When to swap from walking poles to a short safety belay on steep grassy exits

On many of the coastal scrambles and upland peat slopes I walk, there's a moment when a comfortable rhythm with walking poles suddenly feels insufficient. You reach a steep grassy exit — a short, eroded band of turf above a gully or a cliff toe — and your poles chatter, slip or refuse to find purchase. That's the moment I start thinking about swapping the poles for a short safety belay. Knowing when and how to make that transition has kept me upright more times than I can count, and in this piece I'll share the practical cues, kit choices and simple techniques I use on Britain's wild edges.

Why poles can be a liability on steep grassy exits

Poles are brilliant for rhythm, load-sharing and balance on rolling terrain, muddy tracks and long descents. But on steep grass they can become a false sense of security. A few common failure modes to watch for:

Insufficient purchase: Poles rely on a planted tip — hard when the turf is wet, boggy or composed of thin, sliding topsoil.

Topple risk: If a pole tip slips forward it can pull you off-balance rather than arrest you.

Limited hand-to-hand use: Poles occupy both hands (or at least one) which reduces your ability to grab vegetation, roots or rock for a short, committed scramble.

On a wet summer day on the Gower cliffs I watched a friend plant a pole that punched through moss and slid, the sudden shift throwing them toward the edge. That was the clearest lesson: when the ground ceases to promise a solid pole plant, it's time to change tactics.

Signs it’s time to switch to a short belay

I look for a few simple cues before unclipping my poles and reaching for my harness or sling:

Angle and length of the exit: If the slope steepens to 35–50° for more than a couple of paces, poles are likely to fail.

Surface cohesion: Loose turf, tussocks with shallow roots, dry thatch over slippery rock, or saturated peat are all red flags.

Exposure and consequence: If a slip carries you toward a cliff edge, stream channel or rocky landing, favour a belay even for a short section.

Available anchor points: Presence of a tree root, exposed rock, fence post or sturdy boulder within reach makes the belay practical.

When two or more of these conditions are present I begin the swap. On a September walk across the Cairngorms I found myself facing a steep peat lip above a burn: wet, angular, and with a narrow ledge below. Poles were no use — I clipped my sling and made a short belay across the lip before breasting the slope.

Kit I carry for quick short belays

There’s no need for a full trad rack for these moves. My usual low-profile kit includes:

16–60cm tubular sling: Lightweight, versatile and long enough to extend around a trunk or block but short enough for controlled body positioning.

120cm runner or short dynamic cord (6–8mm): For extending anchors or threading around awkward features.

One locking carabiner: A small screwgate (e.g., Petzl Attache) or an automatic-locking carabiner for simple clipping.

Light harness (optional): For groups moving in exposed terrain I wear a lightweight harness (e.g., Petzl Altitude) clipped in for dignity and speed; for solo or casual hillwalking I often rely on the sling worn on my shoulder.

My approach is minimalist — enough to create a reliable hand/hip-level attachment that reduces the risk of a slide, not a full belay for multi-pitch climbing.

How I set a short safety belay — step by step

Here's the simple sequence I use when the slope demands extra security:

Stop and reassess: Face downhill and read the ground you’ve just ascended — identify a solid anchor (root, boulder, rock protrusion).

Remove or stow one pole: Slide one pole into your pack or attach it with a shock cord; keeping both hands free is important.

Wrap the sling: Thread the sling around the anchor and make a girth hitch or overhand loop so it sits snugly. If using a runner, extend it to avoid the anchor cutting into vegetation.

Clip in and weight-test: Clip the sling to your harness or directly to a locking carabiner and gently take your weight to ensure the anchor holds. Always test with a small lean — do not commit fully until it's reassuring.

Move one step at a time: Use your belay as a hand or hip rest rather than a full stop; it should reduce the chances of a long slide and let you focus on precise foot placements.

Remove and repack: Once past the hazard, unclip and stow the sling efficiently so it doesn’t tangle with your poles when you put them back into action.

Techniques for using the belay effectively

It’s not just about clipping in — how you use the belay matters:

Keep it low: A hip-level belay helps you undulate your centre of gravity and gives better control than a shoulder-high attachment.

Use friction to your advantage: Wrap the sling around a root twice if possible; the extra friction reduces shock if you slip.

Move consciously: Plant your feet deliberately. On grassy exits the best holds are often the edge of a turf clump or an underlying stone — try to avoid relying on vegetation that might tear away.

Communicate when in a group: Tell your companions when you’re setting up a belay and where to stand. A short belay can serve as an anchor point for others to clip in for the same section.

When not to use a belay — alternatives

There are times a belay isn’t appropriate or necessary. If the slope is short and well-vegetated, or if there’s a clear rock step to use as a handhold, I’ll simply ditch the poles and handhold the route without a sling. In other situations I’ll downclimb sideways, keeping my weight low and using the slope edge as a toe edge for purchase.

Training and practice

Switching swiftly and safely between poles and belays is a skill. I practise at home on slopes of low consequence: set up a sling around a park bench or tree and move through a grassy bank with poles in hand, stowing and clipping as you go. Familiarity with your kit — especially how quickly you can deploy a sling and clip a carabiner single-handed — will pay dividends when the ground is less forgiving.

On routes where I expect these sections I pack deliberately: poles with quick-locks that fold away, a short sling in an easily reachable pocket and a locking carabiner clipped to a shoulder strap. The aim is simple — make the swap smoothly, stay present and keep the choice proportionate to the hazard. Once you’ve done it a few times, swapping poles for a short safety belay becomes less a dramatic manoeuvre and more a quiet, confident bit of risk management on the wild edges we love to explore.