Brisbane Bushwalkers conducts activities over a wide range of skill levels. Consequently, we have evolved a grading and classification system which is designed to be easily interpreted. This system involves several components:

  • Distance - Abbreviated
  • Activity Type - Abbreviated
  • Terrain Difficulty Grade - 1 to 9, ascending in order of difficulty
  • Fitness and Endurance Requirement Grade - A to E, ascending in order of difficulty

Most activities which involve a physical component will have a classification which includes the Distance, Terrain Difficulty Grade, and the Fitness and Endurance Requirement Grade. Other activities such as social activities and meetings will not require these components.

An example

An activity that is commonly held for new members is a Day Walk at Daves Creek Circuit, a 12km graded track in Lamington National Park. The club's 'code' for this activity's classification is MDW-2A. This means that the activity is a Medium length Day Walk, with a Terrain Difficulty Grade of 2, and a Fitness and Endurance Requirement Grade of A.

Self Assessment and Activity Acceptance

Individual walkers are responsible for ensuring they are capable of doing the walk for which they nominate. Members are encouraged to contact the walk leader and discuss fitness and skill levels if they are in any doubt. Group safety and enjoyment can be jeopardised if an individual is unable to complete a walk, therefore walk leaders can refuse to take a member if they are unsure of their capabilities.

Easier Walks: Beginners and inexperienced walkers can expect assistance and guidance from the walk leader during a 1 to 3 Terrain walk; but Club members are responsible for their own safety and well-being, based on personal judgement and their own level of risk acceptance.

Intermediate Walks: Walks graded Terrain Level 4 and higher require increasing degrees of self-reliance, albeit in a cohesive and supportive team environment.

Difficult Walks: Very accurate self-assessment of ability is required before undertaking technically difficult day walks and off track through walks in remote areas. Total self-reliance and absolute personal responsibility for safety and risk acceptance are essential.

Reference

We have included the classification tables below for quick reference. These provide clear explanations of gradings and abbreviations.

Distance Table

Code Name
S
Short
Less than 10km per day
M
Medium
10-15km per day
L
Long
15 - 20km per day
X
Extra Long
Over 20km per day

Activity Type Table

Code Name
ABS
Abseil
Abseiling is a controlled descent of a vertical drop, such as a rock face, using a rope. Abseiling activities often involve a walk to a steep drop, and a descent over that drop. Attending an abseiling training weekend, periodicially offered by the club, is a prerequisite of nomination for these events.
BC
Base Camp
Base Camps involve travelling to a location, and then staying at that location and using it as a base for day walks or other activities. Base Camps are not always camping based.  Sometimes Base Camps are offered where the base is a lodge or other built accommodation.
CYC
Cycle
Cycling activities are conducted similarly to day walks, however instead of walking, participants cycle.
DW
Day Walk
Day Walks are the primary activity the club offers.  A Day Walk is a walk that is undertaken over the course of a single day.
ETW
Easy Through Walk
An Easy Through Walk is a subcategory of Through Walk.  A multi-day walk, where one must carry one's own camping gear and food.  Easy Through Walks are typically less challenging, and are conducted to introduce participants to through walking.
KYK
Kayak
Kayaking activities are conducted similarly to day walks, however instead of walking, participants kayak.  Kayaking activities may take place in lakes, creeks, rivers or shorelines.
MEETING
Meeting
Meetings are conducted at the Newmarket Memorial Hall, on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.  Each Meeting starts at 7:30pm.
NMI
New Member Induction
New Member Inductions are training walks emphasising Minimum Impact, Maximum Safety, along with explanations of club culture and etiquette.
NC
Night Cycle
Night cycling activities are conducted similarly to night walks, however instead of walking, participants cycle.
NW
Night Walk
Unlike a Day Walk, a Night Walk is a walk that is undertaken over the course of a single night.  These types of walks often present additional challenges, such as trickier navigation and traversal of terrain.
ROG
Rogaine
A Rogaine is a type of walk that is typically undertaken specifically for the purpose of engaging in using navigation skills.  These are often timed walks, so a fast pace is often required.
S&T
Safety & Training
Safety and Training activities are conducted specifically to heighten the skills of leaders and other members.  Examples of Safety and Training activities are Navigation Training weekends, Tape Workshops, First Aid Courses, and Leader Training Base Camps.
SOC
Social
Social Activies are activities where the purpose of meeting is to socialise and interact with other club members.  The most common social activities are dinner evenings, however in the past there have been mini-golf days and film nights.
SVY
Survey
Surveys are activities conducted specifically for the purpose of scoping new locations, or locations that have not been visited for some time, for suitability to use for day walks, through walks or otherwise.  Surveys usually consist of small, experienced groups.
TW
Through Walk
Through Walks typically begin on Friday night and finish on Sunday afternoon/evening. The walker must carry all their gear for camping out overnight, sometimes including water for the weekend. These walks are regarded as the ultimate in walking, as you are able to visit more remote areas not able to be accessed by road and therefore considered more interesting and sometimes challenging. In contrast there are some fairly easy through walks, which are, for the most part on tracks, yet still giving the impression of being somewhere fairly remote, interesting and away from civilisation.
TRNG
Training Walk
Training walks are geared specifically toward developing fitness, conditioning and pack training.

Terrain Difficulty Grade Table

Code
1
Path with smooth surface and low gradient
2
Well-formed path or graded track with some minor obstacles
3
Graded track, with obstacles such as rock or root intrusions, fallen debris, or creek crossings
4
Rough, unformed track or open terrain, with obstacles such as rock or root intrusions, fallen debris, or creek crossings
5
Rough or rocky terrain that may require use of hands, and/or creek rock hopping that requires small to moderate steps. Fallen debris possible
6
Steep, rough or rocky terrain requiring use of hands, and/or creek rock hopping requiring moderate to large steps or jumps. Fallen debris possible
7
Climb or descend steep rock, using hand or foot holds. May be some exposure. Good upper body strength required
8
Climb or descend near vertical rock with exposure, using widely spaced or small hand or foot holds. Climbing skills may be required. Good upper body strength required
9
Sustained climbing or descent of vertical or near vertical rock with exposure, using widely spaced or small hand or foot holds. Advanced climbing skills may be required. Good upper body strength required

Fitness and Endurance Requirement Grade Table

Code
A
Basic - Generally suitable for new bushwalkers. About four hours of walking and possibly minor hills. Slower pace with frequent breaks
B
Easy - About five hours of walking and about 300m of elevation gain/loss per day
C
Moderate - About six hours of walking and about 600m of elevation gain/loss per day. Agility required
D
Hard - Good fitness, endurance and agility required. About seven hours of walking and about 800m of elevation gain/loss per day
E
Very Hard - High fitness, endurance and agility required. About eight hours of walking and about 1000m of elevation gain/loss per day
F
Extreme - Very high fitness, endurance and agility required. About twelve hours of walking and greater than 1400m of elevation gain/loss per day