PinoyMountaineer Difficulty Scale (2009)

PinoyMountaineer recommends the classification of Philippine mountains according to difficulty with a numeric scale of 1-9 with the purpose of guiding enabling hikers to prepare accordingly. There are limitations to the criteria, and the PULAG factors listed below will try to account for some of these. The Difficulty scale is subject to continuous re-evaluation.DISCLAIMER: Even though I am making this attempt to objectify the scale, I am aware that rating a mountain’s difficulty is inherently subjective; the actual experience of difficulty depends on the situation (i.e. season, weather) and individual factors. This scale is meant only as a guide and cannot be the sole basis of an evaluating a mountain.

D	Representative Destinations	Criteria
1	Seven Lakes of San Pablo Daranak and Batlag Falls Mt. Samat	Very easy: treks less than 30 minutes in paved/cemented roads or clear paths
2	Mt. Maculot Mt. Romelo Gulugod Baboy	Easy: Single trail lasting less than 2 hours in length, not exceeding class 2.
3	Mt. Batulao Anawangin Cove Mt. Pulag via Ambangeg	Mild: Trail requiring less than 2 hours but with parts exceeding class 3; or 2-5 hours in length but not exceeding class 2.
4	Mt. Makiling Mt. Cristobal Tarak Ridge Mt. Hibok-Hibok	Average: Trail requiring 2-5 hours, with parts of trail class 3 or higher; or trek lasting 5-9 hours, with parts of trail not exceeding class 2
5	Mt. Ugo Traverse ArayatTrav or MakTrav Mt. Banahaw (Dolores)	Moderate: Trail lasting 5-9 hours with parts of trail class 3 or higher; or all long treks not exceeding class 2.
6	Mt. Bulusan Mt. Isarog (Patag-Patag) Mt. Pulag (Akiki-Ambangeg)	Challenging: Mountains under class 5 with place-specific circumstances not accounted for by trail class.
7	Mt. Pulag (Akiki-Ambaguio) Mt. Napulauan Traverse Mt. Amuyao Traverse	Difficult: Trek lasting 5-9 hours, with parts of trail class 4 or higher with cold weather OR trek requiring 3 or more days
8	Mts. Talomo-Apo Traverse Dulang-Dulang-Kitanglad Mt. Kanlaon Traverse	Strenuous: treks requiring more than 3 days average with varied, potentially hazardous environments or Trail class 5-6 for 2 hours
9	Mt. Halcon Mt. Guiting-Guiting Mt. Mantalingajan Mt. Sicapoo	Technical: Either Trail class 5-6 more than 8 hours or very long treks requiring 4 days average or less than 3 days but exploratory in nature and summitability non-assured.

*The PULAG factors add +1 to the difficulty of the trek:
P- Precipitation > 50% of trek time
U- Unestablished trail or flooded trails requiring water-crossing
L- Low temperature; <> 35 C)
A- Animals or wildlife that interfere with trek (i.e. hyperlimatik)
G- Gusts of wind reaching >50kph