User:One half 3544/Alpine climbing routes
Simplest solution
If a route does not follow any existing features (e.g. is just in the middle of a mountain face), add a line with the following tags:
The line should end at the top (i.e. natural=peak).
More complicated approach
A route also follows existing features (ridge routes would naturally go along natural=ridge lines), add them all to a relation:
Example: 18111406
18111406
Most complicated approach / micro-mapping
Detailed route description is known and could be mapped (e.g. something like this), add detailed information to the individual lines/relation members:
Adding such description on top of an existing feature isn't desirable (why would a natural=ridge have a climbing tag added?), add it to a relation of route=alpine_climbing_section type and add all the specific tags there)
Open points/ideas/notes
- What about winter routes? Just adding e.g. climbing:grade:mixed=M5+ seems to be enough? What about overall grade change for winter conditions?
- Abseil - separate tags
- Pendulum swings - separate tags
- Are R_x points needed? If yes, how to tag them? (points with e.g. name=R_0 as a member of the relation?)
- overlapping with highway=path with sac_scale=t5 (climbing:grade:uiaa=1?) and sac_scale=t6 (climbing:grade:uiaa=2)
- bivouac sites
- rappel stations/abseil route
- approach paths
Questions
Q: Why not use sac_scale=*?
A: sac_scale is for hiking paths, where no belaying/rope usage is required. Alpine climbing generally starts when you need a rope. Also, hardest sac_scale=difficult_alpine_hiking only "includes climbing pitches up to UIAA grade II". Alpine climbing routes are generally above that grade and, although there could be easy sections (easy ridge with UIAA 1 difficulties for example), they aren't normally accessible by a hiking route.
Q: Why not just use highway=path for this?
A: No real paths exist where alpine climbers wander, so it would be tagging for the renderer