Good tips. My head was nodding the whole time. I would add that (1) sometimes the big ones move too and that's super scary and (2) it sometimes helps to step on two smaller boulders at once. I really enjoy boulderfields until I don't.
Shoutout to the trekking pole vault, so much fun :D This is one of the reasons i fell in love with trekking poles. They give me so much more reach. On decent, some big steps down can be really tough with a heavy pack, and not easy on the knees at all. Doing a pole-assisted step-down saves a ton of energy and is safer (often even faster!) than if doing it without poles. (sidenote: i love my trekking poles so much that I actually hung them on my wall, like swords in medival times :D).
I'd say do not stick to a predetermined course and constantly recalculate as routes become visible, always looking for the Easiest Path to that goal, generally on "Bridges of the friendly/ large Boulders." If you need to be working boulder fields for a long way I only use one trekking pole and switch it from one hand to the other as needed. Sometimes to use the pole and other times to free up a hand for using it directly on the rock, especially in huge boulders. . . . Love the balance tips! I try to incorporate balance into everyday movement whenever possible. . .knowing exactly what you are capable of, how far can you jump, what can you balance on. . . makes for fast fun & confident boulder hopping.
An injury I´ve often seen with not that experienced people is that you judge the distance to or the angle of the next point they jump to incorrectly, and end up half slipping off, half overextending their achilles tendon. You can borrow an exercise from parcour to better get used to judging distances if you notice a deficit there: you find yourself a slightly elevated object and then step/ jump on it from increasing distances. Once you determined the range you are comfortable with, you can start from random distances inside that range. Switch to different objects that maybe are rounded or slanted once that gets too easy.
2 ปีที่แล้ว +1
Great video! Boulder field crossings are one of my favourite parts of mountain trails. Yip, I'm crazy like that. Crossing a boulder field in low visibility is a total different kettle of fish than of a nice sunny day. Looking ahead for makers or cairns will be difficult and one has to stop more frequently and check progress. +1 for the walking pole vault. I tend to carry the poles in the downhill hand when crossing, as it it frees the uphill hand for better balance. Then some sections I resort to using the poles again for balance. It really depends on the lay of the rocks. As I use Leki poles I tend not to clip into the glove on boulder fields as a fall can either break the pole or cause injury to the forearm or wrist.
On any slippery trail, I find taking more smaller steps keeps me from being committed to any one step sticking (and being screwed if I've plonked all my weight down on a step that gives out). Keeps me looking and planning ahead, and while exercising judgement is still crucial, there's room for recovery from the inevitable surprises. Amongst big boulders it may be time to slow it all down, but in most scenarios I say crank that cadence up. (Think of those Boston Robotics robots and how they always run in place, giving them more opportunities to correct their balance.)
2:30 Tramped for 7 hours down a steepish unmarked rocky riverbed in the Ben Ohau Range, NZ which required constant looking down and surefooted judgment. That night I'd wake up numerous times after twitching and jerking my legs as I had dreamt 'tripping up over boulders". Weird!
Still have the scars from loosing balance and slipping into a hole, I was lucky not to break my leg. My tip would be to avoid boulder fields, especially in the rain!
Hehe, thank you so much for recognizing. Yeah it can be hard sometimes, I don't know why I always like the the things (like hiking for example) which force me out of my comfort zone. Have a wonderful day. Best wishes, Mario 🙏🤗😉
Try to enjoy the journey and finding your own way. It can feel so rewarding to make it well from one section of a boulder fielde to another big one or so. If you see it as an cumbersome obstacle it will be. Otherwise if you are to fast to really check the smaller ones or had to make a small jump, if the boulder moves, dont try to stop it just go with it and make a step onto another one if possible works well for most boulders that move. Atleast thats what im doing and it works well for me.
Definitely look ahead to plan where to go. If I have to step on smaller boulders, I look for ones that seem to be wedged so they're less likely to move. If the boulders are wet then I take it slow, take smaller steps, and aim for flat-topped rocks where possible. Personally I don't like using poles on boulder fields as the metal tips can skid off the surface really easily.
Great tips, i feel like this is hardly ever covered elsewhere. By the way I'm training for a role in the military and will need to adjust to life with massive loads (and no trekking poles, major adjustment for me as I love them) and needing to move on rough ground with hands occupied carrying a weapon. Appreciate this is not mainstream but would love to know if you have advice for these kinds of issues!
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Good tips. My head was nodding the whole time. I would add that (1) sometimes the big ones move too and that's super scary and (2) it sometimes helps to step on two smaller boulders at once. I really enjoy boulderfields until I don't.
Oh yeah, it's really heart stopping when the big ones move!
Shoutout to the trekking pole vault, so much fun :D
This is one of the reasons i fell in love with trekking poles. They give me so much more reach. On decent, some big steps down can be really tough with a heavy pack, and not easy on the knees at all. Doing a pole-assisted step-down saves a ton of energy and is safer (often even faster!) than if doing it without poles. (sidenote: i love my trekking poles so much that I actually hung them on my wall, like swords in medival times :D).
