Scrambling

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This article is about climbing steep slopes. For other uses, see Scramble.

Scrambling on Crib Goch, Snowdonia, Wales

Scrambling is a method of ascending rocky faces and ridges. It is an ambiguous term that lies somewhere between hillwalking and rock-climbing.See Terry Adby and Stuart Johnston, The Hillwalker's Guide to Mountaineering, (Milnthorpe:Cicerone, 2003), ISBN 1852843934, pp.62-65 for more on defining scrambles. It is often distinguished from hillwalking by defining a scramble as a route where hands must be used in the ascent. There is less to distinguish it from climbing, with many easy climbs sometimes referred to as difficult scrambles. Ropes may be necessary on harder scrambles, though sustained use of rope and belay probably counts as climbing. Alternatively, a distinction can be made in defining any ascent where hands are used to hold body weight, rather than just for balance, as a climb.

In the US, scrambling is Class 3 in the Yosemite Decimal System of climb difficulties. In the British system it is Easy with some of the harder scrambles incorporating moves of Mod or even Diff standard.

Many of the world's mountaintops may be reached by walking or scrambling up their least-steep side. These routes are not always obvious, but mountaineering books generally mention them; they are often used as the safe and easy way to descend from a more difficult route.

Some guide books on scrambling may rate the routes as follows:

easy — generally, just off-trail hiking with minimal exposure (if at all) and perhaps a handhold or two. UIAA Class I.
moderate — handholds frequently needed, possible exposure, route finding skills helpful. UIAA Class II.
difficult — almost constant handholds, fall distance may be fatal, route finding skills needed, loose and downsloping rock. Less experienced parties may consider using a rope for short sections. YDS class 3, 4 and possibly 5.

In the UK, Scrambles are usually rated using Ashton'sSteve Ashton, Scrambles in Snowdonia, (Cicerone Press, 1992), ISBN 1852840889 system of either Grade 1, 2, 3 or 3S (S for serious), with the grade being based around technical difficulty and exposure. The North Ridge of Tryfan in Snowdonia, or Striding Edge on Helvellyn in the Lake District, are classic Grade 1 scrambles. At the other end of the scale, Broad Stand on Sca Fell is usually considered Grade 3 or 3S. Note that some of the older Scottish guidebooks used a system of grades 1 to 5, leading to considerable confusion and variation over grades 1,2 and 3 in Scotland.

Notes

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