Scramble Trips

Strenuous (S) and Technical (T) Scramble Ratings

Strenuous and technical difficulty ratings on the website range from 1 (easier) to 5 (challenging). This does not correspond to any other popular rating or class. These a separate rating created by The Mountaineers specifically for rating scrambles

Strenuous Level (S)

• An objective rating based solely on trip mileage and elevation gain

• Does not take into account the pace, terrain, temperature, etc.

• Most scrambles list the mileage and elevation gain, so you may be better off referencing those instead ▪ Examples:

  • • An S3 scramble on a 100F degree day may feel like an S5 trip

    • A really fast paced S3 scramble may feel like an S4 trip

Technical Level (T)

• A subjective rating based on the combination of the technical movement difficulty and the exposure ▪ Does not consider the route conditions (wet rocks, snow level, wind, visibility, ice, etc.) ▪ A fall with low exposure would not be serious, but a fall with high exposure would be disastrous ▪ One T4 scramble may seem easy to you but another T4 scramble may scare you

• • • A T3 rock scramble may be rated T4 if the rock happens to be wet

    • A T4 rock scramble could have hard technical moves 5 feet off the ground (high difficulty, low exposure) --A T4 rock scramble could be an easy trail along a very narrow ridge (low difficulty, high exposure)

Register for a Scramble

• Search for scrambles on The Mountaineers website:

  • • Mountaineers.org > Explore > Find Activities > "Scrambling" checkbox > On the trip listing click "Register" ▪ Each year there are 250–300 scrambles listed on the website

• Only sign up for scrambles within your level of ability

• Only sign up during the sign-up window, each trip listing displays when the window opens and closes ▪ Read the trip's online Leader Notes since some scrambles are only for specific participants ▪ You are able to sign up for scrambles with other Mountaineers branches

• Some trips fill up quickly, so if there's a trip you really want to do then put a reminder in your calendar for the sign-up time

• If a scramble is full then you can join the waitlist, very often participants will cancel and you'll get on the scramble, see the "FAQ" section of this handbook on waitlists

• Check the website often since scrambles are added daily and often with only a week's notice, see the "FAQ" section of this handbook on new trip email notifications

• Occasionally a scramble will be "Leader Permission Required" meaning you can't sign up until after you have written approval from the scramble leader, click the "Request Leader's Permission" link to send an email

Canceling from a Scramble

• Cancel off a trip as soon as possible, especially if there is a waitlist

• Canceling at the very last minute is inappropriate, only cancel last minute when absolutely necessary ▪ Never be a no-show, otherwise everyone will be waiting for you at the trailhead – multiple no-shows may jeopardize your future scramble signups

• Cancel off a trip if you're sick or have an injury which could limit you on the scramble, otherwise you may slow down the group too much or cause a group safety issue

• If the sign-up window is still open then cancel yourself by clicking "Cancel" on the trip listing ▪ If the sign-up window has closed then contact the scramble leader

Waitlists

• If a scramble is full then you can join the waitlist, very often participants will cancel and you will get on the scramble

• If you are on the waitlist then be prepared to go on the scramble because you may get onto the scramble at the very last minute

• If you're on a waitlist but can no longer go on the scramble, or you want to make other plans instead, then please cancel off the waitlist as soon as possible as a courtesy to the participants after you on the waitlist ▪ Check where you are on the waitlist in the Activities section of your profile

• If the scramble you want to get on is full then look for other scrambles happening on the same day, a peak you have never heard of may turn out to be a wonderful adventure

New trip email notifications

• Be among the first to know when a scramble leader lists a new scramble on the website by signing up to receive notifications

• One method is to join The Mountaineers google group and get a daily email containing new activities by clicking HERE.

• Another method is to install The Mountaineers phone app, which allows you to save custom searches and get notification for new activities