What is it called for the part of a hill where it discontinuously gets steeper?

That Spot on the Hill Where It Suddenly Gets Steep? Let’s Name It.

Ever been hiking and noticed that spot on a hill where it just… shoots up? You were strolling along, maybe even enjoying the view, and then BAM! Suddenly, you’re scrambling. What do you even call that place? Turns out, there isn’t one perfect, agreed-upon term, but we’ve got options.

The most straightforward way to describe it? A “break of slope.” Simple, right? It just means the slope… breaks. Makes sense. You might also hear it called a “slope break.” Same difference. It’s a general term, useful in all sorts of situations.

Now, if that steepening is serious, like “whoa, that’s a cliff” serious, then “escarpment” might be the word you’re looking for. Think of it as a mini-cliff, often marking the edge of something bigger, like a plateau. I remember hiking in the Shawangunks and coming across a few escarpments that definitely made me pause!

You could also just refer to the “flank” or “face” of the hill, which is basically just the side where things get steep. It’s not super specific, but it gets the point across. And sometimes, especially if you’re talking to someone in forestry or surveying, you might hear about the “toe” of the slope. That’s the bottom part, where the steep bit mellows out.

Of course, if it is a full-blown vertical drop, then “cliff” works just fine. Or, more generally, “mountainside” if you’re dealing with something on a grander scale. I even stumbled across the German term “Steilhang” once, which basically means “really steep hillside.” It’s not English, but it paints a pretty clear picture!

Here’s a slightly more technical way to think about it: slopes can be “convex” or “concave.” A convex slope is like a curve that gets steeper as you go down, while a concave slope gets gentler. So, that sudden steepening? It could be where a concave slope turns convex.

Then there’s “cuesta.” This is a cool one – it’s a hill with one gentle side and one super steep side. It usually happens when there’s a layer of tough rock on top.

So, what’s the right term? Well, it depends! How sudden is the change? How big is the steep part? What’s the geology like? If in doubt, just saying “a sudden increase in slope” is perfectly fine. The most important thing is that you’re clear and get your point across. Happy hiking!