Walking up a steep hill? Use your angles.
The angleZigzag across the slope
Don't march straight up. Cross the slope at an angle and switch back. The grade you actually walk is the hill's grade times the cosine of your angle: turn 60° off straight-up and the climb feels half as steep, for about twice the distance.
The video for this angle is on its way.
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How to do it
- Find the fall line: the direction water would run straight down.
- Turn off it. Even 30–45° makes a difference you can feel.
- Walk to the edge of the open slope, then turn and cross back the other way.
- Keep short steps and a steady breath. Slower and longer beats fast and gassed.
- On marked trails, stay on the trail. Its switchbacks are your angles, already built.
Try it on a hill
Why it works
Your legs work against the vertical climb per step. Angling the path spreads the same climb over more steps, so each step lifts you less. Trail builders follow the same idea: the U.S. Forest Service's half rule says a trail should be no steeper than half the hillside it crosses.
Questions
Is it really easier, or just longer?
Both. Each step climbs less, so your heart rate and legs stay calmer. You walk farther, but most people get to the top sooner because they stop less.
Should I cut across switchbacks on a trail?
No. Shortcutting switchbacks erodes the hillside and damages the trail. Use your own angles only on open slopes without a trail.