[pct-l] [John Muir Trail] Creek Crossing Protocol

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

Mountain Education teaches this skill and many others of interest to new and seasoned High Sierra Hikers. With that in mind, we have to chime in on this one:

When it comes to crossing a nasty creek,

- STOP: Stop, Think, Observe, and Plan. What this means to you, the "early-season" hiker, is that you don't have to cross the creek where the trail does! Drop your pack, grab some food or drink and walk up or down the creek looking for a dry crossing (rock-hop, log-walk, or jump) or, at least, some portion of the thing where you can see the bottom and it is shallower than elsewhere. It is common to find upstream that the creek has split into smaller feeder creeks that are narrower and more easily crossed. Once on the other side, follow the creek back to the trail. Beware of slippery surfaces like moss, wet logs or boulders, gravel on larger boulders, and, obviously, ice or snow.

- Footwear: Protect your feet; they're all you have. It is common, again, to injure or cut your feet while crossing creeks bare-footed. Not an endorsed idea. Wearing footwear that does not completely protect the feet from damage while wedging between boulders or rocks submerged or from just banging into rocks while blindly hunting for a solid foot-fall or trying to stand on submerged rocks is just asking for trouble far from help. It is, also, common, to hurt your feet while crossing by stepping on something that sends pain up your leg. What this causes is a reaction where you have to suddenly remove and re-place your footing somewhere else as quickly as possible without loosing you balance and falling into the water. What you choose to protect your feet is your choice, but we cross in our traditional, leather hiking boots and change socks on the other side, then walk them dry, even on snow. Don't rely on any footwear that can be pried off when wedged between rocks.

- Third leg: When you move your feet through a strong current, the foot wants to move sideways as soon as it is lifted. For balance meanwhile, have a long, sturdy stick found from the forest, a long staff, or both your poles in two hands downstream as a third leg to lean on while searching and hunting for each foot placement. Remember, typical hiking poles can not take torsional stress and will break or bend. Sudden, stabbing placements of single poles bearing most of your weight in an emergency balance recovery movement may cause the pole to bend in the middle, or where it is the thinnest, and then you are done and probably wet, too.

- Grouping Up: It is seldom a bad idea to cross in pairs, holding each other side-by-side, using the other as the third leg, while searching for solid, predictable, and safe footing, then switch roles. This is the preferred method when crossing whitewater.

"Just remember, Be Careful out there!"

Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
1106A Ski Run Blvd
South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
    P: 888-996-8333
    F: 530-541-1456
    C: 530-721-1551
    http://www.mountaineducation.org