Challenge Ratings Explained
“How hard are your trips?” is one of our most frequently asked questions, and one that’s hard to answer.
Hiking in the Yukon is a unique experience, and it can be a little tricky trying to explain what it’s like, and how physically hard or easy the trip is. To try to help you understand the physical challenges of a particular expedition, we rate all of our trips using the Green Circle, Blue Square, and Black Diamond system.
Understanding Off-Trail Backpacking
Before we dive into our challenge ratings, it’s important to understand that all of our expeditions take place in remote, mountainous areas that do not have trails or camping infrastructure. Hiking terrain is extremely varied, from easy, open, grassy plateaus to dense, bushy forests, to steep rocky slopes. More than anything, it’s important that you are comfortable hiking all day on uneven ground. You’ll also want to ensure you are able to sit on the ground while we hang out in camp in the mornings and evenings. If the weather’s bad, we may be huddled under a tarp for long periods of time.
The other major consideration is the weight of our backpacks. Every participant is expected to carry they own personal gear and a portion of the group food and equipment. This means backpacks usually weigh on average about 45lbs / 20kg on day 1.
Our Challenge Ratings
Green Circle — Easier Expeditions
Daily Distances & Elevation Gain: Typically 5–10km with a backpack, and up to 300m of gain.
Physical Demands: A manageable mix of backpacking and day-hiking days on easier terrain. Routes are often flexible, and can be adapted to suit the abilities of the group. Backpacks often weigh around 40lbs / 18kg.
Prior Experience & Training: Prior backpacking experience is not necessary, and general fitness is often all that is required.
Blue Square — Intermediate Expeditions
Daily Distances & Elevation Gain: Typically 8-14km with a backpack, and up to 500m of gain.
Physical Demands: Blue square trips often have one or two 6-8 hour backpacking days. Expect a mix of challenging and easy backpacking days.
Prior Experience & Training: Prior backpacking experience is helpful, but not necessary. General fitness is often all that is required, but some participants might benefit from additional hiking and strength training.
Black Diamond — Challenging Expeditions
Our most demanding adventures, designed for those ready for a sustained physical challenge in remote mountain terrain.
Daily Distances & Elevation Gain: Typically 10-18km with a backpack, and up to 700m of gain.
Physical Demands: Black diamond trips can be strenuous. Backpacks can weight up to 50lbs / 22kg on day 1. We try to ensure there’s a mix of easy and challenging days, but you can expect consecutive days of challenging, 6-8 hours of hiking.
Prior Experience & Training: Prior backpacking experience is not necessary, but very helpful. General fitness paired with hiking specific training will be essential for a successful trip.
Do I need to be an experienced, super fit hiker?
No, definitely not! One of the most important things to remember in all of this is that we are here to help you at every step of the way:
At the booking stage, we’ll help ensure you understand all the challenges (and rewards) of your chosen expedition.
In the months leading up to your adventure, we’ll provide you with resources and physical benchmarks to ensure you’re as ready as can be.
During the expedition, our guides will be there to make your adventure as pleasant and smooth as possible. We’ll help you with tips and tricks, and ensure the group travels at a comfortable and relaxed pace regardless of the level of difficulty.