Colours do not mean difficulty. A short explanation of the system that confuses most beginners.
Colour is not difficulty
The most common misunderstanding in the Polish mountains. A trail’s colour marks its rank and course, not its difficulty. Red is usually the main ridge trail — yet it can be easier than a yellow access path.
The time on the signpost
The stated time assumes a marching pace with no breaks, for a person of average fitness in good weather. With children, or in winter, add at least half again.
When the marks disappear
The rule is simple: go back to the last mark you are sure of. Improvised shortcuts end with a call to mountain rescue more often than the statistics suggest.
- a doubled mark means a change of direction,
- a crossed-out mark means the end of the trail,
- marks are painted at eye level, on the right-hand side of the path.
Author
Sylwester Kusiak
