How to Conquer the Milk Crate Challenge

 Popular Mechanics:

Hurrying is the Greek tragedy of the milk crate challenge. Increasing velocity only worsens all of the factors that cause the stacks of crates to wobble and fall. While controlling movement and moving very slowly and evenly can lead to success, that requires someone to stay cool even if the stack below them starts to move. And that's just a really tough thing to ask when someone thinks they're about to plummet five or six feet to the ground.

Someone in the Popular Mechanics group chat asked why it seems harder to go down the crate stairs than up, which is also pretty simple to answer. Think about climbing up: you have one foot firmly planted, and that foot continues to hold most of your weight. You reach out with the other foot, which you plant firmly as you evenly lift your weight. It's about as sturdy as it gets.

Now, think about going down. Without the benefit of one firmly-planted foot supporting most of your body, your weight travels downward as you reach for a lower stair with your front foot. Your stable base on the way up has been replaced with one wobbling foot that isn't even fully planted on the step anymore.

So what's the best way to tackle the milk crate challenge? Stay as calm as possible and walk as slowly and methodically as you can.