Re: [pct-l] River crossings

[Brick Robbins <brick@fastpack.com>]

Experiences vary. 

In 95 in July I found

>1-Wallace Creek 

I had to cross about a mile upstream on a log because the trail ford was
unpassable.

>4-The Kings could be fast and dangerous.

Crossed on a log about a mile upstream from the trail ford. There was a
well worn trail to the log. The river was raging and was splashing over the
log, which was slimy and wet. A fall would have been fatal. Nice way to
spend an afternoon.

>5-The first wide crossing is at Evolution Valley

Had to cross on the Old Trail in the meadow, as the current trail ford was
unpassable. The new trail ford is just upstream from a rather long
waterfall, not a good place to go swimming. The Evolution Valley Ranger
advised me to do this (Thanks George!) and boy was he ever right.

The old trail ford in the meadow got up to 4' deep in places and I thought
I was going swimming, but the water was very slow (but cold - 32F).

>6-I don't remember Bear Creek being a problem

I got washed away trying to cross Bear Creek, and ended up with a 12" gash
in my leg (not too deep). It didn't start to bleed for several minutes
becasue my skin was so cold. I didn't feel it for a long time. I actually
found the gash when I went to take my shoes off to dry them and found my
sock bloody.

Oh, I forgot, It was about 38 degrees F and had recently stopped raining.
The water was about 32F and I swam out (on the same side I entered) about
10 yards down stream. I tried to start a fire in the ring that was at the
ford (stacked wood there too) but everyghing was too wet, and I had a hard
time with my fire starting tools because my hands were shaking too much.

If you go upstream a couple of miles, you pass a confluence of 3 smaller
streams, and each one is passable by jumping (the streams had cut deep
gashes in solid granite), or on logs.

>8-The Crossing of Lyell Creek north of Donahue Pass could be interesting

I thought all those crossings were on bridges?

>
>Are you haikinga lone and, If not, do you know how to use a rope to cross?

If you know of a way for one person to use a rope for fording a creek
safely, Id really like to know about it.

I've heard of several folks drowning because they were using a rope to
cross. It is my understanding that a rope is only helpful if it is attached
on both sides.

-Brick
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