[pct-l] Stream crossings

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

On Jan 18, 2011, at 5:18 PM, Scott Williams wrote:

>  On one crossing Smiles and I went
> first, and about half way across, and chest deep, realized that it  
> was not a
> good place for anyone, and were able to holler back for the rest to  
> find a
> better place.  They backtracked and did find a better spot, but it  
> was still
> hairy.

One creek crossing I came to was over chest deep. The current carried  
me away as soon as I was hip deep. I ended up swimming. This creek  
was not on the PCT proper. My friends and I had decided to escape the  
snow in '09 and hike down the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. This was  
an absolutely stunning alternate route, but Piute Creek, on our way  
back to rejoin the PCT, was over my head. Placid, though, hence the  
swimming. Bear canisters make good floatation devices. I swam with my  
pack on. It floated me very well. I laid on my back and paddled across.

Back on the PCT itself, Stubblefield creek was also a swim for me and  
Falls Creek was a long 2 miles of off-trail travel until we could  
find a safe place to cross above the outflow of Tilden Lake. They  
should just put the trail on that side.

It took a really long time for my Data Book to dry out. Thank  
goodness I kept a journal on paper and pencil. It survived, too. I  
forgot about my journal and guide books when I stepped into these  
creeks. Everything else got secured inside my pack, but these I  
forgot and they were fully submerged. Twice.

I was so grateful to get out of the Sierra. I know most people really  
like it, but the excitement level was just too much for me. I prefer  
the quiet, contemplative walking in Northern California, Oregon and  
Washington.