Re: High Water
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:59 am
One of the biggest dangers in the backcountry when facing dangerous conditions is impatience.
Where streams with high flows narrow to the point of being jumpable, they are going to be deep and fast. Not a place to gamble unless one has some certainty. If one is making an iffy jump across to a lower position, it may be difficult or impossible to cross back. Thus one jump attempt only.
If one is sure about making it, just go for it. But if not, instead of giving into impatience especially when solo, one ought to take the time to try tossing important not to get wet items in one's pack across first. It might not be the exact spot of the jump and one has to be aware of not tossing to a location items could roll down into water. For instance sleeping bag, gloves, coat, etc. In his case he might have shoved the phone inside the stuff sack. We've tossed sleeping bags across streams many times.
If tossing items across is not possible because of distance, and a stream can be jumped or recrossed otherwise, one might try carrying or jumping across first with items that are most important not to get wet. I sometimes do that on log and logjam crossings with just my sleeping bag and camera gear. Then go back for the rest. Will take more time but if a crossing is a gamble, better to play safe.
Also if that guy had not been so lucky to find someone elses tracks, he might have easily gone over someplace other than Forester Pass and gotten into additional life threatening situations. The idea of no paper maps at all while just relying on a battery operated phone, does not sit well with this person. A large scale map at say 250k:1 scale would still be very helpful orienting.
David
Where streams with high flows narrow to the point of being jumpable, they are going to be deep and fast. Not a place to gamble unless one has some certainty. If one is making an iffy jump across to a lower position, it may be difficult or impossible to cross back. Thus one jump attempt only.
If one is sure about making it, just go for it. But if not, instead of giving into impatience especially when solo, one ought to take the time to try tossing important not to get wet items in one's pack across first. It might not be the exact spot of the jump and one has to be aware of not tossing to a location items could roll down into water. For instance sleeping bag, gloves, coat, etc. In his case he might have shoved the phone inside the stuff sack. We've tossed sleeping bags across streams many times.
If tossing items across is not possible because of distance, and a stream can be jumped or recrossed otherwise, one might try carrying or jumping across first with items that are most important not to get wet. I sometimes do that on log and logjam crossings with just my sleeping bag and camera gear. Then go back for the rest. Will take more time but if a crossing is a gamble, better to play safe.
Also if that guy had not been so lucky to find someone elses tracks, he might have easily gone over someplace other than Forester Pass and gotten into additional life threatening situations. The idea of no paper maps at all while just relying on a battery operated phone, does not sit well with this person. A large scale map at say 250k:1 scale would still be very helpful orienting.
David