The total ascent is the number of meters you climb along your route (regardless of how many meters you descend). In other words, even if you arrive back at your starting point, the total ascent can be different from 0. This is not the case for the net ascent.
Difficulty level (relative) of total ascent
The difficulty level is expressed as 1/10 (very easy) to 10/10 (very difficult). 1/10 means that according to this criterion, this route is among the 10% easiest routes. 10/10 means that according to this criterion, this route is among the 10% most difficult routes (or that 90% of routes are easier than this one for this criterion).
Frequently asked questions
Your route is matched to an elevation model (i.e., overlaid on it). At the points where your route runs, the elevation at that position on the model is “read.”
But be careful! Both your route and the elevation model are not perfectly accurate down to the meter. Errors are typically 10–15 m. Suppose your route is off in one direction and the elevation model in the opposite direction — you can end up with a combined error of 20–30 m.
Imagine measuring the height of the road but 20 m next to it on a hill — you’ll often be too high or too low. If you keep adding up that effect, you’ll get an exaggerated elevation difference.
Since total ascent is the sum of all POSITIVE elevation differences, this results in quite an overestimation.