WALKING CATEGORIES:​​
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I understand there are 4 walking categories, I believe I have selected a day trip or hike in a category which fits with my personal walking objective, and isn't too big a stretch for my physiological capabilities, if at any point I am in doubt about my physical ability or capability I understand I must consult a doctor / medical professional because MontBlancTrips cannot and do not provide any medical opinion, nor offer medical advisories, and it is entirely my personal responsibility to decide if I can achieve a walking objective and do a MontBlancTrip.
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Walking Categories:
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1. Very Easy
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2. Easy
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3. Medium
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4. Difficult - All Tour Mont Blanc Options are Difficult
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Below is a table setting out what differentiates a Mont Blanc Trips categorised in any 1 of the 4 walking categories in relation to distance, height gain, maximum gradient, altitude, and pace. I have read these and selected a category with factors that I believe are achievable for me.
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VERY EASY | EASY | MEDIUM | DIFFICULT | FACTORS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Upto 10km in a day (3km, 5km, 9km) | Upto 10km in a day (1km, 3km, 6km, 10km) | Upto 21km in a day (13km, 17km) | Can be further than 30km in one day. | HOW FAR?
DISTANCE IN KM
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Upto 150m in one day | Upto 600m in one day | Upto 1400m in one day | Upto 2000m without lifts, trams, trains. | HOW MUCH UPHILL?
HEIGHT GAIN IN METERS
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Below 6% | Up to 11% | Upto 20% | Steeper than 20% | HOW STEEP?
MAX. GRADIENT
(%)
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Can be upto 1500masl | Can be upto 2100masl on foot or upto 2600masl with a lift | Can be upto 2600masl. | Can exceed 2600masl, once above 3500masl does not exceed 500m in one day | HOW HIGH UP?
HIGHEST ALTITUDE
(masl) |
Min. 3 km/h and max. 4 km/h assuming dry foot paths & summer conditions | Min. 3 km/h and max. 4 km/h assuming dry foot paths & summer conditions | Min. 3 km/h and max. 4 km/h assuming dry foot paths & summer conditions | Mainly 4km/h assuming dry foot paths & summer conditions | HOW FAST?
WHAT PACE WILL WE BE WALKING?
(km/h)
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KEY:
(km) Kilometer
(m) meter
(%) percentage max. gradient
(masl) meters above sea level
(km/h) kilometers per hour |
AIMS:
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Aim to have a great holiday.
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Aim to get enough challenge but not too much.
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Aim to understand factors in each walking category and make a good product choice.
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Aim to avoid accidents or health issues.
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Aim to make a sensible personal choice of walking itinerary.
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Aim for high customer personal satisfaction.
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Aim to avoid complaints from disappointed clients.​
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Aim to prevent a client, or their child, having to descend earlier than hoped from a mountain.
FACTORS:
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​Walking Categories are defined according to the relevant factors in one day, including but not limited to:​
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distance
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flatness
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steepness
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maximum gradient
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height gain
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altitude
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duration of the entire trip
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mountain trains, mountain trams, mountain ski lift, Swiss or Italian buses, private taxis, helicopters, lifts - please note all mechanical devices or mechanical intervention can make a walk easier for someone. So a walk is put in an easier category as less effort is required. For example, by taking a lift up 2km or a bus across for 5km, a walk can become easier...so an easier walking category in assigned.
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terrain underfoot - consideration is given to terrain factors underfoot as well as likely weather for the season, potential for heavy down pours, flash floods, heatwaves, landslides, rockfalls, out of season snow storms which are more the norm nowadays, such weather changes impact conditions under foot and force the IML to recategorize walks, the difficulty may change from Easy to Medium, or, Medium to Difficult. ​
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DYNAMIC RISK ASSESSMENTS MADE BY THE INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN LEADER:​
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If an intraday urgent change is made to a walking category or itinerary for the safety of the group this needs to be taken as a given and accepted by all group participants on a walking tour without excessive time wasting or discussion to ensure a change of plan can be easily executed. For example, a land slide may make one route unpassable and require a change in direction, deviation from the standard route to take do a variation on a theme. Conditions are dynamically risk assessed by the International Mountain Leader on a day to day basis, a walk may be adapted or re-categorised in the interest of group safety. ​​