What “Difficulty 3+” Means to the Sierra Club

I recently described a Difficulty 4+ hike with the Sierra Club, which was a bit more than I bargained for. This week, I went back and tackled a 3+ instead. The difference was like night and day! We hiked some of the same trail sections, but there were frequent stops that provided ample time to survey the darkening valleys, the rosy sunset, and the haze and fog flowing in. We weren’t constantly out of breath, so I actually got to catch up with my friends chatting. We did end up hiking the end part in deep dusk, but I’d brought a small LED light, and the leader actually switched on his headlamp to help guide the hikers past tricky bits.

In fact, the leaders (there were two) provided the biggest contrast from the leaders of the 4+ hike. They carefully checked at each stop that everyone had straggled up to maintain the group, they provided bits of trivia, and when one family needed to “check out” (head back to the parking lot) due to some health issues, one of the leaders split off to guide them back down personally. I really got the sense that the leaders were alert and took their responsibility very seriously; they were there to help everyone have a good time. The leaders of the 4+ hike seemed more intent on gamboling over the mountain for fun, paying only lip service to the concept of a “sweep” who follows along behind the slowest hiker to ensure that no one gets lost. On this 3+ hike, the leader checked frequently with the sweep (almost so often that it got annoying, but I’d rather have it that way).

This hike was definitely less physically demanding. I think I probably would most enjoy something between 3+ and 4+. Next time I’ll have to try a 4.

On the way out, around 9:30 p.m., I saw a coyote trot across the road near the parking lot, and we heard them yipping in the distance during the hike.