There are two rules to Alpine scrambling (probably more than two, but I haven’t learned them yet). The first one is to “find a line”—that is, find a route you can take without dying. One could use a detailed topographical map, but I have always regarded that as cheating. Scramblers should look for paths with minimal loose rock and avoid any vertical ascents of more than ten feet. Beware of slippery surfaces—slime- or ice-covered rocks—and use good judgment about placing one’s boots or, in my case, old sneakers. The second trick to scrambling is not to be deceived by the innocuousness of the
...more
