What Are Switchbacks in Hiking?
When you go hiking in mountainous areas, you’ll likely encounter a few switchbacks on your journey. If you’re new to backpacking, you might be wondering, “what are switchbacks in hiking”?
Below we’ll fill you in on what switchbacks are along with some tips for conquering them, so you’ll be prepared when you come across one on your next hike.
What Switchbacks Are In Hiking
What “switchbacks” in hiking are referring to is portions of a trail that zig zags up a steep hill or mountain side. When you walk on one, you take several passes back and forth while steadily going uphill. Eventually, you make it to the highest point without having to take on an intimidating and steep incline.
The alternative to a switchback would be trekking directly up the steep mountain side. This can be dangerous and tiring.
Switchbacks aren’t a new concept. This has been a hiking technique for ages. Many ancient trails include switchbacks to help people get up challenging climbs!
The Benefits of Switchbacks
The main benefit of a switchback is to make the climb up a hill less intense in terms of slope. Rather than trekking up a steep hillside, you walk on a more gradual incline. This does mean you are going uphill for longer, but it won’t be quite as grueling.
That’s not to say switchbacks make the ascent easy!
What are switchbacks in hiking main benefit? Keeping you safer. Soil is more likely to become loose and eroded on a steeper incline, putting you at greater risk of falling. This is especially true when it is raining or in the early spring.
Switchbacks also keep the trail and nearby vegetation in better condition. That same erosion that makes a steep hill dangerous for hikers is also harmful to the landscape. A trail going straight down a hill encourages water to run straight down on the same path. Over time, this erosion can cause a lot of damage. Switchbacks help disperse water as it travels down the side of the hill, limiting its negative effect on the forest.
Tips For Hiking Switchbacks
- Prepare Your Body – Switchbacks can really test your endurance. If you plan on taking a hike where switchbacks are plentiful, make sure you are conditioning your body for it ahead of time. Train your legs and knees by strength training, using a stair stepper, or walking on an incline.
- Adjust Distance – Switchbacks add distance to your hike…strenuous distance that takes longer to cover. If the trail you plan on taking has a lot of switchbacks, it might be a good idea to lower your mileage goals slightly.
- Don’t Cut Switchbacks – Please resist the urge to cut through switchbacks. Leaving the trail can damage vegetation and too much damage can lead to temporary trail closures and reroutes. Be a respectful hiker, and stay on the trail.
- Use Trekking Poles – Trekking poles can offer great assistance on inclines and declines, making them the perfect accessory for switchbacks in hiking. Check out our favorite trekking poles here.
- Wear Good Hiking Boots – Having proper footwear on your feet is always a good idea for hiking, but it’s especially important for switchback hiking. You’ll want comfortable boots with good traction to keep you stable.
- Make Sure Your Boots Fit – When you go uphill in a pair of boots that aren’t snug enough, your heel may slide around, causing friction and increasing your chances of getting painful blisters. On the other hand, a pair fit too snugly may also cause discomfort, blisters, and toenail damage. Check out our tips for evaluating your boot fit.
- Take Short Breaks – It’s tempting to want to push through and make it to the top all in one go, but sometimes you need to give your body some rest. On long sections of switchbacks, take a couple of short breaks water and gear adjustments.
- Go at Your Own Pace – Whether you’re hiking with a group or hiking alone, you’ll want to take long switchbacks at your own pace. Let people pass you if they need to and pass other people if you need to, so long as the trail is wide enough to do so safely. Keep in mind that people going uphill have the right of way, so step out of the way of others if you’re on your way down.
Conclusion
A lot of people who are new to the hobby ask what are switchbacks in hiking. Once they get a switchback or two under their belt, they’ll understand why some hikers hate them and others appreciate them. Regardless on your opinions around switchbacks, we can all agree on one thing – the journey up makes the view from the top that much sweeter!
Cover photo by Ian Liberry on Unsplash
