Crossing Snow Slopes
When moving through mountainous terrain, to avoid getting lost, conserve energy, and increase travel speed, you should try to use existing paths rather than cutting through forests or climbing over mountains, and take main roads instead of smaller trails. If there are no paths, you can choose to move along longitudinal mountain ridges, ridgelines, mountain slopes, edges of streams or small rivers, as well as areas with tall trees, sparse woods, large gaps, and low, thin grass. In general, avoid walking through deep valleys or gullies with complex terrain and areas densely covered with thick grass and intertwined vines and bamboo. Aim to traverse ridges rather than valleys, and move along longitudinal routes rather than crosswise.
Movement should follow the principle of taking long strides, even in mountainous terrain. If you increase your step length and cover two steps in the time it normally takes for three, you’ll take far fewer steps over dozens of kilometers, conserving a significant amount of energy. As the saying goes, “It’s better to go slow than to stop.” When fatigued, use relaxed, slow movement to rest rather than stopping entirely—standing still for a minute means you could have covered several dozen meters by walking slowly. In mountain walking, you will often encounter various rocky slopes and steep cliffs. Therefore, rock climbing is one of the core skills of mountaineering.
Before climbing rocks, carefully observe the rocks and cautiously assess their quality and degree of weathering, then determine the direction of ascent and the route to take. The most fundamental technique for rock climbing is the “three-point fixed” method, which requires good coordination between hands and feet. Fix either one hand and two feet or two feet and one hand, then move the remaining point to gradually shift your body's center of gravity upward. When using this method, avoid jumping up or charging ahead, and refrain from moving two contact points simultaneously. It is essential to be stable, light, and quick. Choose the most suitable distance and the most stable support points based on your own condition. Do not take overly large steps or grab or step on points that are too far away.
Grass slopes and scree slopes are among the most widely distributed terrains in mountains. Below an altitude of 3,000 meters, apart from cliffs, most of the terrain consists of grassy or scree slopes. For slopes under 30 degrees, you can climb directly upwards. Lean your body slightly forward, keep your entire foot flat on the ground, bend your knees, and position your feet in an outward V-shape. Avoid taking excessively large or fast steps. When the slope exceeds 30 degrees, climbing straight up becomes more difficult because the ankle joints can’t extend well, leading to fatigue. Moreover, on steeper slopes, loose rocks are prone to rolling, increasing the risk of slipping. Therefore, the “zigzag” ascent method is generally adopted. This means moving sideways across the slope in a zigzag pattern. While ascending, keep your legs slightly bent, lean your upper body forward, point the toes of your inner foot forward with the entire foot flat on the ground, and angle the toes of your outer foot slightly outward. When crossing grassy slopes, avoid randomly grabbing at tree branches or pulling on grasses to prevent breaking them and causing yourself to fall. On scree slopes, pay special attention to keeping your feet steady and lifting them lightly to prevent the rocks from shifting. If you accidentally slip while moving, immediately turn to face the slope, spread your arms, and straighten your legs (with your toes pointed up) to shift your body’s center of gravity upward as much as possible, thereby reducing the speed of the slide. This allows you to search for something to grab or use as support during the slide. Never sit facing outward, as doing so will not only accelerate your slide but also make it easier for you to tumble down on steeper inclines.
When traveling in the mountains during the rainy season, try to avoid low-lying areas such as valleys and streams to guard against flash floods and landslides. In case of thunderstorms, immediately seek shelter in nearby low-lying areas or dense shrubs. Do not hide under tall trees. Tall trees often attract lightning strikes, putting you at risk of being hit. When taking shelter from thunderstorms, temporarily store metal objects in an easily accessible place rather than carrying them on your person. You may also lie down in a low-lying area. In the mountains, if you encounter severe weather conditions such as snowstorms, heavy fog, or strong winds, you should halt your journey and take refuge under cliffs or in caves until the weather improves. Don’t overestimate your physical strength when traveling in the mountains. When tired, take a rest at the appropriate time. Don’t wait until you’re almost completely exhausted before resting, as it becomes harder to recover your stamina, and you’ll lack the energy to continue. The correct approach is to take a few long strides, then walk slowly and relaxed for a while, or stop and rest briefly to regulate your breathing. When standing to rest, do not remove your gear or backpack. You can prop a stick under your backpack to reduce the load on your body. In cold weather, avoid sitting on rocks to rest, as they quickly draw heat away from your body.
