[pct-l] Early Season Fording Techniques?

[m.karon at comcast.net (Marshall Karon)]

Those were my concerns too. I really dreaded the high, cold water. Well, it
was not a problem in 2000! Two weeks earlier, maybe. Or maybe in another
year.

Here is the thing. It is normally really hot out. You are hiking in shorts.
The sun is blazing. And, your adrenalin is pumping. So, you have a rather
quick, wet adventure. Or make that several quick adventures. Some folks
change shoes (I did, but that takes time). Others just go in and let the
shoes dry as you hike. Definitely do not go barefoot. You want some
traction. Also, I found that a tennis shoe kept my feet warmer.

Evolution is the only place where the stream may be chest deep - slow, but
deep. We crossed where the trail went and had only waist deep or less.

That is not to say you couldn't experience real problems when you go
through - you might even fall. Yes, the streams are really fast - but, you
can pick where you cross. Having a few others around reduces the fear - if
you fall, there will be help. Sturdy poles help - hiking poles may do, but
they really are not be strong enough for real swift streams.

With luck, you won't experience many problems. So, don't worry about
hypothermia. But, do watch what you are doing.

P.S. If you are in Washington in Sept/October, watch out. That is where it
could be dangerous if the streams are high.

Marshall Karon
Portland, OR
m.karon@comcast.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <RBALCORN@cs.com>
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 3:39 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Early Season Fording Techniques?


> I'm reading Blistered Kind of Love.  They talk about stream crossings in
the
> Sierras chest high.  This is early season - cold, snow melt water, etc.
They
> don't say how they dry off.  My assumption is they are hiking in quick dry
> synthetics and walk till they are dry.  For those of you that have done
it, how do
> you avoid hyperthermia? Do you take your boots off, etc?  I hike this area
in
> summer, and take considerable effort to stay dry - boots off, switch to
> lightweight river shoes, but water never more than thigh high, so
wondering how you
> early season pct hikers do it?
>
> Ralph Alcorn
> www.backpack45.com
> Shepherd Canyon Books
> Publisher of We're in the Mountains, Not Over the Hill: Tales and Tips
from
> Seasoned Women Backpackers
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