Grade I:
Formal: A short day climb. May require up to 3,000 vertical feet of elevation gain and/or three pitches of technical climbing.
Toid's: Walking to and from class at college is a Grade I.
Grade II:
Formal: A day climb. May require up to 6,000 vertical feet of elevation gain and/or six pitches of technical climbing.
Toid's: To me, if you hike all day long, it doesn't matter how hard it was, it took a full day, that's what a Grade II is like.
Grade III:
Formal: A long day climb. May require up to 10,000 vertical feet of elevation gain and/or 10 pitches of technical climbing and/or a considerable amount of Class 3 scrambling.
Toid's: Ok, when you read Grade III, the first thing you should associate with this is how I can break this trip into two days. Only people back in the biblical days had to hike this far in one day.
Grade IV:
Formal: A very long day climb. Will require more than 10,000 vertical feet of elevation gain and/or 10 pitches of technical climbing.
Toid's: I think we have Grade IV's just so we give all the mentally disturbed people that enjoy walking until their shoe breaks down on them and they can take it back for free. These are also the kinds of people that enjoy climbing until their hands are raw and they are so high up now that they will surely be struck by lightning with all that climbing gear and Darwinism will do the rest of us a favor.
Class 1:
Formal: Trail hiking or any hiking across open country that is no more difficult than walking on a maintained trail. The parking lot at the trailhead is easy Class 1, groomed trails are midrange Class 1 and some of the big step-ups are difficult Class 1.
Toid's: Getting up off the couch and walking to the kitchen across your living room to find your remote is Class 1.
Class 2:
Formal: Off-trail hiking. Class 2 usually means bushwhacking or hiking on a talus slope. You are not yet using handholds for upward movement. Most people downclimb Class 2 terrain facing out.
Toid's: Getting out of my bed and trying to step over the huge piles of laundry and/or fallen chairs and/or fans that I have on my bedroom floor and getting to the bathroom when you still can barely open your eyes early in the morning is Class 2.
Class 3:
Formal: Easiest climbing category, and people usually call it scrambling. You are beginning to look for and use handholds for upward movement. You are now using basic climbing, not walking, movements. Although you are using handholds, you don't have to look very hard to find them. Occasionally putting your hand down for balance while crossing a talus slope does not qualify as Class 3. That is still Class 2. Many people feel the need to face in while downclimbing Class 3.
Toid's: Class 3 is your last hope of climbing being fun. You can still get across a boulder field and/or up a small wall without having to use a rope of any kind and you still feel like you've "climbed".
Class 4:
Formal: Realm of technical climbing. You are not just using handholds; you have to search for, select and test them. You are beginning to use muscle groups not involved with hiking, those of upper body and abdominals in particular. Your movements are more focused, thoughtful and slower. Many people prefer to rappel down a serious Class 4 pitch rather than downclimb it.
Toid's: Eating at Burger King before attempting a Class 4 is *not* a good idea. You know you are on a Class 4 because you are breaking a sweat and looking for other ways of travel.
Class 5:
Formal: Technical Climbing. You are now using a variety of climbing techniques, not just cling holds. Your movement may involve stemming with your legs, cross-pressure with your arms, pressing down on handholds as you pass them, edging on small holds, smearing, chimneying, jamming and heel hooks. A lack of flexiblity will be noticeable and can hinder your movement. Your movement usually totally occupies your mind. You have come a long way from walking across the parking lot and entertaining a million thoughts. Most people choose to rappel down Class 5 pitches.
Toid's: Class 5 will bring out your primal instincts. You will be grunting, screaming, kicking and doing ANYTHING possible, to keep you from falling back down. If you thought push-ups were hard, these are more like pull-ups, even though it's a bad technique if you do it that way, that's what it feels like.
Class 5.2-5.4:
Formal: Easy Technical Climbing.
Toid's: Just about everybody can get up these without having too much of a struggle.
Class 5.5-5.6:
Formal: Moderate Technical Climbing.
Toid's: A person who has never climbed before can do this, although it will take a lot of work and they could only do one or two pitches of it. It requires funny movements and determination.
Class 5.7-5.9:
Formal: Difficult Technical Climbing.
Toid's: A person who has some gear, climbs every couple weekends, and likes to do a little workout climbs at this level. They can occasionally climb harder routes but don't lead them. This is where I'm at.
Class 5.10a-5.10d:
Formal: Very Difficult Technical Climbing.
Toid's: This is where you start to segregate the men from the boys. People who climb at this level have all the gear, climb every weekend, are members of a gym, or just have outstanding natural talent. Climbing 5.10 is usually the limit of amateurs and beginning of professionals.
Class 5.11a-5.15a
Formal: Extreme Technical Climbing.
Toid's: If you can climb these regularly, you are bank. You can actually make money by climbing with sponsors and endorsments and tournament wins. You are also insane.
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