Rate your hiking ability

After hearing some hikers calling themselves "professional hiker", I have given a lot of thought to how people could possibly rate themselves as a hiker. I came up with 45 questions for you to answer to determine a final score that would show you where you fit in the "average hiker" or above/below. Enjoy the quiz. It's been fun.

I would like to say that some of the questions have more power than others. And some are even not counted in the final equation. But, please answer them all truthfully if you want an accurate rating compared to others taking the quiz. Thanks, fiddlehead

1. What is your age?
Under 18 Years Old
18 to 24 Years Old
25 to 30 Years Old
31 to 40 Years Old
41 to 50 Years Old
51 to 60 Years Old
Over 60 Years Old
2. What is your gender?
Male
Female
3. Do you own an ice ax?
Yes
No
4. Do you know how to self arrest?
Yes
No
I plan to learn before my next hike
I doubt i'll ever have to know
Yes, and I've had to use it in a real "combat" situation. (Combat meaning actual save while hiking)
5. Have you done a hike that doesn't have a guidebook, data book or town guide?
Yes, short hikes only
Yes, longer than 100 miles
Yes, i don't use guidebooks, only maps
No, but i don't use town guides.
No, I always hike with at least 2 of those
6. How many nights have you camped on snow. (in a tent or just sleeping in the snow)
0
1-5
5-15
15-30
30-100
more than 100
7. How much of your gear have you designed and/or made yourself?
none
designed one but had made
designed more than one but had made
designed and made one piece
designed and made more than one
designed and made my own sleeping bag/system
8. Do you have an active passport?
Yes
No
Expired within the last 3 years
Expired more than 10 years ago
Never had one
I filled up my last one and had to add pages
9. Have you hiked in other countries besides your native country?
No
Yes, Canada (for other than US as your native country, check if neighboring)
Yes, less than 100 miles
Yes 100-400 miles
Yes 300-1,000 miles
Yes more than 1,000 miles
10. How many countries (besides your own) have you hiked in? (at least 100 miles)
0
1
2
3
4
at least 5
11. Do you know (without looking it up) What the magnetic deviation is where you live?
Yes
No
12. Have you ever had to triangulate your position using map and compass?
Yes a few times
No
Yes, many times
13. Have you ever used a snow anchor to help set up your tent?
Yes
No
14. Have you ever carried any avalanche preventive or avalanche rescue gear while hiking?
Yes
No
15. Have you ever made a successful solar still to get water?
Yes
No
Made one but it didn't generate any water.
16. Have you ever slept with a hot water bottle to help stay warm at night?
Yes
No
17. Have you ever taken a college or university course in any of the following: astronomy, botany, geology, meteorology, photography
Yes
No
I taught one of those
18. Have you ever helped on a trail crew for more than a day
Yes I volunteered
Yes, i was paid
Yes, i organize one every year
No
19. Do you know how far a cow will wander away from water?
Yes, no more than 2-3 miles
Yes, up to 10-15 miles.
No, who cares?
20. Do you carry needle and thread (or dental floss for sewing, with a needle big enough to accept dental floss?)
Yes, both
Yes, i carry floss but no needle
No
21. Have you ever done any of the following?
Rock climbing lead climbing
Backcountry skiing overnight
Orienteering
Rock climbing top rope only.
2 or more of the above
No
22. Have you ever taken an on-trail rest day. (not near town)
No
Yes, many times
Yes, once
No, but i often stop and camp early if i see a beautiful spot
23. Have you ever forded a river? River in this case meaning stream crossing of at least 20 feet wide or more.
No
Yes
Yes, wider than 100 feet
Yes, deeper than your groin
Yes deeper and wider than both above
I had to swim across a river that was too deep to ford already
24. How many 14,000 peaks have you summited?
None
1-3
3-8
8-15
15-20
20+
25. How many nights have you camped (tented) above 12,000’? 14,000’?
Never
1-3 times
3-10 times
more than 10
above 14,000 feet more than 10
above 17,000 feet more than 10
26. How many sleeping bags do you own?
one
two
3
4 or more
4 or more (all Down)
3 (all Down)
27. Have you ever written a (published) guidebook or suggested changes to a published guidebook?
Yes, I wrote one
No
I sent an author of one suggestions
28. Have you ever started a fire without matches, lighter or already hot coals/fire? (flint & steel, bow drill, etc?)
Yes
No
Yes, and it was raining
29. Have you ever had hypothermia? Frostbite? Severe dehydration?
Yes, all of the above
Yes, at least one of the above
No
30. Have you ever been a guide for a raft company
Yes, guided for a raft company
Yes, was a paid fishing guide
Yes, was a paid hunting guide
No, not professionaly
Yes, I was a hiking (backpacking) guide (and got paid for it)
Yes, i had my own company
31. Have you ever done a ski/canoe/kayak/raft trip of more than 100 miles? (how many miles total?) (self supported kayak trips & skiing get special bonus points)
Yes, once
Yes, more than once
Yes, 200 miles +
Yes, self supported kayak trip more than 100 miles
No
32. Were you ever in the army infantry or Marine Corps? (special forces?)
Yes
No
33. Have you ever hiked a trail that you needed to carry a tide chart? (at least 3 day hike)
Yes
No
34. What’s the closest you ever came to a bear in the wild? A moose? An Elk? Grizzly bear?
8 feet or less
20 feet or less
8 feet for at least 3 of the above animals
20 feet for at least 3 of the above animals
100 feet for at least 3 of the above animals
Never saw any of those
35. What’s the longest stretch you’ve ever gone without resupply?
5 days
5-10 days
10-15 days
more than 15 days
Less than all of the above
36. What's the longest stretch you've hiked between water sources?
Less than 5 miles
5-10 miles
10-20 miles
20-30 miles
more than 30 miles
37. Do you own a dehydrator? Do you use it for hiking purposes?
Yes, i own one but haven't dried hiking food yet.
No
Yes, I use it mainly for drying my hiking food.
38. How old were you when you did your 1st overnight hike? How old are you now?
within 10 years of both questions
10-20 years between both
20-30 years between both
30-40 years between both
40 + years between both (I am old!)
I never did an overnight (yet)
39. How many trails have you hiked longer than 300 miles? (includes partial hikes but must be at least 300 miles at one go)
None
1-5
5-10
10-20
20-40
more than 40
40. How many trails have you hiked longer than 2,000 miles?
None
1
2
3
4-5
more than 5
41. How many years have you hiked a trail of at least 300 miles?
None
1
2-3
4-6
6-10
more than 10
42. How many miles of snow travel (can’t see the trail) have you done?
Less than 1
1-10
10-40
40-100
100-500
More than 500
43. How many miles of desert hiking have you done?
None
less than 100
100-500
500-1,000
more than 1,000
44. How many miles of high altitude hiking have you done (above 14,500’)
None
10-100
100-200
More than 200
45. How many continents have you hiked at least 100 miles on?
None
One (USA or home country)
2
3
4
5 or more
46. Have you completed any of the big 3? (in the USA)
No
Yes, the AT
Yes, the PCT
Yes, the CDT
Yes, at least 2 of the 3
Yes, I have completed the Triple Crown
47. Experience?
Generally section hiker with less than 1,000 miles
Generally section hiker with more than 1,000 miles
Thru-hiker with less than 1,000 miles
Thru-hiker with more than 1,000 miles
More than 3,000 miles
More than 10,000 miles
48. How many seasons a year do you generally hike?
summer only
spring, summer, fall
all 4 seasons
winter is my favorite but i hike anytime
I go to the southern hemisphere when it gets too cold at home
49. Do "Non-Pure" hikers bother you? Non-Pure meaning ones who skip around or don't do every mile of a long distance trail.
No (Hike Your Own Hike)
Yes, I hike the whole thing, why shouldn't they?
Yes, They bother me if they have a patch on their pack saying they did it, but skipped more than 20 miles.

