participants are required to be in an overall fitness training program at least 6 months prior to trip departure, which should include no less than 4-6 aggressive aerobic training days per week including 2-3 upper body workouts. Carrying a heavy pack around at least once a week is also very helpful.

Some hiking and climbing the months before the trip is also highly recommended in order to excel while "on the mountain."

Participant self-reliance is important on these kinds of adventures.

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The most strenuous of all our trips, ratings of Five Mountains require participants to have a high level of fitness and be able to handle the technical demands of a specific trip. The medium might be on rock, snow, or ice, or all of these, and participants should have previous experience and background on these kinds of terrain, depending on trip objectives. Activity days are likely to be long, and heavy packs should be anticipated. Multiple carries between camps are possible, and altitudes between 4,000 to 29,000 feet may be expected, depending on trip goals.

It is recommended that participants go on one of our 4 mountain rated trips before doing one of these 5 mountain trips.

Typical climb days can range in length from 3-8 hours (or longer), and summit climbers should be prepared for very long summit ascents of 4-4,500 feet of elevation gain, taking 8-18 hours of climbing to reach and descend from a summit objective.

Participants are required to be in an overall fitness-training program at least 6-12 months prior to trip departure, which should include no less than 4-6 aggressive aerobic training days per week including 2-3 upper body workouts.

Some hiking and climbing the months before the trip may be required in order to excel while "on the mountain."

Participant self-reliance is important on these kinds of adventures, so climbers will need to be fully familiar with their equipment and environment in all regards.

+ Plus Marks represent trips that are halfway between two ratings.

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All Trips

Depending on objectives and destinations, participants may be required to submit a resume of outdoor, climbing, hiking, first-aid, and travel related experiences and current and planned training schemes. Less difficult adventures will require less information.

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