Scrambling
What to expect
Scrambling up or over steep, rough terrain’s often more tiring than hillwalking or climbing. One reason for this is how much concentration it takes – you’ll be constantly assessing the terrain looking for contact points, and, unlike rock climbing, there’s no rope or harness to fall back on. With careful footing (and some observant friends), scrambling can be a fun way to explore.
Scrambling trails vary – many are marked and often staples, chains, and ropes to give you a helping hand on some of the toughest sections. You can use sites like AllTrails to check out routes and find other people’s experiences.
Fun facts
A. Poucher famously wrote scrambling guides – but he was also a chemist. Some of his other books were about perfume, cosmetics, and soap.
Handy hints
- Don’t buy all the equipment straight away. One of the best things about scrambling is that you don’t need any additional equipment to give lower-graded trails a go – if the weather’s warm and dry, all you’ll need is your hiking boots. Many brands offer specific products for scramblers, but it’s best to save your pennies until you need to splash out.
- Remember the grades can change. The scrambles with the lowest grades are the easiest – but even they can become challenging in wet or cold conditions. Many will be considered a higher-graded scramble during the winter. Make sure you do your research before you set out – can you find out about other people’s experience of the trail?
Safety
You must always:
- Complete a risk assessment
- Have the right ratios of number of adults to provide suitable supervision
- Set up an InTouch process
- Know what to do in an emergency
- Share information with parents and carers with an activity information form
- Get approval from your commissioner
Be safe outdoors:
- Check the weather forecast
Hill walking:
- When in terrain 1 or 2 always leave a route plan with someone responsible, and all party members must carry an emergency card.
- The terrain environments are defined in POR 9.12.7, check the definition before planning your activity.
- Keep within the specified party sizes.
Joint activities with other organisations:
- This activity can be run jointly with Girlguiding.
- This activity can be run with other organisations.
This activity can be led by you or someone else in Scouts:
The activity leader must have an adventurous activities permit with the right level and permissions for your group.
You don't need a permit for activities in Terrain Zero.
Where the group is entirely members over the age of 18 the permit scheme does not apply, please follow the rule 9.8 adult groups.
You can go to a centre or use an activity leader who is not part of Scouting:
You must find a suitable provider who meets the following requirements:- The centre/instructor should hold one of these: (If the provider is AALA exempt)
- Mountain Training - Mountain Instructor Award (MIA)
The provider must have public liability insurance.
Guidance
Reflection
Scrambling can be a really fun way to get active, but it’s not all about moving quickly. Slower scramblers are often safer as their careful steps don’t cause loose material to shift beneath them. What other benefits might come with slowing down? People could think about how it gives them time to think strategically or how it makes it easier to enjoy nature.
What other active skills did people use when scrambling? People might think about how the communication skills they use in team games were essential, or how the agility they practise in other adventures saved the day.
Scrambling can seem daunting at first, so well done to everyone who took the plunge and faced their fears to give it a go.
- Get in touch with whoever’s running the activity to chat through the needs of people in your group – make sure you give them plenty of notice. Choose routes that are suitable for everyone, and think about the terrain too.
- Think about how everyone will get to the start point of your hike – are there accessible public transport links, or is there suitable parking nearby? What about other facilities, such as accessible toilets?
- Head over to the British Mountaineering Council’s website to find our how to provide inclusive activities.
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
Once you’ve had some practise, challenge yourselves to complete a higher-graded trail.