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Trail classification system

Mt. Shimen Trail
Mt. Shimen Trail

 

National park trail classification system
Difficulty Level Description Suitability Recommended Equipment
Grade 0
The trail is flat and has good facilities. The slope is gentle and suitable for wheelchairs and children’s strollers.
Suitable for all ages, wheelchair users, and children’s strollers.
Water, hiking snacks, rain gear, mobile phone.
Grade 1
The trail is well maintained with facilities in good conditions, and it features guiding resources and a gentle slope. A normal itinerary takes half a day to one day to complete.
Walkers.
Water, hiking snacks, rain gear, mobile phone.
Grade 2
The trail is well maintained with facilities in good conditions, but the slope has slight undulations, and there are potential risks due to unpredictable weather. A normal itinerary can be completed within one day.
People with average to good physical fitness.
Water, hiking snacks, rain gear, mobile phone, warm clothing, backpack.
Grade 3
The trail is located in a relatively remote mountainous area. The path is clearly formed but some slopes are very steep. There are potential risks due to unpredictable weather. A normal itinerary can be completed in one to three days.
People with good physical fitness who have the ability to read basic maps, carry heavy loads while walking, assess risks, and respond to emergencies.
Refer to Table 2 to bring the necessary camping or forced bivouac equipment based on your itinerary.
Grade 4
The trail is located in a remote mountainous area. The path is formed, but parts of the terrain are rugged, and there are potential risks due to unpredictable weather. A normal itinerary can be completed in three to five days, or within three days if the trail features challenging terrain.
People with good physical fitness who have the ability to read maps, carry heavy loads while walking, survive in the wilderness, assess risks, and respond to emergencies.
Refer to Table 2 to bring the necessary camping and related technical / climbing equipment based on your itinerary.
Grade 5
The trail is located in a remote mountainous area, and the path is relatively unformed. There are potential high risks due to rugged terrain and unpredictable weather. A normal itinerary takes three to five or more days to complete, and preparations for challenging terrain must be made.
People with excellent physical fitness who have the ability to read maps, carry heavy loads while walking, survive in the wilderness, assess risks, and respond to emergencies.
Refer to Table 2 to bring the necessary camping and related technical / climbing equipment based on your itinerary.
Grade 6
  1. A Grade 3 to 5 trail covered in snow (ice).
  2. Special routes, such as routes that are not established, unformed mountainous tracks without defined roadbeds or paths, remnants of ancient trails, or trails that require specialized exploration or climbing skills.
People familiar with snow mountaineering or those who have the necessary technical / climbing skills.
Refer to Table 2 to bring the necessary camping and related technical / climbing equipment based on your itinerary.

Note 1: The estimated number of days is based on the average itinerary and is provided as a reference. If you decide to shorten the itinerary, please make sure to improve your fitness level and assess risks.

Note 2: Before embarking on high altitude mountain trails, please make necessary preparations and itinerary plan in advance, pay attention to whether you are suffering from altitude sickness, and establish a turning point to retreat if necessary.

 

Equipment checklist for individuals and groups

Equipment for individuals: please check off items according to your itinerary; items in bold are snow mountaineering essentials.

Basic Equipment
□ Large backpack
□ Backpack rain cover
□ Small backpack (packable backpack)
□ Sleeping bag (down or hollow fiber are recommended)
□ Sleeping pad (inflatable pads or foam pads are recommended for snow season)
□ Hiking shoes / rain boots (please don’t wear rain boots during snow season)
□ Warm hat
□ Sun hat
□ Headwear/towel
□ Moisture-wicking clothing/ moisture-wicking shirts
□ Warm clothing
□ Rainwear (jacket & pants)
□ Warm work gloves /waterproof work gloves
□ Moisture-wicking socks /warm socks
□ Headlamp (with extra batteries)
□ National identification card and national health insurance card
□ Mobile phone / radio / satellite phone
□ Spare glasses / glasses straps
□ Spare clothes
□ Sun protection items and lip balm
□ Lighter / candles / tinder
□ Toilet paper / tissues / paper towels
□ Compass / GPS / mobile phone (with extra power source)
□ Maps (topographic maps are recommended)
□ Altimeter
□ Water bottle / water storage bag / thermos
□ Bushcraft knife / Multi-tool / paring knife
□ Personal medications / first aid kit
□ Personal stove (including gas canisters)
□ Cooking and eating utensils (pots, bowls, cups, chopsticks)
□ Bivouac sack / personal tent
□ Tarp/footprint
□ Survival whistle
□ Leg dressings
□ Trekking pole (a pair is recommended)
□ Paper (waterproof is recommended) / pen
□ Mountain/national park entry permit
□ Plastic bags
□ Trail snacks (__ grams * __ days)
Technical / Snow Equipment
□ Helmet
□ Carabiners (number: __)
□ Mountaineering rope (__mm * __meters)
□ Webbing (__mm * __meters * number: __)
□ Prusik cords (__mm * __meters * number: __)
□ Descender (figure 8, ATC, etc.)
□ Ascender
□ Ice axe
□ Crampons
□ Seat / full-body harness
□ Glacier sunglasses / sunglasses
 
Other Items
□ Camera (with extra batteries)
□ Tripod
□ Lightweight sandals
□ Waist pack / flex gear bag
□ Water shoes
□ Sanitation trowel
□ Radio
□ Mobile power bank
□ Menstrual products
□ Sewing kit
 
 

Equipment for groups: please check off items according to your itinerary; items in bold are snow mountaineering essentials.

Basic Equipment
□ Tent (including outer tent, guy ropes, stakes, poles)
□ Tarp/footprint
□ VHF/UHF walkie-talkie
□ Satellite phone
□ Food (number of days: __)
□ Spare food (number of meals: __)
□ Gas/liquid fuel stoves (number: __)
□ Gas canisters (number: __) / fuel (__liters)
□ Cooking utensils (including ladles, spoons, plates, pot lifters, windscreens)
□ Water storage bag (__L * number__)
□ Lighter / candles / tinder
□ Mountain/national park entry permit
□ LED/gas lantern (including extra lamp wicks)
□ Cleaning products (tea powder, soybean powder are recommended)
□ Trash bags
□ First aid kit
□ Bushcraft knife / saw
□ Sanitation trowel
□ Altimeter
□ Topographic maps
□ Sewing kit
□ Radio
 
 
Technical / Snow Equipment
□ Mountaineering rope (__mm * __meters * number: __)
□ Carabiners (number: __)
□ Webbing (__mm * __meters * number: __)
□ Prusik cords (__mm * __meters * number: __)
□ Ice hammer / ice screws
□ Rock hammer / rock pitons