How To Hike On Rocky Terrain

Hiking on rocky terrain can be a lot of fun, but it can also be intimidating to some people. If you're new to this sort of thing, don't worry, you get better the more you do it

Hiking on rocky ground requires you to have good balance, be good with your footing, be able to find a safe route, and confidence. These are vital for your safety.

Using Trekking Poles

Trekking poles will help you keep your balance hiking uphill or downhill on uneven ground. They also allow you to hike more efficiently by transferring the effort to other parts of the body.

Research has shown that while you feel that you are exerting less effort when you hike using trekking poles, you are in fact burning more calories than without them. Trekking poles also reduce the stress on your joints particularly the knees and ankles.

When descending with trekking poles on rocky terrain, walk slowly and test each rock before placing your full weight on it. Grip the pole securely but lightly to avoid jarring your wrist and keep your arms bent at about 90 degrees. Whenever possible, move one pole forward and step through with the leg opposite.

Scramble

When scrambling, trekking poles may not be of much use, so secure it well to your backpack. What does help is a good pair of hiking footwear with good traction.

If you expect to do some scrambling during the course of your hiking trip make sure that you use internal frame backpacks. They're closer to your body a makes it easier to maintain balance. To make it even better, pack heavier items at the bottom of your backpack close to your body.

When scrambling up rocks:

- Always maintain three points of contact with the rock.
- Test hand- and footholds before committing your weight.
- Keep your lower body close to the rock.
- Use your hands to help maintain your balance.
- Use your legs to support your weight.

Boulder Hopping

The basic principle of boulder hopping is to hop lightly from one boulder to another using your arms or trekking poles for balance while using speed and momentum to your advantage.

Keeping your backpack light will reduce the chances of your knees getting jarred. Looking ahead will help you plan your route. Keep your knees bent and relaxed and if you begin to lose your balance, continue forward and step lightly from foot to foot until you regain back your balance.

Scree
Scree is often found above the treeline of mountain slopes. It consists of small, fine rocks that slides underfoot especially with increasing slope angle.

When climbing scree, try to walk near the edge of the scree slope whenever possible. This is where you are likely to find large and stable boulders.

If you are forced to climb in the middle, look for larger rocks that may be wedged into the slope. They're less likely to slip when you put your full weight on them but be sure to test large rocks for stability by placing your weight on them gradually.

There are two ways to climb scree. You can climb with your feet splayed, putting weight on the instep of each boot. When you do this, you need to take small steps to reduce the chances of slipping.

You can also climb scree by keeping your bodyweight centered while you kick your boots nose first into the scree slope. It is important that you stay relaxed and prepared to steady yourself in case you slip.

Descending on scree can be exhilarating and fun. When you descend down a scree you let gravity do the work for you. You descend in a style that's half sliding and half jogging

To start the descent, launch yourself down the slope, starting with short gentle hops. At one point you then dig your heel into the slope and use your momentum to slide a short distance. If you lost your balance, steady yourself with your hands then keep moving. Try to relax as you descend down scree.