Staying safe.

Hiking scale SAC

The SAC Mountain and Alpine Hiking Scale is used to rate mountain hiking tours and was introduced in 2002 by the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC). The tours in the field of mountain and alpine hiking are each rated under the assumption of favorable conditions, i.e. good weather and visibility, dry terrain, suitable snow and firn cover, etc.

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Grade	Path	Requirements
T1 - Hiking	Path well paved. If marked according to SAV standards: yellow. Terrain flat or slightly sloping, no danger of falling.	None. Doable with sneakers. Orientation without problems, even without a map.
T2 - Mountain hiking	Path with continuous route and balanced slopes. If marked: white-red-white. Terrain partly steep, danger of falling not excluded.	Some surefootedness. Trekking shoes are recommended. Elementary orientation skills.
T3 - Challenging mountain hiking	On the ground there is usually still a trail, exposed areas may be secured with ropes or chains, you may need your hands for balance. If marked: white-red-white. Partly exposed places with danger of falling, scree areas, pathless scree.	Good surefootedness, good trekking shoes. Average orientation skills. Elementary alpine experience.
T4 - Alpine hiking	Path not visible everywhere, route partly pathless, in certain places you need your hands to move forward. If marked: white-blue-white. Terrain already quite exposed, tricky grassy slopes, crags, easy apere glaciers.	Familiarity with exposed terrain, sturdy trekking shoes. Some terrain judgment and good orientation skills. Alpine experience.
T5 - Challenging alpine hiking	Often pathless, some easy climbs up to II. If marked: white-blue-white. Exposed, demanding terrain, scree, little dangerous glaciers and firn fields.	Mountain boots. Secure terrain assessment and very good orientation skills. Good alpine experience and elementary knowledge of how to use an ice axe and rope.
T6 - Difficult alpine hiking	Mostly pathless, climbing sections up to II, mostly not marked. Often very exposed, tricky scree terrain, glacier with danger of slipping.	Excellent orientation skills. Mature alpine experience and familiarity with the use of alpine technical aids.