Scrambling Basics that Every Hiker Should Know [Tips & Techniques]

All the important points are covered here. Thank you Chase! Scrambling is my playground, good workout love it!

Also it is important to know when to turn back. Off trail in the mountains its hard to gauge how steep things will get, and going up is easier and safer than trying to climb back down. Unless you are 100% sure you can continue on after a section of scrambling do NOT climb anything you would not be comfortable coming back down. False peaks can get you into a shitty situation!

Good tips - thanks! I live by "don't go up what you can't come down", even though it's prevented me from getting to a couple of summits over the years.

That going down the steep slope backwards thing is good advice. My father and I volunteer giving weekend tours in an old caboose, and there's a cupola up top. Meaning, a straight vertical climb into cush seats that look over the train. Keep an eye out for things. Every weekend we tell young and old alike to "go down backwards like a ladder" and we've thankfully never had anything more than a booboo in 25 years. Slowly going down backwards is often your safest bet. You might look like and anxious cat waddling back down a tree, but at least you're significantly less likely to fall.

Thank you. Even at 76 I keep running into these situations when doing photography. The last one was climbing the canyon wall at Chaco Canyon in New Mexico.

I got into a pretty sticky situation not so long ago where I didn’t expect the amount and the challenge scrambling can bring. I got to a point where going down was no longer possible and going up seemed equally scary and dangerous. I started to panic which made the stones and any movement seem even more challenging and dreadful. It was a great learning experience, it definitely thought me to respect the mountains. The experience now also prevents me from getting to a similar situation as I am simply avoiding or returning back anytime there’s scrambling involved until I gain confidence and a good technique!

Thanks for the tips! Was very helpful on my last hike up (and down!) some steep terrain.

This was super helpful! Thanks for making it.

Excellent video. Thanks for making and sharing.

Brilliant advice. Proper rookie here but learning. Thank you!

Very helpful video, thank you Chase!

Found this very useful. Thank you!!

Very good video. I just finished Emory Peak, Big Bend, Texas, USA. I wish I had seen this video before I did it. Serious scrambling at the very top but it all worked out well. Thanks.

Awesome video, great training tips.

Yes yes Chase, loved that mukka thank you very much an a happy weekend you an all bro 😀 😊 xxx

Thanks for this! I now want to practice this stuff first before So can both build my confidence and know my limits

This is very helpful. Thank you!

Very nicely done. I would add that the no-hands drill is also great going up hill. Too many people crawl up slopes when they could just stand up and walk up. Many of the slopes in this video included. Not only is crawling inefficient, but you greatly reduce the friction between your feet and the ground because you are taking weight off your feet, and you are generating a greater sliding force (that is to say more of your force is along the rock rather than directly into the rock). In fact I use the no-hands drill with climbers on top rope both when teaching rock climbing and when teaching ice climbing - it really is great for teaching people to use their feet, to better understand and improve balance and body positioning.

Love Montserrat! Great tips :)

Love this video