Huella Andina Expeditions

Difficulty scale

All our programs indicate their difficulty on a standard scale from 1 to 5, comparable across activities and organizations. The scale measures the physical and technical demand the activity places on you as a participant, within a guided service: professional guides manage safety and lead the activity. The scale answers a single question: am I able to do this activity?

The scale does not measure risk — managing risk is the responsibility of the operator and its guides — nor is it a sports grading: it classifies guided tourism services, not climbing or mountaineering achievements.

The 5 levels

1 Very easy

No previous experience. Low effort. Suitable for most people.

This activity is for you if: you can walk short distances at an easy pace · you want a first guided outdoor experience.

Reference: up to ~2 h of gentle activity, no significant elevation gain.

2 Easy

Basic fitness. May last several hours. No technical knowledge: the guide teaches everything you need.

This activity is for you if: you can stay lightly active for half a day · you enjoy outdoor activities.

Reference: 2–4 h of moderate activity, elevation gain up to ~400 m.

3 Intermediate

Good fitness. Uneven or moderately demanding terrain. May require learning and applying basic techniques during the activity.

This activity is for you if: you exercise regularly · you can sustain several hours of effort · you enjoy learning new skills.

Reference: 4–8 h of activity, elevation gain between 400 and 1,000 m.

4 Difficult

Very good fitness. Long days, uneven terrain or demanding conditions.

This activity is for you if: you train or do sports frequently · you have done similar activities before · you are comfortable with long days on demanding terrain.

Reference: days of more than 8 h, elevation gain of 1,000–1,500 m or consecutive days of effort.

5 Very difficult

Excellent fitness and high autonomy within the guided service. Maximum demand in a commercial service.

This activity is for you if: you have specific physical preparation · you can demonstrate extensive experience in the discipline · you are used to demanding multi-day conditions.

Reference: sustained high effort over several days, elevation gain above 1,500 m per day, or expedition.

How the level is determined

Each program's level reflects its most demanding aspect: physical effort (duration and elevation gain), the technique required and the participation requirements. It is not an average — if a single aspect is demanding, the level shows it, so that no demanding section stays hidden when you decide.

In addition, certain conditions raise the level automatically: mandatory previous experience, and altitude (above 3,000 m the level is at least 4; above 5,500 m, 5 — following the high-altitude exposure categories of the Chilean Ministry of Health). Next to the level you will see the breakdown by axis: effort, technique and required experience.

What it is based on

This scale is the FieldOps transversal difficulty standard for adventure tourism services. It is aligned with the Chilean adventure tourism standards (NCh family, 2025 update) and with the international standard ISO 21103 on information for participants, and it is calibrated against the recognized technical scales of each discipline.

Technical references: Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) scales for hiking, snowshoeing and ski touring · UIAA scale and French system for climbing and alpinism · FFME canyoning grades · altitude categories of the Chilean Ministry of Health hypobaric guideline · International Scale of River Difficulty.