# CAI scale and safety in the Madonie: T, E, EE, EEA, EAI > What T, E, EE, EEA and EAI mean on the CAI scale, how to read trail markings, what to bring and who to call in an emergency on Madonie trails. - Page: https://www.lemadonie.it/en/magazine/cai-scale-trail-difficulty/ - Updated: 2026-10-19 - Published: 2026-07-30 - Author: Redazione Le Madonie - Other languages: [Italiano](https://www.lemadonie.it/magazine/sicurezza-montagna.md) · [Español](https://www.lemadonie.it/es/revista/escala-cai-y-seguridad-dificultad-de-un-sendero.md) · [Français](https://www.lemadonie.it/fr/magazine/echelle-cai-securite-sentiers.md) · [Deutsch](https://www.lemadonie.it/de/magazin/cai-skala-und-sicherheit.md) The Italian Alpine Club (CAI) grades trails as T (tourist), E (hiking), EE (for experienced hikers) and EEA (via ferrata), plus EAI for snowshoe routes. This is the classification the CAI approved on 20 November 2021. In the Madonie almost all the trails on our pages are E. In an emergency call 112. **At a glance** - **T**: cart tracks, mule tracks, obvious paths, gentle gradients. - **E**: most trails, with steep sections and easy passages on rock. - **EE**: rough ground, steep or slippery slopes, exposed sections. - **EEA**: via ferrata routes, with harness, via ferrata set and helmet. - **EAI**: snowshoe outings, on three levels. - **Emergency**: 112, asking for medical rescue in a mountain environment. The operator passes the call to 118, which alerts the mountain rescue. ## The CAI scale in a table | Grade | Name | Example in the Madonie | |---|---|---| | T | tourist | Rocca di Cefalù | | E | hiking | Pizzo Carbonara, Bosco di Castelbuono | | EE | experienced hikers | Monte Quacella | | EEA | via ferrata | none on this site | | EAI | snow-covered terrain | snowshoe routes at Piano Battaglia | The examples come from our trail pages: the [Rocca di Cefalù](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/trails/the-rocca-di-cefalu-and-the-temple-of-diana/) is T, [Pizzo Carbonara](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/trails/pizzo-carbonara-from-piano-battaglia/) and the [Bosco di Castelbuono](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/trails/bosco-di-castelbuono-giant-hollies/) are E, [Monte Quacella](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/trails/monte-quacella/) is EE. All trails are under [Trails and walks](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/trails/). ## T, tourist For the CAI these are routes on cart tracks, mule tracks or obvious paths, with no doubts about direction, gentle gradients and modest height gain. You need basic hiking knowledge and some walking fitness. Suitable clothing and shoes are still required. In the Madonie the climb to the Rocca di Cefalù is T, on steps and paved path between medieval walls. ## E, hiking This is the most common category. For the CAI these are mule tracks, paths and sometimes faint tracks over varied ground: pasture, woodland floor, debris, scree. They are usually waymarked, may have steep sections and easy, non-exposed passages on rock where you use your hands for balance. They may cross flat stretches of lingering snow. You need a sense of direction, hiking experience and fitness, with particular attention to footwear. E does not mean easy for everyone. The Pizzo Carbonara loop is E, but according to our trail page it is about 7 km in 2 hours 30 without stops, on a karst plateau where landmarks disappear in fog. ## EE, for experienced hikers The CAI describes routes that are almost always waymarked but cross rough or treacherous ground: steep or slippery slopes of grass, small rocks, often unstable debris. They may have exposed sections, traverses, ledges and rock passages with slight technical difficulty. Proper via ferrata routes are excluded. You need excellent experience, route-finding skills, a sure foot, no fear of heights and good fitness. In the Madonie Monte Quacella is EE: steep slopes and scree, with a path that is hard to see in places. In fog or on wet ground choose another walk. ## EEA, via ferrata These are routes with rock sections fitted with cables, chains, ladders and rungs. They require certified protective equipment (harness, via ferrata set, helmet) and adequate technical skills. The CAI splits them into five grades: F (easy), PD (moderately difficult), D (difficult), MD (very difficult) and ED (extremely difficult). None of the trails we have published in the Madonie is a via ferrata. ## EAI, with snowshoes This is the grade for snowshoe outings, on slopes up to 25 degrees. The CAI divides it into three levels: - **EAI-F (easy)**: average slope under 10 degrees, height gain usually within 400 metres, no steep slopes above. Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe are recommended. - **EAI-PD (moderate)**: slopes between 10 and 15 degrees, with sections near slopes that can release avalanches. Transceiver, shovel and probe are essential, together with the ability to read the snow bulletin. - **EAI-D (difficult)**: slopes up to 25 degrees. Besides transceiver, shovel and probe, ice axe and crampons may be needed. In winter the Madonie also have an avalanche bulletin: Meteomont covers the Sicilian mountains and comes out every day at 2 pm. For snow at Piano Battaglia read our [guide to Piano Battaglia in winter](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/magazine/piano-battaglia-in-winter/) and our page on [safety on snow](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/snow/snow-safety/). ## What the grade does not tell you The CAI says it plainly: grading difficulty by objective criteria is impossible, because everyone perceives it through their own experience. The grade is about the terrain. It does not take into account the weather, the time you set off or how fit you feel that day. A real case. On 2 September 2023 a group left their campervans at the Battaglietta and in the late afternoon climbed Pizzo Carbonara, planning to come down in the dark. On the descent, on a steep off-trail section, a 65-year-old hiker fell and suffered a head injury. He was recovered by the Madonie team of the mountain rescue (BlogSicilia). The trail was an E. The difficulty came from the timing and from leaving the path. ## How to read CAI trail markings According to the CAI handbook on trail signage, there are two kinds of signs: - **Vertical signs**: the signposts at the start of the trail and at main junctions. The arrow-shaped sign shows the destination and the indicative walking time for an average hiker; it has a red tip and a red-white-red tail. The place sign gives the name and altitude of where you are. - **Painted marks**: white-red or red-white-red paint marks on stones and trees, confirming you are on the right path. The red-white-red ones may contain the trail number. CAI trails have a three-digit number: the first digit is the sector, the other two the trail. The Pizzo Carbonara loop, for example, is marked as 551 on OpenStreetMap, with the CAI section of Petralia Sottana as maintainer. If you find the sign "Sentiero per escursionisti esperti" (trail for experienced hikers) at the start, the route has mountaineering features: exposed, partly equipped, or very long in wild terrain. ## Typical risks in the Madonie The Madonie almost reach 2,000 metres: Pizzo Carbonara is 1,979, Pizzo Antenna Grande 1,977, Monte San Salvatore 1,912 (Ente Parco delle Madonie). These are the risks that matter most here. - **Fog**: on the Pizzo Carbonara plateau landmarks disappear quickly. If visibility drops, go back along the way you came. - **No water on the trails**: outside the tourist areas the park has no water points, refreshments or toilets (Ente Parco delle Madonie). - **Cold and wind up high**: the park reminds visitors that at higher altitudes the weather can change and the temperature drop quickly. - **Rocks and cliffs**: rock erodes and material can fall. Do not stop below cliffs (Ente Parco delle Madonie). - **Caves**: entering is forbidden, except for those signposted as points of interest and only along the marked route. - **Monumental trees**: in September 2026 the Ente Parco asked visitors not to linger at the foot of large trees, because dry or heavy branches can fall even without wind. During weather alerts entering the woods is forbidden. - **Wildlife control**: the Ente Parco publishes "danger zone" notices for days of wildlife control with firearms, from dawn to dusk, naming the areas involved. On 14 October 2026, for example, the notice covered five areas of Petralia Sottana. Check the notices section of the park website. - **Animals**: the park estimates between 1,500 and 3,000 wild pigs (wild boar and crosses with feral pigs) in the protected area. If you meet wild or grazing animals, do not approach them. - **Weather alerts and fires**: with an orange or red alert from the regional Civil Protection, specific guidelines apply to anyone out on the land. When there is a fire risk, the park asks people not to go hiking. ## What to bring The park recommends closed, comfortable hiking shoes: no heels, wedges, flip-flops or beach sandals. For the rest, this is our minimum list for an E trail: 1. Water: at least 2 litres each for a walk like Pizzo Carbonara. 2. Layers, a windproof jacket and a warm layer, even in summer. 3. A map downloaded to your phone, because it is easy to take the wrong forest track at junctions. 4. A charged phone and, if you can, a power bank. 5. A head torch, if there is any chance of getting back late. Before you go, check the [mountain forecast](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/weather/) and tell someone where you are going. ## What to do in an accident The European emergency number 112 is active in Sicily. The control centre for western Sicily, which answers for the provinces of Palermo, Trapani and Agrigento, opened on 21 May 2019 (Regional School Office for Sicily). For an accident on a trail, call 112 and say you need medical rescue in a mountain or rough environment. The operator follows the procedure for mountain areas and passes the call to the 118 control centre, which alerts the National Alpine and Cave Rescue Corps (CNSAS). This is the procedure given by the Sicilian Alpine and Cave Rescue. The CNSAS and the CAI also offer GeoResQ, a free app that sends an alarm to the mountain rescue with your position and route. An example of how a rescue goes in the Madonie. In May 2024 a 63-year-old hiker coming down from Pizzo Carbonara broke an ankle near Pizzo Scalonazzo. Two companions walked down to the Rifugio Marini and called the mountain rescue from there, which sent two teams from Petralia Sottana. They carried her on a stretcher for about a kilometre to the Piano Battaglia road (BlogSicilia). ## Rules of the Parco delle Madonie In June 2026 the Ente Parco published its list of prohibitions. In the park it is forbidden to: - pick, damage or take away plants or parts of them; - hunt or bring in weapons; - capture or disturb wild animals; - light fires; - camp or bivouac; - leave litter; - enter caves that are not signposted; - climb over or lean on fences; - walk through woods that have burned; - park outside car parks. Many areas of the park, even without fences, are private and may be closed to walkers. To learn about the area before you go there is the [Travel info](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/travel-info/) section. