[pct-l] Creek Crossings techniques for the current Thrus

[ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com]

The month of June in the Sierra is notorious for heavy snow-melt and dangerous creek crossings.

For the thru hiker, the major dangers are slip-and-falls on snow/ice while on climbs and descents, injuries while post-holing, and creek crossings. Much has been said about snowshoes, ice axes, and self-arrest techniques, but little is mentioned about creek crossing skills and techniques. Though we spend much of our time teaching winter/spring snow camping and travel techniques, we have gone out to the trail above Kennedy Meadows to meet the "herd" and teach such techniques. 

The technique you choose to cross a dangerous creek is yours, alone, at that time and based on the conditions before you. We do not advocate one or another of these choices, rather, hope to empower you with their listing, thereby not assuming any responsibility for your actions, Here is a brief synopsis to keep in your head when making crossing decisions:


-  Do not feel that you have to cross where the trail does!
-  Drop your pack and search the creek above and below the trail crossing for several hundred feet looking for safer routes across.
-  Take your time. Don't be in a hurry for time, here. Consider grabbing a bite to eat while you search, maybe lunch in the sun beside the creek?
-  Keep in mind where the trail goes on the other side before crossing. When you get there, you'll know how to re-find the trail.
-  If the creek is fed by snow-melt, it will be deeper and faster during the afternoon heat. Consider crossing in the morning.
-  If it is cold and there is no sun and the crossing looks formidable and nasty, consider waiting for others (if alone) or for more sun (read on).
-  If you can't wait, travel further up-stream to find a narrower spot that is less risky. You don't want to risk getting wet on a cold, sun-less day.

-  Look for the following:
-  Narrow spots where you can jump across. Beware of your landing and your balance with packs on.
-  Boulders you can hop across on. If the route is risky, look, also, for branches you can hold onto for balance. Beware of slippery, wet rocks, perhaps in the shade.
-  Logs you can walk on to cross the creek. Beware if they move or are slippery from spray or moss. Test first.
-  Calm-water, sandy-bottom, shallow, rock-free, short-distance crossing spots you can wade through. Since these immersion-style crossings aren't the norm, consider the following:

--For swift-water group crossings:
--whenever possible, cross in groups of 2 or 3, packs loose, arms linked together, hands holding belts, and facing the other side.
---be able to see the bottom (choose routes free of white water, if possible).
---keep your boots on so your feet don't get hurt.
---step between the rocks.
---do not start from nor end at a concave bend in the creek where the current is faster and deeper.
---constantly talk with each other to coordinate who is moving while the rest brace.

--For swift-water solo crossings:
---if you are alone and know there are others nearby, wait for them to catch up.
---if you must cross alone, use your poles as 3rd and 4th legs for balance against the current. Combine your poles or use separately.
---plan your attack, how you will maintain that balance. Legs and feet get very cold very quickly making for hasty decisions should direction or balance come into question.  Get through it as fast as you can, but don't be hasty.
---if you question the strength of your poles for down-stream support or that they may suddenly collapse, look for a choice dead branch to use as your 3rd leg. Test it out for shock strength before entering the water (bang it on the ground a few times on and against its axis).
---move your poles or stick only when you are certain you can maintain your balance on your feet. Move a foot at a time only once you are certain your other two contacts with the creek bottom won't move.

Once on the other side, assist/advise every one else to get across, then put on dry clothing and socks, boot back up, and immediately get going to create heat. If it's a nice day, take the time to grab a bite to eat in the sun beside the creek, if you haven't already (helps to give you energy to warm back up).

If you loose your balance and find yourself fully immersed in the icy water, jettison your pack and keep your head above the water. Swim across when you're not avoiding boulders. In the white water, float feet-first so you can see the rocks coming. Try to avoid or vault over them using your hands and feet. Work your way to the shore.

If the water isn't that deep nor fast-moving and you just lost your balance and got thoroughly wet, get back up as best you can and flounder to shore. Try not to fall again. You now have to do many things at once. Are you injured? Find out if you have any dry clothes and put them on. Get the help of others to get and keep you warm, maybe a tent needs to be pitched to get you out of the wind or a stove started to put warm fluids onboard. Drain your pack spread out all your stuff, especially the food. Assess damage. Clothing will dry out but food and fuel may be lost. 

If you are alone, this may become a crisis situation even after you survive the crossing due to hypothermic conditions. Get into the sun, strip off all wet clothes, and do exercises to warm up and dry out. If there is no sun, you have to create your own heat by muscle activity. Do what you must to get warm. Cry out for help. Find someone who can start a fire, pitch a tent, and provide a sleeping bag for you to get into. Fire up a stove and get warm food and fluids into you, too. This must all happen fast. If you start shivering, your time is limited. If you have no resources at all, it is either time to run, to find help (this is when you need to know in your head where the trail goes and where people may likely be, at other lakes, toward trailheads, on main trails, and go that way) and to create heat, or do vigorous exercises while waiting for others to come along.


For the most part, creek crossings aren't too risky. If you take the time to search for the easiest route across, not the first easier one, you will find one that is acceptable and your hike will continue safe and happy. 

Be safe out there!

Mtnned