[pct-l] Bear Creek crossing 2010

[Edward Anderson]

Hi Ned,
 
You wrote:   " - - - the narrower your body's presentation to the current, the less you will be pushed downstream." That's why I have resorted to taking off my pants (putting my boots,with socks back on.)  This reduces your leg's resistance to the current, and therefore, the chance of being swept downstream. Also, your pants can be put at the top of your pack to stay dry, and your numb legs will have dry pants to warm them up. Of course, change to dry socks.
 
MendoRider-Hiker
 

________________________________
 From: "ned at mountaineducation.org" <ned at mountaineducation.org>
To: Paul Bodnar <paulbodnar at hotmail.com>; pct-L backcountry.net <pct-l at backcountry.net> 
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2012 11:39 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Bear Creek crossing 2010
  
Finally watched friend, Fuzzy Monkey, cross Bear Creek and here's just a 
piece of advice,

- extend your poles so they reach farther to broaden your base of support

- try not to bend at the waist looking for a place to put your next foot as 
this puts a lot of weight on your arms and takes your center of gravity off 
your feet

- be careful and go slow enough to guarantee that each pole plant is strong 
and predictable to hold what weight you need to put on it as you move the 
next foot. Notice that Fuzz's poles sometimes slip and he has to catch his 
balance before moving on. A slip is highly dangerous when everything you're 
balanced on is being pushed downstream!

- don't rely on twist-lock poles to not collapse when you have to make a 
sudden and heavy-handed emergency pole-plant mid-stream. Go with cam-lock 
designs.

- yes, wear your boots laced-up to protect your feet from injury as they 
"hunt-and-seek" around granite rocks for safe and flat foot placement 
locations. Avoid wedging your footwear between rocks...they may get stuck 
there and not move along with your foot!

- you may not be able to see where to put your feet, so you will have to 
learn how to "feel" your way across while remaining balanced!

- depending on the depth of the swift current and the length of your legs, 
the narrower your body's presentation to the current, the less you will be 
pushed downstream. (IMHO--there is much debate on this, so this is just one 
principle to keep in mind). Thus, when it is white and nasty and you can't 
wait for morning, cross facing the opposite bank and always have at least 
three points of contact under you at all times (two poles and one boot while 
moving). The creek or river may surge depending on current, rocks, and flow 
volume, so try to keep a triangle shape of these contacts (feet wide, poles 
wide to your sides and slightly ahead).

- expect your feet and legs to go numb.

- change socks on the other side, pour the water out of your boots, and 
start hiking again before your core gets cold. Expect to change socks again 
as the dry pair soaks up the water in your shoes. Thus, carry at least 3 
pair when crossing creeks and put the wet ones on top of your pack to dry as 
you hike on (hopefully in sunny conditions).

The subject of how to cross raging creeks is one of the things we address at 
the Kickoff's Mountain Safety seminar. Plan to attend!



"Just remember, Be Careful out there!"

Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
    P: 888-996-8333
    F: 530-541-1456
    C: 530-721-1551
    http://www.mountaineducation.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Bodnar" <paulbodnar at hotmail.com>
To: "pct-L backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2012 10:44 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Bear Creek crossing 2010


>
> Here is a link to a video of Fuzzy Monkey crossing Bear Creek at about 
> mile 868 in 2010.  Fuzzy Monkey shares an important lesson....
>
> http://thefuzzymonkey.net/?p=545
>
> Paul
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