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does E mean on a trail? E stands for "escursionistico" (hiking) and is the most common grade on the CAI scale. It means paths, mule tracks or faint tracks, usually waymarked, which may have steep sections and easy, non-exposed passages on rock. You need route-finding skills, some experience, fitness and suitable shoes. ### What is the difference between E and EE? An EE trail crosses rough or treacherous ground, with steep or slippery slopes, unstable debris and sometimes exposed sections. It requires excellent experience, a sure foot and no fear of heights. An E trail stays on more regular ground with easy, non-exposed rock passages. ### What does EEA mean? EEA means via ferrata, routes with rock sections fitted with cables, chains and ladders. You need a certified harness, via ferrata set and helmet. The CAI grades them from F (easy) to ED (extremely difficult). ### What does EAI mean? EAI stands for snowshoe outings on snow-covered terrain, on slopes up to 25 degrees. It has three levels: easy, moderate and difficult. From the moderate level up, avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe are essential. ### Are there via ferrata routes in the Madonie? None of the trails published on this site is one. The most demanding routes on our pages are EE, such as Monte Quacella. ### What number do I call for mountain rescue in Sicily? 112. Explain that you need medical rescue in a mountain or rough environment: the operator passes the call to 118, which alerts the Alpine and Cave Rescue. In western Sicily 112 has been active since 21 May 2019. ### Can I camp in the Parco delle Madonie? The park rules forbid camping and bivouacking in the protected area, as well as fires. For a night up high there are mountain huts and other places to stay: you will find them under where to stay in the Madonie. ## Sources - [CAI, classification of routes by difficulty (resolution of 20 November 2021)](https://archivio.cai.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Classificazione-difficolt%C3%A0.pdf) - [CAI, hiking difficulty scale (earlier version)](https://mappe.regione.vda.it/MOBILE/Sentieri/documenti/scala_difficolta_esc_CAI.pdf) - [CAI, Quaderno di escursionismo n. 1, Sentieri: pianificazione, segnaletica e manutenzione (2010)](https://www.cai.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/8-1-Quaderno_1_2010.pdf) - [OpenStreetMap, relation of trail 551 to Pizzo Carbonara](https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/12927072) - [Ente Parco delle Madonie, visitor rules (PDF)](https://www.parcodellemadonie.it/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/Decalogo-parco-Madonie-Regole-per-la-fruizione.pdf) - [Ente Parco delle Madonie, list of prohibitions (27 June 2026)](https://www.parcodellemadonie.it/fruizione-del-parco-delle-madonie-elenco-dei-divieti/) - [Ente Parco delle Madonie, notice on monumental trees (12 September 2026)](https://www.parcodellemadonie.it/avviso-importante-per-gli-escursionisti-sicurezza-e-rispetto-degli-alberi-monumentali-nel-parco-delle-madonie/) - [Ente Parco delle Madonie, "danger zone" notice in Petralia Sottana (14 October 2026)](https://www.parcodellemadonie.it/zona-di-pericolo-attivita-di-controllo-fauna-con-armi-da-fuoco-non-inoltrarsi-petralia-sottana-mercoledi-14-ottobre-2026/) - [Ente Parco delle Madonie, wildlife management (wild pig estimate)](https://www.parcodellemadonie.it/gestione-fauna-selvatica/) - [Ente Parco delle Madonie, guidelines for orange and red weather alerts](https://www.parcodellemadonie.it/linee-guida-approvate-dal-segretariato-generale-dellautoritadi-bacino-con-d-s-g-n-174-2020-del-17-08-2020-condizioni-di-rischio-per-fenomeni-di-dissesto-naturali-e-allerta-meteo-arancione-e-rossa/) - [Ente Parco delle Madonie, L'ambiente naturale (peak altitudes)](https://www.parcodellemadonie.it/lambiente-naturale/) - [Aeronautica Militare, Meteomont service](https://www.meteoam.it/it/documentazione-tecnica/servizio-meteomont) - [Regional School Office for Sicily, NUE 112 training project (January 2025)](https://ag.usr.sicilia.it/download/1069/11754/11757/progetto-formativo-nue-112-per-le-scuole-agg-al-07_01_2025.pdf) - [GeoResQ, app of the CNSAS and the CAI](https://www.georesq.it/) - [BlogSicilia, night rescue on Pizzo Carbonara (3 September 2023)](https://www.blogsicilia.it/palermo/escursionista-cade-pizzo-carbonara-soccorso-notturno-madonie/914635/) - [BlogSicilia, rescue at Pizzo Scalonazzo (15 May 2024)](https://www.blogsicilia.it/palermo/escursionista-soccorsa-madonie-pizzo-scalonazzo/1013917/) --- Markdown version of the page https://www.lemadonie.it/en/magazine/cai-scale-trail-difficulty/, from Le Madonie (lemadonie.it), an independent guide to the Madonie. Facts with source and date of check.