Direct Answer
Ridge hazards are the exposed route sections where careful movement matters most. Every ridge tests endurance, so speed is less important than keeping the next step visible.
What Makes Ridges Dangerous
Ridges are different from open terrain in several ways:
- Narrower path. There is less room to correct a bad step or change direction.
- Exposed on both sides. The margin for error is smaller than on wider sections.
- Route reading is critical. Confirm the next foothold before committing.
- Weather hits harder here. Poor visibility on a ridge is more punishing than on open ground.
Ridges demand a different approach than the rest of the mountain. Speed matters less than precision.
Ridge Movement Checklist
Before and during every ridge section:
- Switch to climbing camera or first-person view before stepping onto the ridge
- Wipe the screen with C if there is any buildup
- Slow to a walk — running on a ridge gives no advantage if you misread the next step
- Read the next 2-3 moves before committing
- Watch for weather changes while crossing
- If visibility drops mid-ridge, stop, wipe the screen, and reassess
Common Ridge Mistakes
| Mistake | Why It Hurts | Better Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Running the ridge | Speed makes camera control harder and leaves no time to correct | Walk the whole section |
| Skipping the screen wipe | Buildup hides the next foothold on an already narrow path | Wipe before every ridge segment |
| Using default camera only | Default view may not show the ridge line clearly | Switch to climbing camera or first-person |
| Committing without reading the line | A wrong guess on a ridge is harder to recover from than on open ground | Stop and read before each move |
| Ignoring weather during the crossing | Conditions can shift mid-ridge, making the exit harder than the entry | Reassess visibility at the midpoint |
How Ridges Interact With Other Survival Pressures
- Ridge + Weather: Poor visibility is the most dangerous combination. Always wipe the screen before starting a ridge section.
- Ridge + Thin Air: Height pressure adds to the cost of every movement decision. Precision matters more, not less, on upper sections.
- Ridge + Endurance: Long ridges drain endurance steadily. Walking conserves more than running and keeps your camera stable.
What Not To Assume
This page does not define return behavior, damage values or exact ridge locations. Use it as a movement and visibility guide, then follow specific route pages for measured details.
FAQ
Why should I not run on ridges? Running makes camera control harder and reduces the time you have to react if the route changes. On a narrow ridge, that extra speed does not save enough time to justify the risk.
Which camera view works for ridges? Climbing camera and first-person view both give a clearer line of sight on narrow terrain. Try both to see which works better for you.
How do I know a ridge section is starting? The terrain narrows noticeably. Treat any section where the path constricts as a ridge approach and adjust your pace.
Can weather change while I am on a ridge? Yes. If visibility drops mid-ridge, stop, wipe the screen, and reassess before continuing.