Notes on Rambles, eHikes, mHikes and sHikes
All hikes and rambles start with car-pooling from the Seniors Drop-In Centre, 2965 South Main Street in Penticton. Start times vary with the season (between 8:00 am and 9:30) and are published in the monthly schedule. Hikers and ramblers arrive 15 minutes early to organize car pooling. There is a gas fee paid to the driver.
The Club offers a variety of hiking opportunities. Currently we offer, rambles (easy), eHikes (easy), mHikes (moderate) and sHikes (strenuous).
Rambles are short, fairly easy hikes that involve a snack break at the half way point, but no lunch. Rambles generally have good footing on mostly well-defined trails, although the walking surface may at times be somewhat irregular requiring single file walking. Use is also made of the KVR trails and roadways. Rambles avoid long, steep elevation changes. Hiking time is about 2-2.5 hours, plus snack and driving time - approximately 3.5 hours in total length, from Drop-in Centre to Drop-in Centre, arriving back at the SMDC between noon and 1:00 pm. The DoD rating is in the 2 to 5 range. Rambles are scheduled on Wednesday mornings.
eHikes are easy hikes with actual hiking time of approximately 3 - 4 hours in duration, plus snack, lunch and driving time - approximately 4 to 5 hours in total length, from Drop-in Centre to Drop-in Centre. EHikes have mostly good footing on defined trails and generally avoid long, steep elevation changes; however the walking surface may be somewhat irregular requiring single file walking. The DoD rating is in the 3 to 6 range.
mHikes are moderate hikes with actual hiking time of approximately 3 – 4.5 hours in duration, plus snack, lunch and driving time - approximately 4 to 5.5 hours in total length, from Drop-in Centre to Drop-in Centre. MHikes are mostly on some sort of trail with stable footing that is not overly treacherous, and may have some long or steep elevation changes. An average hike is 6 to 12 kilometers in length with 150 to 450 metres (500 to 1500 feet) in elevation gain. The DoD rating is in the 6 to 9 range.
sHikes are strenuous hikes that tend to be longer, so that actual hiking time may exceed 5 hours in duration, plus snack, lunch and driving time - approximately 5 to 7 hours in total length – from Drop-in Centre to Drop-in Centre. SHikes can be on or off trail and involve considerable elevation gain and/or poor footing. The DoD rating is 10 or above, with most hikes in the 10 to 16 range. At the upper end, Mike’s Grand Oro view is rated as 14 and the Mt Goat trail in OK Provincial Park has a rating of 15. Occasionally, a hike is classified as strenuous based on length, even though the footing and grade are of a moderate nature such as the hike to the Keremeos Columns with a 14 rating.
These explanations and the summary chart can be downloaded on the Documents page (Hiking Terms).
The Club offers a variety of hiking opportunities. Currently we offer, rambles (easy), eHikes (easy), mHikes (moderate) and sHikes (strenuous).
Rambles are short, fairly easy hikes that involve a snack break at the half way point, but no lunch. Rambles generally have good footing on mostly well-defined trails, although the walking surface may at times be somewhat irregular requiring single file walking. Use is also made of the KVR trails and roadways. Rambles avoid long, steep elevation changes. Hiking time is about 2-2.5 hours, plus snack and driving time - approximately 3.5 hours in total length, from Drop-in Centre to Drop-in Centre, arriving back at the SMDC between noon and 1:00 pm. The DoD rating is in the 2 to 5 range. Rambles are scheduled on Wednesday mornings.
eHikes are easy hikes with actual hiking time of approximately 3 - 4 hours in duration, plus snack, lunch and driving time - approximately 4 to 5 hours in total length, from Drop-in Centre to Drop-in Centre. EHikes have mostly good footing on defined trails and generally avoid long, steep elevation changes; however the walking surface may be somewhat irregular requiring single file walking. The DoD rating is in the 3 to 6 range.
mHikes are moderate hikes with actual hiking time of approximately 3 – 4.5 hours in duration, plus snack, lunch and driving time - approximately 4 to 5.5 hours in total length, from Drop-in Centre to Drop-in Centre. MHikes are mostly on some sort of trail with stable footing that is not overly treacherous, and may have some long or steep elevation changes. An average hike is 6 to 12 kilometers in length with 150 to 450 metres (500 to 1500 feet) in elevation gain. The DoD rating is in the 6 to 9 range.
sHikes are strenuous hikes that tend to be longer, so that actual hiking time may exceed 5 hours in duration, plus snack, lunch and driving time - approximately 5 to 7 hours in total length – from Drop-in Centre to Drop-in Centre. SHikes can be on or off trail and involve considerable elevation gain and/or poor footing. The DoD rating is 10 or above, with most hikes in the 10 to 16 range. At the upper end, Mike’s Grand Oro view is rated as 14 and the Mt Goat trail in OK Provincial Park has a rating of 15. Occasionally, a hike is classified as strenuous based on length, even though the footing and grade are of a moderate nature such as the hike to the Keremeos Columns with a 14 rating.
These explanations and the summary chart can be downloaded on the Documents page (Hiking Terms).