Have you ever climbed a mountain and, at a particularly steep point, had to use your hands to stabilise yourself on the terrain? If you answered yes, you’ve already been scrambling! Although chances are that this is on the lower end of the three scrambling grades.
But is scrambling dangerous?
Well, scrambling is an adventure sport mostly performed in really remote areas. This alone suggests that it could be a risky activity, but it doesn’t tell the full story. There is a common misconception that scrambling is safer than rock climbing because, while rock climbing, you’ll be traversing tougher and more technical terrain.
This isn’t the case. While you will take on more challenging routes while rock climbing, you will always have the appropriate safety gear. Scrambling, however, is often performed without any safety gear at all.
Enough observations; show me the data.
It’s difficult to quantify exact injury rates on specific hills because reliable data on visitor attendance doesn’t exist because the mountains are free to access. You can see through various mountain rescue organisations the frequency with which they are called out to assist stricken climbers, though.
Looking at the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation’s site, you can see that they responded to 51 incidents in 2023 on Tryfan alone. That works out to one rescue being coordinated a week, and that’s on only one mountain that, for the most part, is a grade 1 scramble.
What are the risks?
Well, there can be a lot if you’re not prepared. As I previously mentioned, scrambling is often performed with little or no protective equipment at all. This is because it is so much more accessible than rock climbing, so people think it is a good way to test the water with mountaineering. For the most part, they’re right; it is a brilliant way to get started with an incredible sport, but the risks can be seriously understated.
- Improper clothing: By nature, scrambling is performed in some really remote areas of the UK, often on quite exposed routes. So it can get really cold, really fast, or the weather in general can turn quickly and make a route much more dangerous during a climb.
- No experience: A lot of first-time scramblers will attempt a grade 1 scramble solo or with little experienced supervision. Even grade 1 scrambles can have some really technical sections with pretty drastic drops.
- No route research: I know from experience that it’s really easy to get lost on a mountain while intending to do a grade 1 scramble and end up at the foot of a grade 3. Thankfully, I could turn around; otherwise, I would have been seriously out of my depth.
- Fitness: Although there will be places to stop and catch your breath, scrambling is a tough physical exercise for the most part. If your fitness and strength aren’t up to scratch, you could get tired and be more likely to make mistakes.
- Getting lost: Scrambling guidebooks will always give an estimated time to complete a route, but these times always factor in sufficient experience. All it takes is for you to take the wrong route or freeze up for the estimated time to double. Always allow extra time to get down before it gets dark.
Enough faffing, Jake. What are the 5 rules to stay safe while scrambling?
If you can’t take a date, take a mate.
Everything is better when shared with someone you care about; the trials and tribulations will be so much sweeter with a friend or loved one. More to the point, however, this is someone to look out for you and someone to call for help if the worst comes to the worst. If you have no one who can come with you at all, make sure you tell someone where you’re going to climb and the route you’re going to take so they can call for help if they don’t hear from you.
Layer your clothing and prepare for the seasons.
This is true for all hiking and mountaineering; even in the UK’s pretty small mountains by worldwide standards, the weather can change at a moment’s notice. You should always layer your clothing so that you can easily add or remove a layer if you get too hot or cold. But regardless of the season and the weather forecast, you shouldn’t leave the house without a waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers set.
Wear good-quality boots with ankle support.
Scrambling is tough exercise, and sometimes on really steep and loose terrain, your footwear needs to meet these demands. Some people swear by trail runners for their flexibility and grip, and I recommend this for people who have serious experience. But for the average scrambler, I will always recommend good-quality walking boots with ankle support.
Plan and prepare.
To tell you the truth, this could probably make up all 5 rules, and I could never cover every aspect of this in a small paragraph. But you should really think about the route you’re going to take, research how to follow it with and without GPS, and also make some contingency plans. I will always have a charged phone with What3Words with me, so if something goes wrong, I can immediately tell Mountain Rescue where I am.
Please also remember to bring the appropriate safety gear for the grade you’re going to be tackling. If you’ve got no experience at all, the least you should bring is a helmet of some sort. If you’re hoping to tackle a grade 2 or 3, you should have ropes and harnesses with you.
Know your limitations.
The higher grades of scrambling really blur the line between what is a scramble and what is a rock climb. While you might be tempted to seek the tougher challenge, the greater the adrenaline rush and the more epic story for your friends, the mountain isn’t going anywhere. You can always return to the more technical routes when you have a wealth of experience behind you, and there are always going to be scrambles that are better suited for your skill level.
Even if you’re confident on your feet, start at grade 1’s and gradually work your way up to grade 2, and then finally, after taking a course, start looking into grade 3.
