[pct-l] Rope for spring stream crossings

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

On Mar 31, 2011, at 8:10 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> Yes, and unbuckle you hip and chest straps so you can get out of  
> your pack
> in a real knock down situation.  Your pack can easily drown you.

Except that if you have a bear canister in your pack, leave yourself  
all strapped in. The bear can floats and so will you! I know, because  
I swam with my pack on fully strapped in and fully loaded. The bear  
can was like a bobber and I rowed myself to shore.

I break this rule even without the bear can. I'd rather have a steady  
load than one that might slip and throw me off balance because it's  
not strapped on. Quick release buckles can be easily snapped off  
should I fall.

Also, I think it was Johnathon Ley's PCT Journal where I saw a  
picture he took of a creek he could not cross. He took the picture in  
the evening and then again the next morning. It was significantly  
lower with new rocks showing for hopping across.