Going up a trace (6)
I believe the answer is:
ascent
'going up' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'a trace' is the wordplay.
'trace' becomes 'scent'.
'a'+'scent'='ASCENT'
(Other definitions for ascent that I've seen before include "Stance (anag)" , "lift" , "Incline" , "Upward journey" , "Upward movement" .)