tgo magazine live letters archive

What is a grade 4 scramble? In the June issue on page 37 the scramble called "north buttress of bauachaille etive mor, glen coe" is graded as 4.
Scrambles in Snowdonia only mentions grades 1 - 3, while Scrambles in the Lake District defines grades 1 - 3 and 3(S).
Having only done grade 1 scrambles (and not many of them) I was just confused by the above.
But apart from this query, the latest edition looks great so far. So many articles I want to read first and finding hard to decide.
And the nice thing is it was my first issue delivered to my door after taking the subscription out at the Outdoors Show.

North Butress on Buachaille Mor is a grade 3 scramble. Though a 30m rope would be a good safety measure.

They may have used the Dempster Grading system which goes up to 5 (tower ridge on the Ben apprently), but maybe not.

Alternatively they may have made up their own variation. Stick with the 1-3S system, it's definately the most useful.

Using a 1-3(s) system the Scrambles in Lochaber pocket guide has it at grade 3. Andrew Dempster rates it grade 4 on his 1-5 grading system.

Not heard of the Dempster Grading System, but then again that isn't surprising.
Maybe magazines should make reference to the grading system that they are using to avoid confusion.

It's just a different system he uses in his book "Classic Mountain Scrambles in Scotland". J. Wilson Parker uses another completely different one in his book "Scrambles in Skye" 1W-R1V. Scramble grading is pretty subjective anyway. Interesting to compare different people's interpretations.

All grading is subjective, but the 1-3s system works well if you are used to it.

Come on guys, get out and simply enjoy the experience. Don't get screwed up with gradings.
Andy's got it right - all grading is subjective and people do have different interpretations. I would have thought, no matter what "system" of grading is used, a Grade 4 would denote something more difficult than a Grade 3!!!
Thanks for the nice comments Darren. We've made a few changes to the mag this month so I hope people like it. I'm sure you'll all let me know if you don't...

Cameron - might I suggest that it would be possible to get well and truly screwed without gradings?!

As in, "hmmm, it's a bit windy up here on Scafell Pike; I'll just bob down that Broad Stand bit, it's only a scramble".

Oh, hang on though, that's already been done by that poet fella, hasn't it?!

I am so impressed with the new layouts, its a real improvement. Although if you're looking for constructive criticism maybe don't have it through the entire magazine. As for the scrambling I also loved the detail you went in to. I have seen the Curved Ridge described several times before 'in-depth specials' pointed out on a picture of the Buchaille as going up the left side. Thanks to you for showing exactly where it is. I'm off to read some more.