Switchbacks 101

“I just thought I'd bring this topic up, in case some aren't familiar with the purpose of switchbacks(this may or may not apply to non-Easterners).

Switchbacks, for those of you who don't know, are trails that zig-zag up steep sections of mountains. They may seem stupid to some, but their purpose is important.

For one thing, they keep the trail at a more consistent gradient, so hiker heels aren't cutting in unnecessarily to the trail, which cuts down on trail erosion. Also, the zig-zagging prevents gullies from forming, which, if you have seen steep uphill sections, happens during heavy rainfall - small rivers follow the trail, further eroding it.

Short-cutting switchbacks is considered bad hiking etiquette for these reasons. It may make your hike slightly longer(but also slightly easier) but think beyond yourself and realize the smallness of your efforts vs. the greatness of maintaining the trail integrity.

ok, off my soap-box...
I saw mention of short-cutting/trail-eroding on another thread and it seems, IMO, that many times it is just due to ignorance.

Happy Earth Days...”

“I agree!”

“Switchbacks, are they there for are own good, I think so.

D

uring my Philmont trek, on the last day there was a hill that we had to descend a pond to get back into camp. The hill wasn?t very steep, it was mostly yellowed grass, and had few to no rocks. The hill also had very long switchbacks; they went half way around the hill, and back. That half way around the hill was nearly one fourth of a mile, and when you got back to the descendent spot of where the switch back originated you where only 10 yards further down the mountain. I found this part of the hike the most mentally and emotionally draining, because every time we went to the north side of the hill we saw base camp, hot water showers, and the mess hall. Then as we proceeded along the trail downward to the south side of the ridge the luxuries of base camp where taken from are views by trees and shrubs. This hill was given the name, of ?Heart Break Ridge? because of that final days hike, of the several thousand switchbacks that got us nowhere.

Switchbacks are a very important need for the trails, and the hikers. They help preserve the trail, and they help the hiker ascend the mountain at a lower grade of climb. In most case the switchbacks are there for your own good, however some times they are just annoying. Like I have showing in my last paragraph, switchbacks are also miss used in areas that did not need them, or they where built in a way where they are useless.”

“If I catch one of my scouts short-cutting a switchback, I make him go to the bottom & start over. He also has to make a presentation to the others about why we have switchbacks, the environmental impact that can be caused by short-cutting, etc.

He'll usually only short-cut once. LOL.”

“Wander,
I am happy to see that you are putting great emphasis on cutting switchbacks. I have found that not only they are there for your one good, but the good of the trail, and future hikers of the trail.”

“Actually, cutting switchbacks is one of my major pet peeves. The ones that get me are when people cut up the trail 10 ft. before the end of the switchback. How freaking lazy is that!

A lot of the trails in the NW are switchback ridden. I never liked switchbacks until I hiked up to Lake Constance.
It didn't have any...It was straight up...and in poor weather, it becomes more of a health risk than healthy excercise.
Sometimes I will count the switchbacks so I know where I am on the return trip.”

“Thats a good idea, Mr. Switch.”

“Mr.Tea...we met some scouts on the trail this weekend getting ready for Philmont. They said they were told "if they could do that trail...they could survive Philmont".

Those "straight up tha hill" trails reeeaaally make you appreciate switchbacks!”

“Cows are about the laziest animals on earth. When cows walk up a hill they switchback. So -- when going uphill, switchbacks use less energy and are easier than straight up.”

“When I was ridgerunning, I met a lot of western hikers who had done the PCT and other western trails who were completely blown away by the AT and the LT. Switchbacks are almost unheard of here - the trail designers seem to take a perverse pleasure in taking one straight up the steepest part of any mountain. There are places where you can actually see that your next step is going to be about nose level! Lack of switchbacks, along with the heavy traffic, is probably one reason the trail is worn down well below grade in many spots. One of the parts of the job I liked most was putting in switchbacks on particularly bad sections and digging water bars to keep the trail from eroding.”

“I never short cut a switchback while hiking a trail but when I used to go Caving, the paths cut to the cave or pit usually went straight up the mountain. Those were some pretty challenging inclines.”

“Switchbacks are our friends. One trip up to Lake Constance with a full pack will make a believer out of anybody.”

“Friends eh?! Try some of the switchbacks in the Siskiyou Wilderness. Darn things switch back straight up hill. If you've ever been to Devil's Punchbowl, you know what I mean. ;)”

“CC: Be glad you didn't do that trail with 50 lbs. on your back. You would have liked it even better! Makes my calves cramp just thinkin' about it!”

“Good job, wanderer! :o)

Maybe if I had titled the thread "Nekkid, gun-toting, big-breasted, beer totin' babes on the trail" appropriate parties would have read this and gotten a clue...

alas, let the ignorance continue...
sigh...'tis so sad”

“I'll cut the switchbacks if I am on solid rock and can't see where I'll do damage.

I went up a steep section in Grand Canyon yesterday that has switchbacks now but didn't a few years back. It was amazing how much easier it was than when we had to scramble down loose slopes. I have to admit I miss the adventure of not-a-trail stuff though.”

“I switchback even when bushwhacking...

Ditto for steep snow chutes.



Try countin'em at "21 Switchbacks" in The Winds...



Contrary to popular belief, I've found the switchbacks vs straight uphills to be pretty much the same east or west - there are PLENTY of western trails that could use more (or less steep) switchbacks.

I think that the constant up down up down up down of the Appalachians makes them an overall tougher trek than the Rockies, tho.”

“But Amy! there are more posts here than on the Nekkid...”

“Who you callin ignorant, beeeyaaaatch!”

“I think a lot of the switchbacks out here in the west are too flat. I think the trails here are more designed towards horses than foot traffic.
I perfer the northern VT way of makeing trails, straight up and over anything in the way.”

“I've put this one up here before, and by now y'all are probably tired as sheeut hearin from good ole FZ, but here goes.

"Drop out of school before your mind rots from exposure to our mundane educational system."
- Frank Zappa

That one goes out to Ice Tea. Damn dude, yer school must really, really suck! I had to read each sentance about 3 times before I could understand it!”

“Could it be your reading skill, not Tea?s writing, that is the problem?”

“Reptiles is right. Horse travel interests dictate a lot about how trails in Idaho are built. The USFS, Fish and Game, and others use horses. They also design and maintain the trails.”

“Hey Amy... a lot of the posts may not be anywhere near on topic but yer lead over the Nekkid thread is increasing...

Mebbe people thought this thread was a follow up to the debate on funding for operations for transexuals??”

“Switchback is awesome...if you're Irish!”

“8D”