Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 15:24:44 -0600 From: John Dodd Subject: More on water crossings & ropes OK, so here is what I know (or have been told) about river crossings. 1. The first thing you do is walk up and down the banks looking for the safest place. Knowledge of what is downstream is especially important, since you do not want to undertake a crossing with any risk whatsoever if you are not that far upstream from a falls, a dam or weir, a dangerous rapid, or other serious hazards like logjams and sweepers (trees with submerged branches that have fallen into the water.) Look for a place where you can have a long, safe swim if you happen to slip. Any water level above your knees with a forceful current should be considered hazardous. Rocky bottoms generally are easier to cross than sandy or muddy ones. 2. Loosen your pack so that you can shrug it off quickly if you do fall - - swimming with a pack is hard. Anyone who is knocked off balance and finds themselves being carried in the current should assume the "safe river position": legs and feet up and pointed downstream, lying on your back. Keeping your feet up prevents them being trapped in rocks below the surface (this is bad because then the current can push you over and with your foot trapped you will be held underwater; it may also break your leg). Keeping them up in front of you also allows you to use your legs to kick yourself away from boulders in the river. Use the backstroke to ferry yourself to the bank: Angle your body slightly with your head towards the shore you want to be on and start stroking and kicking. Look for eddies, but don't waste your strength trying to fight strong currents. Sometimes it is easier to go to the shore forty feet away through calmer water than the shore 5 feet away through swift water. The only exception to the "safe river position" is if you find yourself being swept uncontrollably into a logjam or a sweeper. This is to be avoided if at all possible. But if it happens, your best bet is to turn and swim hard AT the log and at the last moment put your hands on the log and try to lunge up on top of it - I'm told its a timing move. If you are swept underneath, there is a good chance that the branches under the water will simply hold you there. So what you're trying to do is go OVER, not UNDER. This is another good reason for losing your pack immediately if you swim. Sweepers and logjams are particularly common during high water and right after floods. 3. By yourself: Face upstream and put your walking stick out in front of you to form a braced tripod (your two legs and the walking stick.) Move sideways carefully, trying to keep two points braced while you move the third. Watch especially for sudden dropoffs. If you find one, go back and try a different section of the river. 4. With two or more people: you can expand on the tripod idea by having people lock arms over shoulders - the more brace points the better. Go side by side with two people; put the big strong person upstream if you've got three people. Alternatively, you can put people in a line, all facing upstream but one behind the other and bracing on the person in front. The people in front break the current for smaller people in back. Make sure everyone understands the plan and how people are going to move before you start out into the river. Practicing on shore is not a bad idea. 5. My understanding is that ropes are good. The trick is to NOT place them at a 90 degree angle across the river. If you do, then the rope sags and stretches downstream when you get out to the middle and you have to fight your way back upstream to continue across. So what you do is to set them at a 45 degree angle to the current, sloping downstream. That way the person doesn't have to fight any more current than they have to. For the rope trick, you want two big, strong people: one to get the rope across and the other to bring it over at the end. If either of them falls while hanging onto one end of the rope, then they should: a) lose their pack, b) flip over onto their back, feet pointing downstream, with the rope held in both hands against their chest (HELD, NOT WRAPPED!) and the line feeding back over their shoulder. The back of their head will break the current and make a little air space for them to breathe. If they are hanging on facing upstream and belly down, they break the current with their face (really hard to breathe) and they also tend to "porpoise" through the water. On their back, they will be much less likely to submerge. You don't have to haul them in, generally - just hold on. Usually what happens is that the current will pendulum them into the shore. If there is a swift current between them and the shore you may have to be a bit more active - either hauling, or letting them go downstream a little to a more congenial landing place (people on shore keeping a good tight hold on the line and not rushing and tripping on rocks or underbrush.) Whoever is holding the line on shore should ALSO not wrap the line around their wrist - it's tempting, but you don't want to get pulled in too if you lose your balance. Sid carlson@compusmart.ab.ca From: Brian Robinson Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2004 08:57:17 -0800 (PST) To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net Subject: Re: [pct-l] Early Season Fording Techniques? Every year is different, but the earlier you get into the Sierra, the higher the water. Evolution Creek is the first really bad spot. There's an option to cross in the meadow for those who prefer deep, slow water. Later crossings like Bear Creek and the creek in Kerrick Canyon have no choice but to cross in faster water. It's dangerous, but can be done with care. Trekking poles really help. Four points of contact with bottom is wonderful. Otherwise find a sturdy branch for a third leg. Unhitch your belly strap, especially if you don't have a quick release. You want to be able to get out of your pack to swim if need be. Don't carry your pack over your head to keep it dry unless you're crossing REALLY still water. I've dragged the bottom of my pack in the water. It creates extra drag, but you really need both arms to steady yourself and not get swept away. Make use of plastic bags inside and pack cameras etc high. Step between rocks, not on top. You MUST remain stable. If you slip off a rock into deeper water, you're a goner. Better to carefully step there first. Wear shoes! Traction is critical. If you can't find a gravelly place to cross, second best is to step between rocks, sometimes jamming your feet into tight places. You need shoes to protect your feet. If you're hiking in running shoes and shorts, ford as is. You don't have to stop on either side of the river and get eaten alive by mosquitos. You'll stay warmer walking and dry eventually. If you're wearing long pants that you want to keep dry, stop and take them off. Your legs are going to turn blue no matter what you're wearing. Better to keep your long pants dry. If you're wearing leather hiking boots, you have a choice. Wear them and hope they dry out eventually. Or ford in your camp shoes if they're sturdy enough. If in doubt, ford in your boots. This is a life-threatening situation. Taking off socks is an okay compromise, but I can't see it making all that much difference. Face the far bank when fording so the current runs parallel to your shoulders. People are more stable side to side than front to back. Keep your feet wide. Even though you're facing the far bank and trying to walk directly towards it, in swift water you'll end up travelling at an angle downstream. This is because each time you lift a leg or pole, the current catches it and you'll can't set it down directly ahead, try as you might. DON'T TURN INTO THE CURRENT. Keep your hips parallel to the current for stability. Plan ahead for the slow drift. Make sure there's an exit point downstream from the spot you're aiming for. Know you're going to get very cold and accept it. Take every step slowly and don't panic. At Evolution Creek, the crossing is so long you'll surely have numb feet. Don't worry, you'll thaw out. Be safe! Flyin' Brian