Mountain hiking FAQ

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about mountain hiking. Also check out our section The ABC of mountain hiking, where we cover all the topics important to beginners.

What do our difficulty levels indicate?

Mountain hikes are given a technical and physical difficulty rating on a 5-point scale, which helps you assess whether the trip is right for you. This is our own rating system.

Technical difficulty level:
1/5 - an easy mountain hike, no special equipment or mountaineering skills required, practically no significant dangers;
2/5 - a mountain hike suitable for beginners, requires some special equipment and basic skills, there are few dangers (ice crevasses, rockfalls, risk of falling, etc.);
3/5 - mountain climbing for mountaineers with previous experience, requires more specialized equipment and skills, involves somewhat more technical ice and/or rock climbing, and may involve significant dangers;
4/5 - more difficult mountaineering for advanced climbers, requires extensive special equipment and good technical skills, involves technical ice and/or rock climbing, may present significant dangers;
5/5 - for experienced climbers only, requires extensive specific equipment and very good technical skills, involves (very) technical ice and/or rock climbing, may involve high risks.

Physical difficulty (including height):
1/5 - little physical effort, light backpack (5-10 kg), low daily mileage (5-10 km) and low altitudes (<3000 m);
2/5 - somewhat more physical effort, medium-weight backpack (10-15 kg), low daily mileage (5-10 km) and/or more elevation gain and altitude (below 4000 m);
3/5 - moderate physical exertion, heavier backpack (15-25 kg), higher daily mileage (10-15 km) and/or higher altitudes (< 6000 m);
4/5 - heavy physical exertion, heavy backpack (20-30 kg), high daily mileage (10-20+ km) and/or high altitude (below 7000 m);
5/5 - physically very difficult, heavy backpack (20-30+ kg), high daily mileage (10-20+ km), long expedition and/or high altitude (7000+ m).

What do the common mountain/rock climbing difficulty levels mean?

If you have read descriptions of mountain routes, you have probably seen different difficulty categories (e.g. PD+, 5A, UIAA III, etc.). There are many rating systems and they are also classified differently depending on the activity - mountaineering, rock climbing, ice climbing, bouldering, etc.

In the Alps, it is generally used French Alpine System (IFAS) rating system (often combined with the UIAA rating system). IFAS rates the overall difficulty of a route, taking into account its length, technicality, slope openness (exposure) and how easy the retreat path is. The difficulty levels are divided as follows:

F (Easy) - easy. May include glacier approaches and some easier climbing. Slopes are not steep, there is little serious rock or ice climbing. For example, Breithorn (4167 m).
PD (Peu Difficile) - a little harder. The summit climb is long in both distance and elevation, the snow slopes do not exceed 45 degrees. Moving on the rocks is more like rock climbing than climbing (max UIAA II). Glaciers are more complex, rock climbing and climbing may require some belaying, and descent may require a support rope. Cradles are generally not needed yet.
AD (Quite Difficult) - quite difficult. Intermediate mountaineering with long pitch Climbing with a rope. AD-/AD/AD+ routes have permanent snow and ice at an angle of 45–65 degrees, ice climbing level WI3 and rock climbing level 4a / UIAA IV+ to 4c / UIAA V. It is necessary to use ascenders and belay and belay skills.
D (Difficult) - difficult. Difficult and serious routes even for experienced climbers. Can be long or short. D-/D/D+ routes have permanent snow and ice at an angle of 50–70 degrees, ice climbing grade WI4 and rock climbing grade 5a / UIAA V+ to 5c / UIAA VI.
TD (Very difficult) - very difficult. These routes are serious undertakings with a high level of danger. TD-/TD/TD+ routes have permanent snow and ice at an angle of 65-80 degrees, ice climbing grades WI5 to WI6 and rock climbing grades 6a / UIAA VI+ to 6c / UIAA VII+.
ED (Extremely difficult) - extremely difficult. Extremely difficult, exceptionally dangerous, vertical ice slopes with ice climbing grades above WI6 and rock climbing grades above 6c / UIAA VII+. Retreat can be extremely difficult in bad weather.

A comprehensive overview can be found From WikipediaA comparative table in the form of an image can be found, for example, FROM HERE.

What do we mean by expedition, mountaineering, hiking, and trekking?
- (Top) expedition — mountain trips that take you to very remote areas, are spectacular in their distance or altitude. They usually involve specialized mountaineering equipment. There is a greater emphasis on “discovery,” meaning you have to be prepared for anything, and they are usually difficult and challenging trips.
- Mountaineering (alpinism) — the goal of the trip is to reach a specific mountain peak by crossing a glacier and/or climbing rocks. Special mountaineering equipment is used and the route is technical.
- Mountain hike — the purpose of the trip is to follow an easier route or hiking trail in the mountains, generally at an altitude of > 2500 m. May include summit climbing, but does not involve significant use of specialized mountaineering equipment.
- Hiking — the main purpose of the trip is to follow a hiking trail or hike in a scenic spot. Generally, there are no significant mountains, gorges, etc. on the route, and no special mountaineering equipment is used.

Are mountain hikes suitable for beginners?

The short answer is - yes, of course. At the beginning of each mountain hike, the difficulty level of the specific hike is stated, as well as an overview of the main activities. In general, most of the mountain trips offered are suitable for beginners.

However, the participant should have a sporty lifestyle - a mountain hike requires more or less physical effort, so good physical shape makes the trip much more enjoyable. We always organize trial and training trips before the trip and conduct appropriate training. We also share recommendations and advice on preparation. If you doubt your suitability, feel free to contact the trip organizer and let's figure something out together!

Is mountain hiking safe?

Mountain hikes inevitably involve certain risks, but with good preparation and organization, they can be mitigated. The safety of participants is undoubtedly the most important thing for us. Of course, unexpected events can occur, which means we have to cancel a summit event, for example, but the mountain is not gone and you can always try again. The level of risk also depends on the specific mountain and hike.

Will I definitely reach the top? I paid!

Of course, we cannot guarantee that we will reach the top. The weather is king in the mountains and we will not fight with it. In addition, various health problems may occur in the high mountains, which will prevent us from continuing. In certain cases, the group leader has the right to prohibit a participant from continuing to ensure the safety of the participant or the group. However, at the end of the day, the most important thing is to get back home safely.

What training should I do to prepare?

Good physical preparation makes the trip more enjoyable and increases the likelihood of reaching the summit! Generally, backpacking training is best, preferably on a hiking trail with higher elevations or on stairs. Endurance training that raises the aerobic threshold (running, cycling, skiing, etc.) and core training (core workout). For a more technical route, it is also worth doing rock/wall climbing, ice climbing, boulderingetc. and also put more emphasis on strength training.

The training load should be progressive, so don't start training at a very high intensity right away. The peak load should be about 2-3 months before the trip, and for the last 1-2 weeks we recommend doing only light training to allow the body to rest and avoid injuries. One week before the trip is too late to start. :)
You can ask the adventure locomotive for more information.

Do I need special insurance?

Yes, to participate in a mountain hike, we require valid sports insurance that is suitable for mountain hiking. Often, regular insurance providers may not cover mountain hiking above a certain altitude (e.g. above 5000 m), so be sure to make sure that your insurance is suitable for the trip (including the destination). Take your insurance policy with you on the hike.

The suitable selection of Estonian insurance providers is limited; for some mountains, e.g. Swedbank travel insurance dangerous activities with additional protection. For higher or more technical mountains we can recommend e.g. Austrian Alpine Club insurance included with membership or no height restriction Impact MultiSports insurance. An alternative is also Global Rescue insurance. Read more here.