I'm enjoying reading this thread for my own help as well.

I'm primarily a roadie gal and have been doing more trail riding lately. Going back out this week a repeat trip to a more advanced trail than what I have done previously. I thought the same thing... man, I really need to get into that little chain ring if I am going to ever make it up all the way!

Part of my problem is that I am too cautious on descending before the next incline. As my skilled mtb pal tells me, "momentum is your friend".

I find myself wanting to try and over steer my mtb also, like I would try to control my road bike, and it just doesn't work out.

Finally last ride when I hit some sand at the bottom of a hill, I let the bike do more steering than I did, combined with a wiggle dance, to roll through it, vs locking up like a stone, and crashing. I was so thrilled that it worked. Plus it gave me some extra speed to make it up.

When those little things happen, it just makes you want to ride more. Good luck tripling up to the top.