| Mountain walking is divided into four techniques | | | | but normally scree slopes consist of the same size |
| dependent on the general formation of the terrain. | | | | particles. |
| Walking on hard ground,grassy slopes, scree slopes, | | | | If possible you should avoid ascending scree slopes |
| and tallus slopes. | | | | since they are difficult and tiring. All principles of |
| Hard ground. This is firmly packed dirt that does not | | | | ascending hard ground apply, but each step is chosen |
| give way under the weight of a climber's step. When | | | | carefully so that the foot does not slide down when |
| ascending, your knees must be locked on every step | | | | weight is placed on it. This is done by kicking in with |
| to rest the muscles of the legs. Steep slopes can be | | | | the toe of the upper foot so that a step is formed |
| traversed rather than climbing straight up. Turning at | | | | in the scree. After determining that the step is |
| the end of each traverse should be done by stepping | | | | stable, weight is transferred from the lower to the |
| off in the new direction with the uphill foot. This | | | | upper foot. This process is repeated. |
| prevents crossing the feet and possible loss of | | | | The best method for descending scree slopes is to |
| balance. In traversing, the full sole principle is used by | | | | come straight down the slope using a short shuffling |
| rolling the ankle away from the hill on each step. For | | | | step with the knees bent, back straight, feet pointed |
| small stretches, the herringbone step may be used, | | | | downhill, and heels dug in. When several climbers |
| ascending straight up a slope with the toes pointed | | | | descend a scree slope together, they should be as |
| out. A normal progression as the slope steepens | | | | close together as possible, one behind the other, |
| would be from walking straight up the slope, to a | | | | about an arms length apart. To prevent injury from |
| herringbone step, and then to a traverse on the | | | | dislodged rock. Scree slopes can be traversed using |
| steeper areas. | | | | the ice axe as a third point of contact. Always keep |
| When descending you should move straight down | | | | the axe on the uphill side. |
| the slope without traversing. Your back must be | | | | When the herring bone step is used to ascend scree, |
| straight and knees bent so they take up the shock | | | | the axe can be used by placing both hands on top of |
| of each step. Walking with a slight forward lean and | | | | it. The bottom, or point, of the axe is sunk into the |
| with feet in a normal position makes the descent | | | | scree, and the axe is used for balance. The climber |
| easier. | | | | uses the herringbone step up to the axe. The |
| Grassy slopes. They are usually composed of small | | | | tendency to run down a scree slope is to be avoided |
| tussocks of growth rather than one continuous field. | | | | so control is not lost. When the bottom of the route |
| In ascending, the upper side of each hummock, or | | | | cannot be seen, caution should be used since |
| tussock, is stepped on where the ground is more | | | | dropoffs may be encountered. |
| level than on the loer side. | | | | Talus slopes. Talus is a slope formed by an |
| When descending a grassy slope, a climber should | | | | accumulation of rock debris much larger than a man's |
| traverse because of the uneven nature of the | | | | fist. When walking in talus, wether ascending or |
| ground. You can easily build up too much speed and | | | | descending, always step on the top of and on the |
| fall if a direct descent is tried. The hop-skip step can | | | | uphill side of rocks. This requires the least amount of |
| be useful on this type of slope. In this technique the | | | | movement into the slope. Always use caution when |
| lower leg takes all of the weight, and the upper leg is | | | | moving in talus. Large rocks can be held in place by |
| used for balance. | | | | smaller keystones, disturbing them can cause |
| When traversing, the climber's uphill foot points in the | | | | rockslides. Climbers must stay in close columns whilst |
| direction of travel. The downhill foot points about 45 | | | | traversing. To prevent injuries, no member of the |
| degrees off the direction of travel. This maintains | | | | group traverses below another member. All other |
| maximum sole contact and prevents possible downhill | | | | basics apply. |
| ankle roll-out. | | | | These techniques are valuable precautions to learn in |
| Scree slopes. These consist of small rocks and gravel | | | | order to reduce the risk of the most common |
| that have collected below rock ridges and cliffs. | | | | mountaineering hazard - rockfall. Learnt and practised |
| Scree varies in size from grains of sand to the size | | | | to the point where they become second nature will |
| of a fist. Sometimes it occurs in mixtures of all sizes, | | | | make you a confident, and much safer, climber. |