Via ferratas and mountain paths
Via ferratas in the Alps are most often graded on the Schall scale from A to E, recently extended with F. The Hüsler scale K1–K6 is roughly the same, and in 2016 the UIAA adopted the Italian scale (F, PD, D, TD, ED) as its international standard.
| Schall | Hüsler | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| A – easy | K1 | Flat to steep, mostly rocky terrain; exposed passages possible. Cables are mainly for safety. |
| B – moderately difficult | K2 | Steep rocky terrain, small steps, ladders and exposed sections. |
| C – difficult | K3 | Steep to very steep rock with mostly small holds and long, often very exposed passages. Good arm strength needed. |
| D – very difficult | K4 | Vertical, often overhanging and mostly very exposed. Strong arms and experience needed; not for beginners or children. |
| E – extremely difficult | K5 | Vertical to overhanging, exposed throughout, very small steps or slab climbing – close to real climbing. |
| F – beyond extreme | K6 | Mostly overhanging with very small holds; only a handful of such via ferratas exist. |
In Slovenia, mountain paths are marked as easy, difficult or very difficult (lahka, zahtevna, zelo zahtevna pot). Difficult and very difficult paths have protected sections with cables and pegs; a helmet is recommended, and on very difficult paths also a via ferrata set.
Conversions are approximate. Tables in guidebooks differ by half a grade or more, grades depend on the area and the style of climbing, and old routes are often graded harder than they are… or softer. My climbs and ferratas are in the Adventures Logbook; the forces in a fall are explained in the Fall Factor Calculator.