Brush makes hiking dangerous and strenuous. It conceals cliffs, loose rocks, and canyons, creating hazards; additionally, brush is a trap for ropes.
Brush grows in wet areas, low-latitude regions, and subalpine zones with sparse trees. Rivers that frequently change course are not conducive to large tree growth but are perfect for dense brush. In erosion valleys hit by winter avalanches, the brush is completely buried under snow, but come summer, it emerges unscathed, sprouting new buds.
Climbers prefer old-growth forests or open ridgelines over young forests. The dense foliage of old-growth forests blocks sunlight, suppressing brush growth. But young forests are riddled with brush. Forests destroyed by wildfires, storms, or logging regenerate with thick brush, which becomes especially troublesome when it grows up to seven meters (twenty feet) tall.
Trees blown down by wind, avalanche fans, and logging debris are even harder to get through. This tangled mess can slow your progress to a snail’s pace—it’s best to choose another route. Dense, intertwined fir trees clinging to cliffs and rocky areas form another obstacle.
If you must push through brush, the following methods can reduce the difficulty. Choose the shortest path through the brush. Walk on long, straight fallen logs. Push aside or pull back brush branches; step on lower branches, lift or hold onto higher ones to get through. On steep terrain, use sturdy branches as handholds.
However, avoiding brush altogether is the best strategy.Here are some tips for avoiding brush:
Use trails whenever possible—walking five miles on a trail is easier than crossing one mile of brush.
Consider traveling during seasons when brush is buried under snow. Some valleys are covered in ice and snow in May, making them easy to traverse, but by July, once the snow melts, you’ll have to hack your way through.
Avoid climbing along avalanche tracks. For long valleys, it’s better to take south-facing or west-facing slopes, where avalanches are less frequent. When climbing valley walls, cross through the forest between two avalanche tracks.
Aim for dense forests, as there’s usually less brush under large trees.
Walk on gravel or patchy snow, not the adjacent brush.
Look for game trails. Animals often find the easiest paths.
Choose ridge spurs or ridgelines—they’re drier and free of brush, while creek and valley bottoms are often full of it.
If one side of a creek is overgrown with brush, scout the other side to see if it’s easier to traverse.
If your route runs parallel to a creek, consider walking directly into the streambed. The creek bed may form a tunnel through brush piles, making it easier to walk through—but you’ll have to wade. A dry creek bed is ideal, but in deep canyons, the creek might be blocked by fallen trees or form waterfalls.
If your route runs parallel to a valley, consider climbing up to the treeline or ridgeline, choosing a path above the brush.
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