Alpine Hiking Cheat Sheet

The key takeaways for beginners – read the SAC hiking scale correctly, descend scree safely, and manage rockfall and altitude risk.

Gear for alpine tours

Item	Priority	Tip
Boots	High	Category B/C with a stiff sole for T4–T5 – category D is only for glacier tours.
Helmet	High	Mandatory near rockfall or short climbing steps, not just an emergency spare in your pack.
Trekking poles	Medium	Choose ones that fold away fast – climbing steps need both hands free.

The alpine hiking scale

Know T1 to T6: SAC scale: T1–T3 is hiking, T4–T6 is alpine hiking – rated by the hardest single spot, not the average.
Colours on the signpost: Blue (T2) no fall risk, red (T3) possible cable sections, black (T4–T6) requires sure-footedness.
Factor in conditions: Rain, fog or old snow can quickly make a route a whole grade harder than rated.
Progress step by step: Once T3 feels safe, test the lower end of T4 first – don't jump straight to T5.

The 3 golden technique rules

Factor 1: Stay upright through scree and rubble

Concept: Leaning back shifts your centre of mass downhill exactly the way you slip – the most common cause of falls in scree and rubble. Tip: Lean your torso slightly forward, bend your knees. Loose scree: rocking steps (heels first, brisk). Firm ground: braking steps with an almost straight leg.

Factor 2: Stay centred on the ridge

Concept: A ridge offers no support on either side while wind hits you unchecked – that makes ridges harder than equally steep slopes. Tip: Keep your weight centred over both feet, knees slightly bent. On balance sections, plant both poles well ahead; stow them on very narrow spots.

Factor 3: Rockfall is not random

Concept: Risk rises after rain, freeze-thaw cycles and big temperature swings – warm afternoons are riskier than cold mornings. Tip: Cross exposed gullies early while frozen, move through briskly, no breaks. If rock falls: watch it, don't blindly bolt – step aside deliberately.

Judging the borderline cases

Topic	In short
Cable vs. via ferrata	Short single cables aren't a via ferrata – pulling up by hand is enough. A continuous cable with intermediate anchors: a set is mandatory.
Altitude sickness	Possible from 2,500 m, usually not before 4–6 hrs after arrival. Symptoms getting worse, not better: descend immediately.
Vertigo vs. fear of heights	Vertigo is normal – look at your next step, never at clouds or birds. If you freeze completely: get a guide, don't go it alone.

Safe on ridges and cable sections

Eye technique against vertigo: Focus on your next step, never down into the void or at clouds – vertigo is normal, not an illness.
Keep distance on the ridge: Leave enough space to the person ahead – otherwise one slip can drag several people down with it.
Plan for wind: Crouch lower in gusts, rest in sheltered spots – postpone a ridge traverse in a storm if needed.
Legs carry you, not arms: On a safety cable let your legs drive you, use your arms only for balance – otherwise you exhaust fast.

Pro tip: Progress in small steps: after solid T3 comes the lower end of T4, not straight to T5. And remember – a tour is always rated by its hardest single spot, never its average.