Crossing rivers can be treacherous -- unless you know what you're doing.
Published June 27, 2000 12:00AM
When planning a Tordrillos odyssey, there’s no guesswork up front about whether you’ll have to cross swiftly moving water. You will. Here are some considerations:
Locate the safest crossing point; wide and slow is better than deep, narrow, and swift.
Put must-stay-dry items like food, sleeping bag, and camera in waterproof bags.
Strip down to clothes you can afford to get wet, like your skivvies. Once across, hang them from your pack to dry and slip on dry duds.
Undo your pack’s hipbelt and loosen its shoulder straps so you can get it off quickly if you slip.
If you’re in a group, form a line parallel to the stream’s course.
Cross facing up-current with the tallest/strongest person upstream. Hang onto his or her pack.
Use a hiking staff to brace yourself when the current tries to push you over. Better still are a pair of trekking poles because four “legs” are more secure than three.
Move deliberately, making sure each foothold is secure before taking the next step.