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The Difficulty Levels in Ski Touring
Ski touring is a popular winter sport, right up there with classic piste skiing. The difficulty of a tour is determined by factors such as length, elevation gain, slope steepness and aspect, and conditions like terrain, snowpack, and avalanche risk. This is why the right technique and equipment are crucial. The following difficulty levels help you to get a better feel on what you can expect from the tour or the section.
The Difficulty Levels in Ski Touring
The difficulty of a ski tour (ascent and descent on skis). Additional difficulties for sections climbed on foot must be added separately in the description. The given difficulty always assumes good conditions. Avalanche danger must be evaluated separately from the difficulty.
L
Easy - Gentle hilly terrain with smooth ground. Steepness up to 30°.
WS-, WS, WS+
Moderate - mostly open slopes with short steep sections and gentle runout. Bottlenecks are not very steep. Kick-turns necessary. Steepness 30° - 35°.
ZS-, ZS, ZS+
Quite difficult - short steep sections are unavoidable and obstacles require good reactions. Falling poses a risk of injury. Bottlenecks are short but steep. Safe kick-turns necessary. Steepness 35° - 40°.
S-, S, S+
Difficult - steep sections are unavoidable and many obstacles require sophisticated, confident skiing and ascent technique. Falling may be fatal. Bottlenecks are long and steep. Steepness 40° - 45°.
SS-, SS, SS+
Very difficult - persistently steep terrain and many obstacles in quick succession. Falling may be fatal. Bottlenecks are long and steep; side-slipping and jump turns are necessary. Steepness 45° - 50°.
AS-, AS, AS+
Exceptionally difficult - Very steep faces or couloirs with no option to rest on the descent. Extremely exposed. Bottlenecks are long and very steep; only side-slipping and jump turns possible. Steepness 50° - 55°.
EX-, EX, EX+
Extremely difficult - Extremely exposed steep faces and couloirs. Continuous no fall zone. It may be necessary to rappel over rock ledges. Steepness >55°.