1. What is your age?

Under 18 Years Old

18 to 24 Years Old

25 to 30 Years Old

31 to 40 Years Old

41 to 50 Years Old

51 to 60 Years Old

Over 60 Years Old

2. What is your gender?

Male

Female

3. Do you own an ice ax?

Yes

4. Do you know how to self arrest?

Yes

I plan to learn before my next hike

I doubt i'll ever have to know

Yes, and I've had to use it in a real "combat" situation. (Combat meaning actual save while hiking)

5. Have you done a hike that doesn't have a guidebook, data book or town guide?

Yes, short hikes only

Yes, longer than 100 miles

Yes, i don't use guidebooks, only maps

No, but i don't use town guides.

No, I always hike with at least 2 of those

6. How many nights have you camped on snow. (in a tent or just sleeping in the snow)

1-5

5-15

15-30

30-100

more than 100

7. How much of your gear have you designed and/or made yourself?

none

designed one but had made

designed more than one but had made

designed and made one piece

designed and made more than one

designed and made my own sleeping bag/system

8. Do you have an active passport?

Yes

Expired within the last 3 years

Expired more than 10 years ago

Never had one

I filled up my last one and had to add pages

9. Have you hiked in other countries besides your native country?

Yes, Canada (for other than US as your native country, check if neighboring)

Yes, less than 100 miles

Yes 100-400 miles

Yes 300-1,000 miles

Yes more than 1,000 miles

10. How many countries (besides your own) have you hiked in? (at least 100 miles)

at least 5

11. Do you know (without looking it up) What the magnetic deviation is where you live?

Yes

12. Have you ever had to triangulate your position using map and compass?

Yes a few times

Yes, many times

13. Have you ever used a snow anchor to help set up your tent?

Yes

14. Have you ever carried any avalanche preventive or avalanche rescue gear while hiking?

Yes

15. Have you ever made a successful solar still to get water?

Yes

Made one but it didn't generate any water.

16. Have you ever slept with a hot water bottle to help stay warm at night?

Yes

17. Have you ever taken a college or university course in any of the following: astronomy, botany, geology, meteorology, photography

Yes

I taught one of those

18. Have you ever helped on a trail crew for more than a day

Yes I volunteered

Yes, i was paid

Yes, i organize one every year

19. Do you know how far a cow will wander away from water?

Yes, no more than 2-3 miles

Yes, up to 10-15 miles.

