Grading of Himlayan Treks

The Himalayan Club FB Group is perhaps a largest such gathering of Himalayan enthusiasts and they can play a part in grading of Himalayan treks: I have a question.

Grading a Himalayan trail/route is challenging. In a multiday trek: terrain, altitude, season of trek, weather and several other factors will have to be considered.

Trekker’s own fitness, age and aptitude makes it rather subjective assessment of a grade. A trek graded medium may not be every one’s cup of tea, nor a trek graded difficult be beyond a new trekkers. So how does one grade a trek — from subjective assessment to a good objective grading — specially a Himalayan trek which has all the above ingredients. Some general attempts have been made at this, but may be now a comprehensive work will be useful.
Rock climbing routes are now well graded, as officially as it can be. Sports like rafting, running trails with their distance and challenges are graded too. Treks, specially as they are non-competitive and has many ways of enjoying them has no suggestions to guide a person to choose from. So how do we classify a trek, not for official purpose but to indicate level of challenge a person may expect. It gets more complicated as many treks say in Karakorams and Arunachal Pradesh have very different challenges of exploration too.

In my book, which is used for three decades, ‘Trek The Sahyadris’ all treks were graded by symbols and more or less they have stood test of time. But these are smaller hills, at maximum 3-4 day trails. I have now tried to use similar system for grading Himalayan treks in my new book TREKKING IN THE HIMALAYAS, as under:

. Trek suitable for persons with little trekking experience and average fitness.
. Difficult trek and requires experience, or experienced guide, planning and map reading ability and good leader if without a guide.

* Requires several seasons of trekking experience, equipment like ropes etc, high difficulties, guide essential and/or trained party leader.
(These are the correct symbols of difficulties for this book).

Over next few months I will be happy to receive feedback about these suggested grades, from vibrant Himalayan Club trekking community. Please send suggestions based only on your recent trekking experience and as an objective study. It will not be possible to reply but they will be gathered and may be after few months a study can be published.

This a study- and I assure you- there is nothing official about it!