4a) Climb Ratings

Explain how the difficulty of climbs is classified, and apply classifications to the rock faces or walls where you will demonstrate your climbing skills.

Climbing difficulty is classified using various systems, including the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) in the United States.

The YDS ranges from Class 1 (easy hiking) to Class 5 (technical climbing).

YDS Route Classifications
Class 1		Walking an established flat, easy trail.
Class 2		Hiking a steep incline, scrambling, maybe using your hands.
Class 3		Climbing a steep hillside, moderate exposure, a rope may be carried but not used, and hands are used in climbing. A short fall could be possible.
Class 4		It is steeper yet, exposed and most people use a rope due to the potential of long falls.
Class 5		Climbing is technical and belayed roping with protection is required. It is not for a novice. Any fall from a Class 5 could be fatal.

Within Class 5, climbs are further categorized from 5.0 (easier) to 5.15 (extremely difficult).

Even if you haven’t experienced scaling a sheer rock face, you’ve likely heard someone mention doing a “5-point-something” climb when talking about a route they’ve tackled or conquered. This refers to the difficulty rating of the climb, based on the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). Originally designed for outdoor climbing, the YDS is now widely used to assess route difficulty in indoor climbing gyms as well.Initially developed to describe a full range of backcountry travel, the YDS rates technical rock climbs from 5.0 through 5.15.

Class 5 sub-categories
5.1-5.4	Easy	A steep section that has large handholds and footholds. Suitable for beginners.
5.5-5.8	Intermediate	Small footholds and handholds. Low-angle to vertical terrain. Beginner to intermediate rock climbing skills required.
5.9-5.10	Hard	Technical and/or vertical, and may have overhangs. These hard climbs require specific climbing skills that most weekend climbers can attain.
5.11-5.12	Hard to Difficult	Technical and vertical, and may have overhangs with small holds. Dedicated climbers may reach this level with lots of practice.
5.13-5.15	Very Difficult	Strenuous climbing that’s technical and vertical, and may have overhangs with small holds. These routes are for expert climbers who train regularly and have lots of natural ability.
6.0	Can’t be free climbed	Devoid of hand- and footholds, the route can only be aid-climbed. An added rating of A1 through A5 further designates difficulty level.

The “crux,” or hardest part of the climb, is the basis for the rating. Some guidebooks provide further clues to difficulty by adding a + or – rating:

+ indicates that a route sustains its level of difficulty most of the way
– indicates that just one or two spots will be as difficult as the crux

Scouts: Climbing Merit Badge

Curriculum

4a) Climb Ratings

Explain how the difficulty of climbs is classified, and apply classifications to the rock faces or walls where you will demonstrate your climbing skills.

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