I am using the toponeige
Ski Difficulty
Level 1: starting level. You must already be able to ski in alpine terrain as opposed to cross country terrain. The slopes will not be steeper than 30°, it will not be so narrow as to make it difficult to turn, the amount of climbing (skinning) will be less than 800m, the risk will be minimal and in general the risk of avalanche will be very small.
Level 2: Few technical difficulties. No steep slopes (35° at the most), but the amount of climbing and the exposure to risk when falling, or objective dangers could be important.
Level 3: Ski mountaineering entry level. Technical sections, long slopes at 35°, short passages at 40-45°. Dense forests, even on low angle slopes, steep forest tracks.
Level 4: Couloirs and steep slopes. Sustained 40° to 45° slopes (for more than 200m). Very variable mountainous slopes, dense forests with moderate slopes.
Level 5: Very steep slopes: long slopes of 45° and over (over 300m) and slopes of over 100m of 50° and steeper.
The first four grades are then subdivided into three levels i.e.
4.1 – Easy Grade 4
4.2 – Moderate Grade 4
4.3 – Hard Grade 4
The fifth grade is open ended, at the time of writing there are a few descents in the 5.6 category
Risk
You need to consider that generally
- over 35° it is impossible to stop a fall on icy slopes
- at 45° it is impossible to stop a fall on transformed snow
- over 50° and a fall that isn’t stopped immediately is impossible to stop even in deep snow.
Other than the risk related to the steepness of the slope, this rating takes into account the presence of an obstacle that could damage a skier in a fall.
Risk 1: Other than stone and trees, there is no real danger. The risk is that of the slope itself : if the slope is steep and the snow is hard there is some risk
Risk 2: The fall line crosses a small cliff or rocks that will accentuate that risk of injury in a fall. But it is not certain that you will hit the rocks and be injured by them. Couloirs that have a moderate turn in them fall into this category
Risk 3: A falling skier will cross over notable cliffs or rocky outcrops, but the chance of impact is not absolutely certain. Twisty couloirs with a risk of bouncing off the sides fall into this category. Death in the case of fall is quite probable
Risk 4: Very high cliffs, or punishing obstructions with multiple rebounds. Hitting an obstacle in a fall is guaranteed and death is certain.
