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In a eight days, NAC will be heading to Gros Morne National Park to guide 8 brave and excited backpackers through one of Canada's most remote backcountry experiences. On our first day, we will be fording a deep and wide river to get to our first camp before climbing up into the Long Range mountains where we will spend the next 5 days and 4 nights. River crossings can be very difficult and dangerous, currents and cold waters can quickly swallow you and push you deeper down stream. Proper knowledge and technique is very important and could save your life, and so this week we will take a look at a short article that offers some great advice for fording rivers.
When you are really out in the wilderness, it’s likely that you’ll need to ford a river or stream where you need to wade across it to get to the other side. Depending on the temperature and water levels, fording rivers and stream on backpacking trips can be quite dangerous. But there are some basic precautions you can take to mitigate your risk and developing skills at reading water and understanding the factors that cause it to flow the way it does can greatly increase your safety margin.
Fording a river is not the same as swimming it. If the depth of the water is above your thighs during a crossing, turn around, and find a better place to cross. I’ve heard stories of AT thru-hikers who have forded streams that came up to their chest. Don’t even think of doing this. The more body mass you have in the current, the less control you have, so make sure the water does not come over your thighs if possible, and certainly not over your waist.
SCOUTING
The first thing you should do when reaching the edge of a river or stream that must be forded is to scout for a good location to cross. Don’t assume that the blazed line of site to the other bank is the path you should follow. The volume of water flowing downstream is not constant and the best crossing point can differ depending on weather conditions, temperature, or new hazards that were not present when the blazed crossing point was laid out. River conditions are very dynamic, so a good crossing point on one day may not be safe on another.
RELEASE YOUR PACK
Before you cross a river or stream, you should always make sure to release the hip belt and sternum straps on your backpack so you can jettison it if you lose your footing and get washed downstream. Otherwise, your pack will fill with water and severely compromise your mobility. Water weighs 2 lbs per liter/quart, so if you have a 50 L pack, there’s no way you’ll be able to lift it while you’re fighting for your footing. Let it go and save yourself first.
FOOTWEAR
Imagine you are climbing a rocky mountain blindfolded and in the rain. That’s essentially what you are doing when you cross a riverbed. Underwater rocks are wet and slippery and you probably won’t be able to see them. Some people carry sandals or Crocs for river crossings. I don’t believe that these provide enough traction, support, or protection for your feet, and recommend that you just use your regular boots, trail shoes, or trail running shoes instead.
STRAINERS
Always look for pieces of wood, trees, or branches in the water or overhanging the banks, which are called strainers. You never want to cross upstream from a strainer, because if you slip and get flushed up against it, the current will eventually push you underwater and you can drown. Don’t be fooled into thinking that shallow water is less risky than deeper water. I’ve almost drowned in 6 inches of water after being swept into a strainer in a shallow river.
CHOKEPOINTS
After checking for strainers, look at the current and how fast it is flowing. Avoid crossings at points where the banks of the stream are more narrow. The power of the current will be strongest here and could sweep you off your feet more easily. If there is an island in the middle of a stream, this may be a good place to cross because it splits the power of the current into smaller substreams that can be more manageable.
EDDIES
Now look at the side of the river closest to you and near the far bank. If there are rocks near the banks, they usually form an area of water called an eddy. If you look closely at the water in an eddy, you’ll see something very counter-intuitive: the water in them flows slowly upstream. The same thing happens on the inside curve of a river. Again these can be safe havens during a crossing, out of the current.
ROCKS AND WAVES
Next look for rocks that are sticking out of the water. If you look closely at the surface of the water, you can see that the water flowing behind exposed rocks is moving more slowly than the water on either side of it. The current here is less powerful and these can be good places to rest during a crossing if the current is strong. The same is true for standing waves, but the rocks that form them are underwater. Don’t cross in the whitewater part of the wave, but beyond it, and use caution because these features sometimes occur in deeper sections of the river.
USE WALKING POLES OR A STICK
When crossing a river, use your walking poles or a stick for extra balance to avoid falling over and as a probe to read the river bottom. Wider branches can even be used to break the current if you plant them firmly against the river bottom and stand behind them.
CROSS AS A GROUP
If you are hiking with another person, you can increase your safety level by crossing together in a swift current with one person standing directly behind the other. In this scenario, the upstream person breaks the current, creating slower water behind them, and making it easier for the downstream person to help them remain upright. With four legs on the river bottom, there’s less chance that two people will fall over and get washed downstream. With three people, you can form a triangle, which is even more stable. Crossing in groups like this should be practiced before trying it in a less controlled situation.
SUMMARY
A lot of the techniques described here are best learned from other experienced hikers, so if you can team up with one they can help you develop the observation techniques to analyze stream crossings and good crossing points.
Written by Philip Werner, Chief Hiking Officer at Section Hiker, published June 23, 2023N.A.C. NEWS
(Sunday, September 8, 2024)
Good Morning,
We are only 8 days away from departing on NAC's Gros Morne Expedition. Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland, Canada is one of the most challenging backpacking trips one could partake in. The Long Range Mountains of Newfoundland are subject to incredible weather, thick fog, up to 100 km /hr winds and more. Add to that, there are no trail markers, we have to completely rely on our navigational skills in this very remote location. This will be a difficult and challenging expedition, but very much worth it for the experience and the incredible views that will be available to us along our journey. I am a little nervous, but very thrilled to be leading our group on this amazing adventure.
Niagara Adventure Club's Season Passes are now ADVENTURE PASSES. We have 3 Adventure Passes to choose from that offer incredible value and benefits. Choose a Three Season or Annual Pass and you can even choose your starting date! Want to support the club and see what we're all about, then choose a Trial Adventure Pass and come out for 3 months to get a feel for what we do. Visit the Adventure Pass Sales page and join in in the adventure now! Your purchase of an Adventure Pass supports a not-for-profit club that is dedicated to planning and guiding safe and adventurous outdoor events for all that is backed by many local businesses. Our partners offer Pass holders incredible discounts and benefits that make NAC's Adventure Pass the best value out there!
There are still a few weeks of good paddling weather left, so don't forget to get out on the water at some point before the winter season comes crashing in! If you're looking for a beautiful place to paddle, make sure you check out the NPCA managed Jordan Harbour Conservation Area. It is free to visit and has ample parking. If you don't have a canoe, SUP or kayak of your own, that's not a problem either! Visit Niagara Rowing School located right at the docks to rent your favorite type of boat and get out on the water. Added bonus, if you're a NAC Season Pass Holder, you get a $10 discount on your rental! Make sure you get out to Jordan Harbour soon, trust me, you'll be glad you did.
We will be busy getting ready for our trip this week, and then gone until September 24th, so there isn't much planned currently. We hope you join us on Friday, September 27th for a fun evening of indoor rock climbing at Climber's Rock in Burlington, Ontario. If you're a first timer, then NAC will provide you with a free lesson and a free day pass for the night! (Does not include gear rental). Those of you that are NAC Season Pass holder's can purchase your day pass in advance from the web site at a discounted price!
As soon as we are back from our adventure, I will plan and post many more fun and challenging events, keep an eye on Adventure Weekly and our events page, and never miss out on an adventure with NAC!
That's all the news for this week.
Remember, the adventure never ends, it's just a change of location!
Lenny Burch