[pct-l] Mountain Stream Crossings Re: Mt Adams Stream Crossings

[George Mendonsa]

On  the PCT near Mt Hood the trail comes down to a stream that is fed by a 
glacier. The guide book recommended crossing in the morning, earlier the 
better. This is because  the water release  from glaciers slows down at 
night and builds up during the day. Such crossings (Anywhere - not just the 
PCT) should be approached with care, because upstream there can be ice dams 
with debre built up at night. In the mornining stream may appear to be low 
or slowly building up. The sun the  in the morning (and possible rains at 
higher elevation at night) can cause succeding higher up ice dams to fail. 
The combination of these succesive masses and momentum may may result in the 
first major clearing of the river or stream bed.  This can be catastrophic 
to the unwary person or vehicles near or on the "stream".  The problem is 
that you really can have no warning at all  except what may appear  to be, 
if any thing,  a slow increase in stream depth. When, BAM!, you and your 
pack (or vehicle ) are hit with a wall of water up to your neck or above and 
nowhere to go!

This is exactly what happen to a girlfriend of a  hiker that I met at the 
above crossing a couple of years ago. The hiker was mourning the loss of his 
girl friend from two years before whose body was swept two miles down 
stream.


Message ----- 
From: "Linda Rostad" <lindarostad at verizon.net>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2007 12:55 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Mt Adams Stream Crossings


> Several years ago I watched a stream near our camp go from nothing to a
> raging torrent. I heard a roar and watched a wall of water come down the
> stream in the early afternoon. It was a sight and sound I will never 
> forget.
> The power of nature! This stream was near the Lava Spring. Morning is the
> best time to cross. The glacier fed streams fill higher up in the hot sun,
> then come roaring down the mountain. This probably happens on other
> glaciated peaks in Washington.
>
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