Best part of boulder fields. Always a rock to sit on
I'd say do not stick to a predetermined course and constantly recalculate as routes become visible, always looking for the Easiest Path to that goal, generally on "Bridges of the friendly/ large Boulders." If you need to be working boulder fields for a long way I only use one trekking pole and switch it from one hand to the other as needed. Sometimes to use the pole and other times to free up a hand for using it directly on the rock, especially in huge boulders. . . . Love the balance tips! I try to incorporate balance into everyday movement whenever possible. . .knowing exactly what you are capable of, how far can you jump, what can you balance on. . . makes for fast fun & confident boulder hopping.
An injury I´ve often seen with not that experienced people is that you judge the distance to or the angle of the next point they jump to incorrectly, and end up half slipping off, half overextending their achilles tendon. You can borrow an exercise from parcour to better get used to judging distances if you notice a deficit there: you find yourself a slightly elevated object and then step/ jump on it from increasing distances. Once you determined the range you are comfortable with, you can start from random distances inside that range. Switch to different objects that maybe are rounded or slanted once that gets too easy.
Great video!
Boulder field crossings are one of my favourite parts of mountain trails. Yip, I'm crazy like that.
Crossing a boulder field in low visibility is a total different kettle of fish than of a nice sunny day. Looking ahead for makers or cairns will be difficult and one has to stop more frequently and check progress.
+1 for the walking pole vault. I tend to carry the poles in the downhill hand when crossing, as it it frees the uphill hand for better balance. Then some sections I resort to using the poles again for balance. It really depends on the lay of the rocks.
As I use Leki poles I tend not to clip into the glove on boulder fields as a fall can either break the pole or cause injury to the forearm or wrist.
Good advise, I will try these techniques. I do love using my trecking poles when rock hopping down a mountain. Thank you!!!! Have a great day:)
On any slippery trail, I find taking more smaller steps keeps me from being committed to any one step sticking (and being screwed if I've plonked all my weight down on a step that gives out). Keeps me looking and planning ahead, and while exercising judgement is still crucial, there's room for recovery from the inevitable surprises. Amongst big boulders it may be time to slow it all down, but in most scenarios I say crank that cadence up. (Think of those Boston Robotics robots and how they always run in place, giving them more opportunities to correct their balance.)
Love it, love, love it…. keep ‘em coming Chase! 🥸
2:30 Tramped for 7 hours down a steepish unmarked rocky riverbed in the Ben Ohau Range, NZ which required constant looking down and surefooted judgment. That night I'd wake up numerous times after twitching and jerking my legs as I had dreamt 'tripping up over boulders". Weird!
Worst time I've had in a boulder field was when I dropped my spork at lunch and had to listen to it clink all the way down.
Gone forever
Thank you so much for the great tips!!
This is something that I really needed 😊
Still have the scars from loosing balance and slipping into a hole, I was lucky not to break my leg.
My tip would be to avoid boulder fields, especially in the rain!
Great tips mate! Will try them out on my next mountain hike. Hopefully, my ankle will hold next time ;) Stay safe out there. Best wishes, Mario
Mario! You animal! You must have one burley ankle. That makes you twice as brave as the rest of us. . .
Hehe, thank you so much for recognizing. Yeah it can be hard sometimes, I don't know why I always like the the things (like hiking for example) which force me out of my comfort zone. Have a wonderful day. Best wishes, Mario 🙏🤗😉
Great tips! Would love to see advice on hiking scree as well.
Oooh good one!
What are your boulder tips!?
Try to enjoy the journey and finding your own way. It can feel so rewarding to make it well from one section of a boulder fielde to another big one or so. If you see it as an cumbersome obstacle it will be. Otherwise if you are to fast to really check the smaller ones or had to make a small jump, if the boulder moves, dont try to stop it just go with it and make a step onto another one if possible works well for most boulders that move. Atleast thats what im doing and it works well for me.
You're forced to look down for long periods at rocks. Maybe stop sometimes to appreciate the view and the reason you're there in the first place?
Definitely look ahead to plan where to go. If I have to step on smaller boulders, I look for ones that seem to be wedged so they're less likely to move. If the boulders are wet then I take it slow, take smaller steps, and aim for flat-topped rocks where possible. Personally I don't like using poles on boulder fields as the metal tips can skid off the surface really easily.
Valuable suggestions 👍
memories from my gr10 hike come up. thanks...
Longs Peak boulderfield destroyed my knee for 2 seasons but took a year off and ready to run some 14ers!
Great tips, i feel like this is hardly ever covered elsewhere. By the way I'm training for a role in the military and will need to adjust to life with massive loads (and no trekking poles, major adjustment for me as I love them) and needing to move on rough ground with hands occupied carrying a weapon. Appreciate this is not mainstream but would love to know if you have advice for these kinds of issues!
Love mountaintops!
Please come to Indonesia , Rinjani mountain, and come to komodo dragon island
nice tips , whats that shose brand and model that you wearing?
th-cam.com/video/sSBohLoZHrU/w-d-xo.html
Altra Olympus th-cam.com/video/sSBohLoZHrU/w-d-xo.html
@@ChaseMountains thanks
thanks
Bro what kind of shoes are those?
th-cam.com/video/sSBohLoZHrU/w-d-xo.html
I'm currently transitioning to barefoot and like you i trail run. I'm seeing you're on regular trail shoes, don't you go barefoot? Thanks
This was filmed on the HRP, so not quite ready for barefoot for like 800km hahaha