Trail ratings, like "easy, moderate, and hard" offer some clues on what to expect. But you can still end up on a trail that is not a good fit for you or the people you hike with.
When I choose a trail, I want to make sure everyone can safely enjoy it and be ready to hike again the next day. I have seen a lot of hikers over do it the first day and have to sit out the next.
So, trail ratings should be all about you. Not the experience someone else had. To know if a trail is right for you, the best thing is to talk to someone who knows it.
If you can't do that, here is a rating system I came up with. It lets you take basic trail information and tailor it to you, your level of experience, ability, and your group.
Three factors go into my trail rating: distance, grade, and my personal "recovery time".
Trail Distance. How far do you typically hike? Take that and apply the 25% Rule. Let's say you typically hike 8 miles. Anything under that is easy. Anything over that, but not more than 25% or 10 miles is doable, or moderate. Anything above 10 miles going to test your ability.
Grade: The total elevation gain for any trail is important information. But elevation alone can be misleading. What I really need to know is how steep the trail is and where, in which sections. The total elevation gain may seem reasonable. But, a steep section can change a trail from moderate to hard. A topo map or cross section map will display how quickly a trail gains in elevation, mile by mile. All Trails shows this information. Here is the general rule: If a trail has an elevation gain of less than 300 feet in any given mile, it is easy. If it has 300-500 feet of elevation gain in a mile, it is moderate. Over 500 feet of elevation gain in a mile is getting harder. Over 800 feet of elevation gain in less than a mile is very strenuous. For example, Apgar Lookout Trail is relatively short, 7.3 miles round trip. But you gain about 600 feet per mile in the last few miles. That is why it is rated hard.
If you are not acclimated to altitude, you might want to adjust these down a bit.
Recovery time: Hiking in Glacier is physically demanding regardless of your age, experience, or physical ability. My husband and I often hike 14 days in a row, 15+ miles a day, before we feel like we must take a break. We understand what we have to do to recover from aches and pains, and how long it takes, and be ready to go again the next day. Many people will try to follow a hard hike with an easy hike. Even so, make sure you know your own personal recovery time. Use stretching, ice packs, whatever works. I always tell people, it isn't how far you can hike that counts. It is how fast you can recover that will make the difference!
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