Rocking step, braking step, and the right body position: how to descend scree and rocky slopes safely instead of just slipping.
Why does the descent through scree hurt and wobble more than the climb up? The honest answer: because most people instinctively do it wrong. Leaning backward on the way down shifts your centre of gravity exactly toward the direction you slip. The correct technique is almost the opposite of your instinct — which is exactly why deliberate practice pays off.
Rocky slopes (Schrofen) — steep, rock-strewn terrain between a hiking trail and real climbing — and scree are the two surfaces that reveal whether you're really sure-footed or just practiced on the wide trail.
### 1. The basic rule: stay upright The most important principle for every descent: stay as upright as possible. Leaning into the slope or descending in a backward stance shifts your centre of gravity unfavourably and you slip more easily. Upper body slightly forward, knees slightly bent, rolling over heel, sole, and ball — that's the base for every surface type.
### 2. Scree: the rocking step On loose, medium-sized scree, the rocking step (Wiegeschritt) works: heels down into the scree first, knees and hips slightly bent, weight shifted slightly back, moving with the scree in short, brisk steps along the fall line. Sounds risky, but it's efficient: in deep, medium scree you can effectively "ride down" and cover many vertical meters quickly.
### 3. The braking step on firmer ground On slightly firmer scree, the braking step (Bremsschritt) gives you control: the near-straight leading leg lands heel-first while the trailing leg is actively brought forward — fast and energy-efficient. On very loose scree, controlled sliding is often more efficient than careful single-step walking.
Which of the two techniques fits is decided by the ground meter by meter, not by you in advance at a desk. Feel whether the scree under you gives way and slides along (then rocking step) or stays firm and grippy (then braking step), and switch flexibly between the two.
### 4. Rocky slopes: three descent options On steeper, rock-strewn terrain, you have three options depending on steepness: - Facing downhill (looking into the valley, back to the mountain) — the standard in more trackless terrain, because you see your footholds well. - Sideways — for moderate steepness, a good compromise of visibility and grip. - Facing the rock (front to the mountain) — for very steep terrain, when you need handholds.
In more trackless terrain, descending downhill along the fall line is usually the best choice, because you see your footholds best.
Poor descent technique is a direct risk factor: falls remain the leading cause of hiking accidents at 60%, and most of them happen going downhill, not up. Practice the technique on short, harmless scree fields first, before you need it at an exposed key passage. And: never walk directly below each other in scree in a group — dislodged stones will hit whoever follows.
Practice the rocking step deliberately on a harmless, flat scree field, where a fall costs nothing. Most people only try to apply the technique "properly" for the first time on steep, exposed terrain — which is exactly the wrong place to experiment. Practice on safe ground makes the difference at the real key passage.
### Why do I slip more on the way down than on the way up? Usually because you instinctively lean backward — that shifts your centre of gravity exactly in the direction you slip. The fix is counter-intuitive: stay upright, upper body slightly forward, knees loose.
### What's the difference between the rocking step and the braking step? The rocking step works on loose, medium-sized scree — you slide with the material in a controlled way. The braking step suits slightly firmer ground, with a near-straight leading leg landing heel-first. Both save energy compared to nervous, single-step walking.
### Downhill-facing, sideways, or facing the rock — how do I decide on rocky terrain? The steeper it gets, the more you face the rock for extra handholds. On moderate steepness with good visibility, downhill-facing or sideways is usually the better choice, because you see your footholds better. Decide meter by meter, not once for the whole passage.
### Do trekking poles really help in scree? Yes, they give you extra points of contact and security especially on unstable, exposed passages. Use them close to your body for balance, not as a full brake — otherwise a sudden give in the ground can pull your balance out from under you too.
Rockfall: Recognizing and Managing the Risk