A. Warning

This platform aims to help inexperienced hikers to find routes adapted to their abilities according to 3 criterias :

• The physical difficulty or physical condition required
• Technical difficulty or ability to overcome obstacles
• Psychological difficulty or ability to manage risk or fear of the void

Each of these criteria is broken down into 5 levels of difficulty. The hiker is responsible for estimating his physical, technical and psychological level. Do not overestimate yourself! There is no guarantee that the routes recommended by the platform are suitable for the user's abilities. The platform cannot be held responsible for accidents that may occur on the ground. Each user of the platform engages on the routes under his own responsibility.

B. Evaluate your abilities

How to evaluate your physical condition?

Your physical condition will allow you to filter the hiking routes according to the effort. The effort corresponds to the physical difficulty of the hike and therefore the determination of the level of voluntary mobilization of physical forces.

Use the Baecke form to determine your physical condition on a scale of 1 to 5 corresponding to the 5 levels of difficulty of the routes. These levels of difficulty are determined by the IBP Index of a route. The IBP Index is an automatic rating system for the difficulty of a route ridden by mountain bike, road bike, hiking or running (https://www.ibpindex.com/).

• Level 1: This is not a particularly difficult course. This level corresponds to walks and strolls.
• Level 2: This is a route with little physical difficulty. This level corresponds to walks and short hikes.
• Level 3: A course requiring a certain physical commitment which remains however measured. This level corresponds to moderate courses.
• Level 4: This is a difficult course that requires a certain physical commitment. This level corresponds to more sustained courses.
• Level 5: Courses that are difficult and require a high level of physical commitment. This level corresponds to very sustained courses.

How to evaluate your technical capacity?

Your motor skills will allow you to filter the hikes according to their technical difficulty. The technical difficulty of a hike is determined by the presence and importance of obstacles

To get it, look at the obstacles as you hike, estimate the level you mostly faced and indicate the highest level encountered.

• Level 1: Course with no or almost no particular obstacle, nor any or almost no difficulty of progression. The foot can be placed flat on any part of the support.
• Level 2: Course with obstacles of a size less than or equal to the height of the ankle. The foot is placed by looking for flat or comfortable areas of the support that are easy to find.
• Level 3: Course with at least one obstacle less than or equal to knee height. The foot placement adapts to the irregularity of the surface. The placement of the supports is done on the zones of better adherence.
• Level 4: Course with at least one obstacle less than or equal to hip height. The foot placement (toe or heel) adapts to the general unevenness of the surface. Sticks are useful for balancing.
• Level 5: Course with at least one obstacle larger than hip height. Crossings require the use of hands. The passages can or are secured by equipment. Sticks can be a hindrance to progress.

How to assess one's ability to manage risk or fear of the void?

Your ability to manage risk or fear of heights will allow you to filter hiking routes according to psychological difficulty. The psychological difficulty of a hike is the exposure of the hiker to more or less serious consequences in terms of bodily injury in the event of a fall or slip. It also takes into account elements (bridges, ladders) that can induce fear of heights without the risk necessarily being present.

To get it, look at the terrain pattern as you hike, estimate the level you mostly encountered and indicate the highest level you encountered.

• Level 1: Low level of risk of accidents resulting from a fall or a slip. The configuration of the terrain does not present any notable relief accident. The exposure to danger can be qualified as minor.
• Level 2: Fairly low risk of accidents due to falls or slips. The configuration of the terrain may present some notable relief accidents. However, the exposure to danger remains limited.
• Level 3: Low level of risk of accidents resulting from a fall or slip. The configuration of the terrain presents notable relief accidents.
• Level 4: Fairly high level of risk of accidents resulting from a fall or slip. The configuration of the ground presents marked relief accidents.
• Level 5: High level of risk of accidents resulting from a fall or slip. The configuration of the terrain presents very marked and large-scale relief accidents.