Crossing Rivers and Streams

‘John at Muir Pass’

My watch said 4AM. We were working our way up the snow fields in the bitter cold, our headlamps piercing through the predawn darkness. John and I were nearing 11,955 foot Muir Pass on the Pacific Crest Trail. It was summer, June 3rd, 2014, but winter had not yet left the Sierra. Don’t get me wrong, we liked the cold! The frozen crust on the snow would hold our weight and keep us from breaking through. Breaking through the snow, so called “post holing,” could torque a knee or fracture a bone and we were too far from civilization to get help very quickly. A quarter mile from the pass a stream blocked our path. We traveled up and down along its icy course, but the few stepping stones were covered in ice and being well above treeline, there were no logs. Getting our feet wet would invite frostbite. There was one narrow, but deep water spot we thought we might be able jump across. The problem was that the landing area was about 3 feet higher on top of a flatish shelf of rock. We both heaved our packs across the water and, thus committed, but unburdened, John went first. It was a tough jump and he landed with his upper body on the shelf and his low half dangling over the water. He was just able to keep himself from sliding off the shelf and into the steam by grabbing a tiny nubbin of rock. Once he was on the self and stable we decided that I should try a different tack. I would run, jump and grab his hand as I planted a foot on the little rock face below the shelf. I would push off as he pulled me in and I would be over. Easy! So I stepped back a little ways then went for it. Full tilt, a leap at stream’s edge, grabbed Johns wrist and he mine, and I planted a foot. Only it didn’t stick! There was ice everywhere and my foot just slid down into the water. Somehow my other foot found a place and held, but my momentum was gone. There I was, suspended, a foot on the little wall, my body over the water, and hanging on to John’s wrist. Poor John found himself holding my whole weight and that was slowly pulling him toward the edge. I remember he looked at me quizzically, like what the hell are you doing? Then he closed his eyes and gave my arm a mighty tug and I flopped forward onto the shelf. Had he not done that, I would have fallen into the icy water and probably pulled him in with me. It was in the 20’s F and we would have been in deep trouble.

Cappuccino and I will have to make a number of stream crossing on the OHT. Hopefully none of them are as exciting as my Muir Pass escapade, but there are a few serious crossing. She and I have forded rivers many times over the last few years, but every ford is different and they all need to be treated with respect. It turns out that most people do not die backpacking, but among the few that do, most succumb from falls down a slope or drowning from a failed river ford. Heart attacks and lightning are next on the list incase you’re interested.

‘Cappuccino fords a river’

There is a handy acronym for fording a stream Watch, Assess, Decide, Execute (WADE.) By far the most important aspects are the Watching and Assessing. Scoping out the river, figuring out where it is deepest, where it is shallow, how fast it is moving, if there is a dry way across, and the danger points up and down river are of utmost importance. Then Deciding on a route, it is rarely straight across for bigger streams. Ideally you are looking for a wide place with slower water and a bottom that is regular. Braiding of the stream and sand/gravel bars are super useful. You want to plan the route and then it’s time to Execute the crossing. Common wisdom has been to unbuckle the pack’s hip belt and sternum strap so that if you were to fall in you could easily ditch the pack. But more recent advice has suggested that keeping the pack strapped on tight, aids in balance and makes it much less likely you will fall. But whether you buckled or unbuckle, everyone agrees that trekking poles or a staff are essential to tripod shuffle across the stream. Facing up stream and angling across downstream, moving slowly and deliberately, watching your foot placement as you go is how you make it across. Hopefully this will be how we make it across.
Until next week- Happy Trails