[pct-l] Just my opinion

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good evening, Steven,



One of the best preparations you can make for stream crossing is to find
some local creek or river and wade around sufficient to become comfortable
when doing so; preferably in the winter when the water is miserably cold and
the rocks are slick.  Wear your hiking shoes and start with ankle-deep
water, then progress to waist-deep water if you can.



The elements to address are the severe cold, the slick bottom footing, and
the feel of the current against the legs.
http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=265511
http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=167914<http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=265511>



I don’t know where you live, but the biggest risk might be the possibility
that neighbors or bystanders might call the cops.  I’m fortunate to live on
the west slopes of the Cascades where – any time of year – I can find
wild-water anywhere from ankle deep to stretches that are un-kayakable.



Steel-Eye

Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye<http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09>

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09


On Fri, Nov 12, 2010 at 5:19 PM, Steven dvsteven <dvsteven at hotmail.com>wrote:

>
> I've never met Ned, although I do look forward to in January.
>
> The classic an ounce of prevention seems to fit.
>
> The only things I worry about are snow and crossing streams (rivers?) in
> early spring.  Ned seems to be my first answer, fording streams are another
> question al together.
>
> Any ideas about learning to cross streams?
>
> Thanks for all the advice on this list.
>
> Steven
>
> On Wed, Nov 10, 2010 at 1:53 PM, <ned at mountaineducation.org> wrote:
>
> > I'm not sure, yet, what this thread is all about, but I'd like to add a
> > bit.
> > I am in the middle of weeding through 26,000 emails received while not
> > checking my account during a Search and Rescue training weekend this last
> > Saturday and Sunday. Many of the individual emails are multiplied
> hundreds
> > of times and corked up my mail something terrible. Took most of Monday to
> > upload them. Now to go through it all....
> >
> > Ok, as many have already said, it isn't the gear that will keep you alive
> > out on the early-summer snow, but what you know and how you execute it.
> > Durable gear and clothing certainly helps when you're miles or days from
> > any
> > trailhead, but just being aware that you will need to include it, like
> > traction devices or ice axes, once on the high and steep pitches of the
> > Sierra Passes is a major start to your hiking safety.
> >
> > Everything safety starts with your feet. Your balance is crucial on snow.
> > What you wear contributes to that predictability and certainty. You only
> > want to slip and slide when you want to and when you're ready for it,
> > otherwise you're in for a potentially wild, quick tumble down the slope
> > (ask
> > Calorie!). So figure out before your big thru hike what kind of footwear
> > works for you to maintain your balance and comfort while on snow and
> > crossing creeks. Boots work for us and we're out in the snow all winter
> > teaching Snow Skills Courses (they don't get wet, keep our feet warm, and
> > only freeze slightly if the temps drop to single digits).
> >
> > Traction devices, Yes, like Katoolas, just know how to identify the
> danger
> > ahead, stop and put them on (and grab the axe), before assuming that you
> > "will be ok" and just push on without them in place. You may not need
> them
> > at all, but safe is better than sorry (again, Calorie, are you out there?
> > Would you mind telling your story?).
> >
> > The ice axe is a must, but you've got to have practiced with it to know
> how
> > it works and what you have to do with your body to get its full benefit
> for
> > self-arrest deployment. Glissades are much safer with an axe as a rudder!
> >
> >
> >
> > "Just remember, Be Careful out there!"
>
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