No, who cares?

20. Do you carry needle and thread (or dental floss for sewing, with a needle big enough to accept dental floss?)

Yes, both

Yes, i carry floss but no needle

21. Have you ever done any of the following?

Rock climbing lead climbing

Backcountry skiing overnight

Orienteering

Rock climbing top rope only.

2 or more of the above

22. Have you ever taken an on-trail rest day. (not near town)

Yes, many times

Yes, once

No, but i often stop and camp early if i see a beautiful spot

23. Have you ever forded a river? River in this case meaning stream crossing of at least 20 feet wide or more.

Yes

Yes, wider than 100 feet

Yes, deeper than your groin

Yes deeper and wider than both above

I had to swim across a river that was too deep to ford already

24. How many 14,000 peaks have you summited?

None

1-3

3-8

8-15

15-20

20+

25. How many nights have you camped (tented) above 12,000’? 14,000’?

Never

1-3 times

3-10 times

more than 10

above 14,000 feet more than 10

above 17,000 feet more than 10

26. How many sleeping bags do you own?

one

two

4 or more

4 or more (all Down)

3 (all Down)

27. Have you ever written a (published) guidebook or suggested changes to a published guidebook?

Yes, I wrote one

I sent an author of one suggestions

28. Have you ever started a fire without matches, lighter or already hot coals/fire? (flint & steel, bow drill, etc?)

Yes

Yes, and it was raining

29. Have you ever had hypothermia? Frostbite? Severe dehydration?

Yes, all of the above

Yes, at least one of the above

30. Have you ever been a guide for a raft company

Yes, guided for a raft company

Yes, was a paid fishing guide

Yes, was a paid hunting guide

No, not professionaly

Yes, I was a hiking (backpacking) guide (and got paid for it)

Yes, i had my own company

31. Have you ever done a ski/canoe/kayak/raft trip of more than 100 miles? (how many miles total?) (self supported kayak trips & skiing get special bonus points)

Yes, once

Yes, more than once

Yes, 200 miles +

Yes, self supported kayak trip more than 100 miles

32. Were you ever in the army infantry or Marine Corps? (special forces?)

Yes

33. Have you ever hiked a trail that you needed to carry a tide chart? (at least 3 day hike)

Yes

34. What’s the closest you ever came to a bear in the wild? A moose? An Elk? Grizzly bear?

8 feet or less

20 feet or less

8 feet for at least 3 of the above animals

20 feet for at least 3 of the above animals

100 feet for at least 3 of the above animals

Never saw any of those

35. What’s the longest stretch you’ve ever gone without resupply?

5 days

5-10 days

10-15 days

more than 15 days

Less than all of the above

36. What's the longest stretch you've hiked between water sources?

Less than 5 miles

5-10 miles

10-20 miles

20-30 miles

more than 30 miles

37. Do you own a dehydrator? Do you use it for hiking purposes?

Yes, i own one but haven't dried hiking food yet.

Yes, I use it mainly for drying my hiking food.

38. How old were you when you did your 1st overnight hike? How old are you now?

within 10 years of both questions

10-20 years between both

20-30 years between both

30-40 years between both

40 + years between both (I am old!)

I never did an overnight (yet)

39. How many trails have you hiked longer than 300 miles? (includes partial hikes but must be at least 300 miles at one go)

None

1-5

5-10

10-20

20-40

more than 40

40. How many trails have you hiked longer than 2,000 miles?

None

4-5

more than 5

41. How many years have you hiked a trail of at least 300 miles?

None

2-3

4-6

6-10

more than 10

42. How many miles of snow travel (can’t see the trail) have you done?

Less than 1

1-10

10-40

40-100

100-500

More than 500

43. How many miles of desert hiking have you done?

None

less than 100

100-500

500-1,000

more than 1,000

44. How many miles of high altitude hiking have you done (above 14,500’)

None

10-100

100-200

More than 200

45. How many continents have you hiked at least 100 miles on?

None

One (USA or home country)

5 or more

46. Have you completed any of the big 3? (in the USA)

Yes, the AT

Yes, the PCT

Yes, the CDT

Yes, at least 2 of the 3

Yes, I have completed the Triple Crown

47. Experience?

Generally section hiker with less than 1,000 miles

Generally section hiker with more than 1,000 miles

Thru-hiker with less than 1,000 miles

Thru-hiker with more than 1,000 miles

More than 3,000 miles

More than 10,000 miles

48. How many seasons a year do you generally hike?

summer only

spring, summer, fall

all 4 seasons

winter is my favorite but i hike anytime

I go to the southern hemisphere when it gets too cold at home

49. Do "Non-Pure" hikers bother you? Non-Pure meaning ones who skip around or don't do every mile of a long distance trail.

No (Hike Your Own Hike)

Yes, I hike the whole thing, why shouldn't they?

Yes, They bother me if they have a patch on their pack saying they did it, but skipped more than 20 miles.

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