Trip
Difficulty Rating System
Background:
Guide To Sea Kayaking Central & Northern California
Is an excellent guide book in itself, but it also has the best rating system I have seen. It lacks the mathematical "precision" of the Tsunami Ranger's system, and has some ambiguities. I think that is a plus because it is more intuitive to use and is a true reflection of the fact that rating trips is not a science because the accuracy is dependant on many factors which are out of the control (and sometimes knowledge) of the trip planner.
Roger & Jan also own and operate Eskape Sea Kayaking in Santa Cruz CA. You can buy the book through them and they offer training and other services as well.
The following was taken word-per-word from Roger Schumann and Jan Shriner's book:
"Trip Rating:
Not intended to replace good personal judgment and paddling experience, the trip rating suggestions are meant only as a general guideline to the level of skill recommended and distance involved for each route (or portion of route). This assumes a typical summer weather forecast with prevailing wind (and swell if applicable) coming out of the northwest and building in the afternoon. Paddlers may well need to adjust their plans during atypical conditions. Many normally protected coastal launch sites, for example, will lose some or all of that protection when swells approach out of the west or south.
Rating routes is problematic because sea conditions often vary drastically from day to day. Some areas can change from dead calm to deadly in a matter of hours, especially on the open coast. Even the most protected inland routes can become extremely challenging on a blustery afternoon. On the other hand, some open-coast areas that generally require advanced skills will sometimes be appropriate for beginners or intermediates on very calm days; however, we only recommend paddling such areas (as noted in the text) when accompanied by a more experienced paddler with the water reading skills to choose a conservative route -- and the rescue skills to get you back in your boat if you capsize anyway.
Beginner:
This part of the route is for someone with basic boat handling skills who is comfortable maneuvering on flatwater or light chop in winds to 10 knots. You've taken at least one class or have learned basic rescue techniques and are able to get back in your boat (or back on top of a sit-on-top) after capsize. You understand the basics of local weather patterns and water safety, and you can read a tide book so that you don't get stuck in the mud. Most beginner sections are enclosed in estuaries, rivers, and lakes near shorelines, offering landing access in case conditions worsen. Surf is generally nonexistent or less than 1 foot, and currents are not more than 1 or 2 knots. In addition to touring kayaks and sit-on-tops, appropriate boats for this level may include recreational or compact kayaks and canoes.
Intermediate:
This level is for those with enough skill and experience to handle choppy water comfortably in wind to 15 knots. You've probably taken a surf zone class and can launch and land through small surf, using side surfing and timing, and you might have even started kayak surfing. You have good braces, but you also practice rescues in open water and can recover from a capsize within two minutes in "real-life" conditions; you may be working on getting an Eskimo roll. Those paddling in San Francisco Bay or other tidally influenced areas have a basic understanding of kayak navigation and tidal currents: ability to read chart, compass and tide logs, and eddy hop. If paddling in coastal areas, you've done so with advanced paddlers to learn to avoid "boomers" and other hazards, and you have good sea sense, perhaps from your background in other ocean sports, for example, surfing, diving, or sail boarding. In areas we would label intermediate, you may launch or land in surf up to 3 feet, so helmets are strongly recommended. You may encounter ocean swells of 3 to 6 feet or currents to 3 knots and expect increased exposure to shorelines where landing access is limited, with 1 mile or more between beaches. Boat recommendations: Touring kayaks are suggested for day and overnight trips, but sit-on-tops may be ok for shorter sections. Recreational or compact kayaks and canoes are generally not appropriate or seaworthy enough for the rougher conditions you'll encounter.
Advanced:
Not only are you comfortable in rough water, you probably enjoy it, going out of your way to play around in surf, rock gardens, and tide rips. You have a good Eskimo roll and solid bracing and rough-water rescue skills. You have a firm grasp of navigation, strong water reading skills, and a well developed sea sense. Several of the advanced sections are the intermediate sections during rough conditions: when waves on the beach are 3 to 6 feet or more and wind is above 15 to 20 knots. Other advanced sections are remote and exposed, with several miles or more between landing beaches, or with beaches that require running a gauntlet of rocks in the surf zone. We've kept advanced level route descriptions intentionally vague: Advanced paddlers will need little more than directions to the parking lot, while those needing more details (such as what type of boat is appropriate) might consider going with more experienced paddlers."