Climbing glaciers and snow slopes requires extra caution. Glaciers are full of crevasses, and the most dangerous ones are those in icefall zones and at the edges of mountain bases, especially hidden crevasses covered by snow. When crossing crevasses, travel in groups of several people, roped together, with about 10–12 meters between each person. The person leading the way should frequently probe the path ahead. Those following must step in the footprints of the person in front—this is much safer. When crossing ice bridges over crevasses, proceed by crawling.
When moving across snow slopes, not only should you watch out for crevasses, but also avoid stepping on unstable snow that might collapse. In areas where snowfields meet snow-covered slopes, the snow is often very deep, and group movement is essential. When crossing snow bridges, the leader should test their stability before proceeding. If the snow is soft and you must cross anyway, crawl. When ascending steep snow slopes, ensure both feet are firmly planted before moving. To take a step forward, press the front part of both feet into the snow to form a step, then move your rear foot. If you slip, immediately drop into a prone position to prevent sliding further.
When climbing glacier-covered snow slopes, avoid areas with many cracks. When traveling on snow, choose firmer sections. If you get hot, do not eat snow to quench your thirst—eating snow suddenly can cause throat inflammation. If you’re extremely thirsty, you may use melted snow to rinse your mouth, but try not to swallow it, as water increases the burden on your circulatory system and reduces stamina. When walking for long periods on soft snow, take large steps to shorten the time spent on the snow. Before lifting your foot to step forward, move it slightly backward first. Stepping back gives your snowshoe some room to move, and the forward step helps brush off attached snow. On steep slopes, step using the inner edge of your snowshoe and try to keep your body from leaning too far to the outer edge. When the snow is extremely hard and frozen, remove your snowshoes and walk.
When moving through valleys, stay close to the valley centerline to avoid falling rocks from the slopes. Do not approach cornices, and never walk beneath them, to prevent triggering avalanches.
Cornices extend downwind from ridgelines or cliff edges. The windward side has a gentler slope, which makes it easier for cornices to form; steep slopes around 45 degrees are less likely to develop them. Be especially cautious in areas with variable wind directions and varying slope angles along ridgeline sides. In high-altitude environments, avalanches are a major hazard. In May 1957, Ding Xingyou, the first mountaineering martyr of New China, died in an avalanche on Gongga Mountain. In January 1991, a 17-member Sino-Japanese joint mountaineering team was completely wiped out by an avalanche on Meili Snow Mountain, located between the Nujiang and Lancang rivers in northwestern Yunnan.
Avalanches can be triggered by sounds, vibrations, falling rocks or snow blocks, and wind action. Avalanches usually occur on slopes where small snowballs roll down, slopes with snow cracks, slopes with cornices, treeless slopes with angles of around 36–42 degrees, long slopes, convex slopes, slopes facing south or southwest, and areas where new snow covers old snow or where snow becomes loose due to rising temperatures. Generally, the day after new snowfall, if it’s sunny, avalanches tend to occur between 9–10 a.m. When passing through avalanche-prone areas, take precautions: loosen your straps in advance so you can quickly free your backpack or other gear to maintain mobility. Remove any snow goggles or hats that block your vision or hearing so you can spot early signs of an avalanche. Avoid crossing dangerous slopes laterally. Stay away from actions that produce sound or vibration, such as shooting. Also avoid impacts on the snow surface, such as falling.
If caught in an avalanche, vigorously swim-like movements repeatedly in the moving snow to try to float to the surface. Because your limbs may become immobile once the avalanche stops, do your best to stay above the snow while it’s still moving. Once buried, let your saliva flow out to see which direction it moves—this can help you determine whether you are upside down—and then try to free yourself.