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The
Algonquin Portage Scale
By: Scott Campbell
The "Algonquin Portage Scale" is a system that
indicates the difficulty of a portage of any given length.
On a scale from level I through Level 5, it represents the
difficulty of a number of factors. It is used in
conjunction with the portage length, which is expressed in
metres. Thus a portage would be marked as 2P900, meaning a
level 2 portage 900 m in length.
The number in the scale is a summary of four rating criteria:
Landings, Obstacles, Footing and Topography as defined below.
To rate a portage, rate it on each of the four criteria
independently, then summarize its difficulty in a single rating.
For example, a portage with ratings of 3, 3, 3 and 4 might be
summarized as a level 3 or level 4, whichever best represents
its degree of difficulty.
| |
Landings |
Obstacles |
Footing |
Topography |
| |
How
convenient are the landings for loading and unloading the
canoe? Are the landings well marked and easy to
find? |
Are
there obstacles to be cleared, such as rock faces, fallen
trees, gullies or tight corners? Is the trail well
marked, or can you get lost |
How
treacherous is the footing? Uneven or rocky ground,
or roots, or unstable, muddy, or slippery ground? |
How
much of the portage is climbing and/or descending?
How steep is it? |
| Level
1 |
Improved
dock, or sand/gravel beach. Room for many canoes |
None |
Smooth
ground, road, cart trail, railway bed. |
Level,
or nearly so. |
| Level
2 |
Easy
access for two or more canoes |
Minor
obstacles |
Improved
trail. |
Gentle
climbing and descending |
| Level
3 |
Some
difficulty of access, even for one canoe |
One
or more obstacles of moderate difficulty |
patches
of difficult footing. |
Moderate
climbing and descending |
| Level
4 |
Irregular
rocks, difficult footing, even for one canoe |
Several
obstacles, moderate to difficult |
Difficult
footing for much of the distance |
Steep
climbing or descending, but for less than half of the
distance. |
| Level
5 |
Difficult
to access, even for one canoe. |
Many
obstacles, difficult to negotiate |
Treacherous
footing, difficult to pick your steps most of the
distance. |
Steep
climbing or descending over more than half of the distance |
Frequently
Asked Questions:
- What's the point of such
a scale?
Imagine planning a route based only on the distances, then
encountering a portage that is simply too difficult for you
to negotiate safely. Or, wondering whether to stop for
the night or push on: how difficult are the portages you
face as darkness approaches.
- Why exclude portage
length from the scale?
Clearly, length is the key driver of portage difficulty.
But if it were included, nearly all short portages would be
level 1 and long portages Level 5. There would be
nothing gained. A 1000 m portage along a road might be
less demanding that a 100 m portage that involves scrambling
across a ravine. There is more information conveyed by
separating length and difficulty.
- What about the other
factors that affect portages?
A fixed scale can only reflect fixed factors. it
cannot reflect transient factors such as water levels at the
landings, mosquitoes, mud from recent rains, wind blowing
the canoe, or the weight of your pack. Each of us will
have to make allowances for these conditions.
- I disagree with some of
your ratings.
Unless we take a battery of instruments into the interior,
the scale will inevitably be somewhat subjective.
Considering four separate criteria should make it somewhat
less so, but there is bound to be some difference of
opinion. Ultimately, some consensus should emerge.
- How would the information
be publicized?
Initially, on the Internet, so that interested trippers
could share their ratings. In time, perhaps, on maps.
- Why not name it LOFT
(Landings, Obstacles, Footing, Topography) scale or
something similar?
This is a handy memory aid, but I'd rather honour the park.
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