Amount of planning required to account for rescue options, mobile phone reception, water supply, dangerous wildlife and natural hazards
The most critical of the five criteria determines the wilderness factor of a whole route or tour, i.e., only one criterium needs to be met.
Civilized Area
Typical examples: urban or suburban areas.
Mobile reception
Strong coverage everywhere
Evacuation/rescue options
Various quick evacuation options are possible including easy self-evacuation (examples: close to paved roads, medical staff on site, defibrillators installed)
Water supply
Sufficient, frequent fountains, small bottle sufficient
Wildlife
No dangerous wildlife
Natural hazards
None
Some planning necessary
Typical examples: Most Middle European forests and small mountains
Mobile reception
More than 70% of tour distance with mobile reception
Evacuation/rescue options
Self-evacuation possible but takes longer, rescue without helicopter possible but rescue not available on site (example: access with 4-wheel drive only)
Water supply
Limited, some fountains along the route, planning required of the amount of water that you carry
Wildlife
Dangerous wildlife can be met (e.g., venomous but not deadly snakes or spiders, lynx, wild boar)
Natural hazards
Some crossings of small seasonal rivers/creeks exist and have to be considered in periods of rain, snow melt or thunderstorms.
Careful preparation necessary
Typical examples: Remote areas of the alps, areas in the Rocky Mountains
Mobile reception
30-70% of tour distance with mobile reception
Evacuation/rescue options
Professional help required for efficient rescue (fastest way is a helicopter), self-evacuation too slow and too complicated
Water supply
Scarce, very few fountains along the route and maybe only towards the end, careful planning required of the amount of water that you carry
Wildlife
Life-threatening wildlife can rarely be met (e.g., grizzlies or brown bears, wolfs, deadly venomous snakes, spiders etc.)
Natural hazards
Many and wide seasonal river crossings to be considered
and/or
one or more crossings of permanent rivers that are dangerous in periods of high water (snow melt, thunderstorms, rain season)
and/or
zones with high probability of rock falls that, e.g., should not be crossed at certain times of the day, heat waves or during rain.
Professional plan-ning is prerequisite
Typical examples: Australian Outback, regions in Himalayas, Canyonlands, Alaska, …
Mobile reception
Less than 30% of tour distance with mobile reception
Evacuation/rescue options
Only way to get help is via helicopter, self evacuation would take several hours if at all possible
Water supply
None, you need to be self-sufficient with the water that you take along
Wildlife
Life-threatening wildlife can frequently be met (e.g., grizzlies or brown bears, wolfs, deadly venomous snakes, spiders etc.)
Natural hazards
One or more permanent river crossings that are always very dangerous,
and/or
passing through an area where it is mandatory to travel with a specialized guide (e.g., areas with active volcanoes or other natural hazards).