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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-AU link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoPlainText>>> I think the AWTGS is a reasonable starting point for a trail/track difficulty scale that's relevant to Australia.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>>> However, I wasn't clear whether Grade 5 was supposed to cover everything above Grade 4, or whether there were things harder than Grade 5.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>>> If the former, I'd think there would need to be a better way of breaking down Grade 5. Otherwise, it will cover too wide a range of walks from the slightly rough to the genuinely hair-raising<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>>> If the latter, then there's a gap at the harder end.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>>> Michael's categories below are also quite good (though I feel like the "push-chair/stroller" should be in the "elderly mother" category?!)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>>> cheers<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>>> Tom<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I think we should just stick with the AWTGS as it stands. It seems to be gaining widespread government support, and even if it is not perfect, it seems like a standard that is going to stay with us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I also don’t see any reason why it needs to be compared to the SAC scale. It is its own, self-contained Australian standard.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ian<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>