I'm thinking it's level 3 for some of the more obscure crags. BW 4 whenever you climb with ynot.
Difficulty Ratings
These apply to the "free" difficulties (no aid used) and range from BW1 to BW5, where BW stands for "bushwhack." Difficulty ratings apply to those areas of worst brush that can't be avoided.
BW1 Light brush. Travel mostly unimpeded, only occasional use of hands required (e.g. mature open forest).
BW2 Moderate brush. Occasional heavy patches. Pace slowed, frequent use of hands required.
BW3 Heavy brush. Hands needed constantly. Some loss of blood may occur due to scratches and cuts. Travel noticably hindered. Use of four-letter words at times.
BW4 Severe brush. Pace less than one mile per hour. Leather gloves and heavy clothing required to avoid loss of blood. Much profanity and mental anguish. Thick stands of brush requiring circumnavigation are encountered.
BW5 Extreme brush. Multiple hours needed to travel one mile. Full body armor desirable. Wounds to extremities likely, eye protection needed. Footing difficult due to lack of visibility. Loss of temper inevitable.
Aid Ratings
When artificial means are used to penetrate brush, then an aid rating should be used to describe the device required. These ratings range from BA1 to BA5, where BA stands for "brush aid":
BA1 Machete or sickle
BA2 Gas-powered weed-eater
BA3 Chainsaw
BA4 Agent orange
BA5 Bulldozer
I think BW3s about right for places like Dunkan and Hens Nest, although, most of the worthwhile trad approaches in the Red are pretty casual in comparison. Encountering BW4 is usually the first sign of being lost and the last straw for the ladies.
ha! I have resorted to short roping slower members of the party just to get them up slope. My daughter for one. getting lost trying to find hens nest the day after a rain comes to mind as a bw4. We found a different crag altogether. The idea of bringing a machette occured to me. would be sweet. Ky is a friggin jungle. jungle tactics seem appropriate.
"Everyone should have a plan for the zombie apocolipse" Courtney
pretty sure that rapping through a giant rhodo patch should be worth at least a BW 1. possibly a BW 2 if you get lowered onto one and it sticks you in the ass.