[DeadandBloated]

One of the good things on the board is that people can bring ideas that we can all use for safer and happier times and reiterate things we need to keep reminding ourselves about.

Water is dangerous. To the old and to the new.

Water is dangerous! It is not worth risking the Brad Pitt moves in River Runs to wade to your neck and risk your life and being flushed down a river..

Since we are on the water and this is the stream wading season in western WA, wanted to remind everyone again to be careful. So many people die in this state and others, and show their kids such poor decision making it is ridiculous. Every weekend on the news people are needing rescued hiking, climbing, on the water and DYING in numbers because of stupidity and not respecting nature.

I saw these pics on a hiking site this week of some hikers crossing a swollen coastal river-it may look like summer warm-that is icy water and this is not safe. Having anything strapped fully to your back in water like this is a lead weight if you go in (unless there is an inflatable PFD that was not mentioned in report). This same section of the hike has claimed hikers before -with packs. that went in and were swamped with a pack they had attached and died. Got to, at minimal, unbuckle pack and ready it's jettison or smartly take the pack off and side shoulder it or bring some air tight bags and rope and after one crosses sans packs, you can rope toss and swing float the packs across.

Not worth the risk. Be safe and turn back or find a better way.

Yesterday, I saw a dad teaching his young son to surf at Westport away from others. It was an obvious early lesson as they were waste deep and less and 10 yards offshore. Seemed like a very responsible mentor who was patient and am sure there is a good future for them both with that kind of caring leadership. It was great to see !

Safe times everyone!

 

[McKivergan]

PFD, PFD, PFD, PFD and cinch it tight. Safe summer everyone!

 

[Tracker]

One of the easiest things to underestimate is swiftness of the water, even shallow water. I'm significantly more cautious at 56yoa than I was just a few years ago.

Good post, safety can never be overstressed.

 

[Old Man]

I took care of my wading problem. I fish small water and try to stay on the banks. If I happen to get wet in the summer time is because I wanted to get wet to cool off. And I only wade over my tennies.

 

[Salmo_g]

I just saw a report this morning that thru-hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail are encountering "creeks" in the Yosemite region that are too dangerous to cross. A couple hikers barely escaped drowning and being swept away. A heat wave is coming, and streams will be even higher. Hikers need to take a break for a few days or up to a couple weeks until streams are safe to cross.

 

[KerryS]

Every year we lose a couple of people on the Skagit. This time of year it is usually young people trying to cool off in the river. They are not prepared, have no knowledge of the affects of ice cold water on the body, have little to no knowledge of the river and rarely if ever wear floatation.

A few years back while fishing the lower river for cutts I pulled an entire family from the river after they swamped their canoe. The thing that saved them was they all were wearing PFDs. Still the younger two (approx. 6 to 8 years) were coughing, sputtering and panicking while being taken away by the current and without me in the sled to pull them out things could have ended much different.

Be careful. Shit happens in an instant. Understand what happens when you are suddenly immersed in cold water. Even with a PFD you are in extreme danger after total immersion in ice cold water.

 

[phuck this]

Already a near miss on the Sky this year.

 

[Chad Lewis]

I had an ugly "lessons learned" moment (actually lasted a whole lot longer than a moment) on the Yakima a few years ago. I was completely swept away by the river and couldn't get my feet under me until I came to a shallow section. As Hunter Thompson said, "buy the ticket, take the ride". I'm convinced the only thing that kept that trip from being a lot worse was my training as a rescue swimmer. I wasn't actively drowning, so I just kept bobbing for air and waited until I could get my legs under me. Someone less comfortable with stressful situations in water could easily have panicked and died. Please don't read that as an excuse for me getting in that situation- I was being stupid. I still wade deep sometimes, but there's a lot more calculus that goes into the risk assessment before plunging in. At least learning it the hard way makes it stick better! Be careful out there folks.

 

[wonko]

I just saw a report this morning that thru-hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail are encountering "creeks" in the Yosemite region that are too dangerous to cross. A couple hikers barely escaped drowning and being swept away. A heat wave is coming, and streams will be even higher. Hikers need to take a break for a few days or up to a couple weeks until streams are safe to cross.

With the snow year that California has had I have a hard time believing the PCT can be done safely this year.

 

[crequa]

I only wade deep when im wet wading now i have to many mouths to feed to go under again

 

[flyawayfish44]

Absolutely insane. The water around here is freezing cold all the time - even in the summer. Yesterday I took off my shoes to cross a little creek near Bedal and the water was cold enough to feel painful almost immediately. I can't even imagine submerging myself up to my belly in water that cold for who knows how long it takes to cross a river like that. And that water is moving fast. I'm pretty sure the cold would shock me really bad, and I'd fall over and drown. Probably pretty quick, too.

This is actually reminding me now of a spot on the Green river on the backside of the gorge I came across that looked like people had made it their swimming hole. Steep canyon walls, obvious cuts and holes in the rocks under the water, a million visible submerged logs.... I wonder how many people die/will die there.

 

[kmudgn]

Wading staff

 

[FinLuver]

My little home stream has turned me around in retreat on more than a couple of occasions...it did it again so far this year. That bank on the other side looked very inviting, but it wasn't worth it...I'll wait till later in the season. Remember, what was wade-able one season may not be the next, even at the same [gauge] levels you waded it before...streambeds change.

 

[7919]

ive only successfully waded across the spokane river twice and both times it was a wet wading cluster F, the other attempts went less then well.

one thing that can be done for heavy wades or unavoidable wades (like on a through hike) is to use a chain of people linked togather single file. remember to always wade upstream at 45 degrees or so (so you can make a hasty bottom hoping retreat).

if your wading with a backpack ALWAYS unbuckle ALL of the straps. backpacks kill hikers who go for a swim. if you swim, ditch the pack ASAP, get your feet downstream, and backstroke/ferry to the nearest bank.

DO NOT TRY TO STAND UP IN FAST WATER IF YOU GO FOR A SWIM. getting an ankle trapped in the rocks is just as dangerous as swimming into a down tree in fast water.

 

[Carter Burke]

I used to be unstoppable as a wader. Growing up on a very fast bouldery river made me a good wader maybe one of the best if such a thing was competitive
Time has taken a lot of that away from me and i am sure it will continue to do so... I imagine 20 more years and I'll balk at knee deep water that's not flat.

 

[Kyle Smith]

Any opinions on waterproof packs and wading safety? I've got one of those sweet packs, and I've always wondered how to handle going in with that thing on. They are pretty buoyant, but on your back. Maybe I should practice spinning the thing around and using it as a pfd.

 

[skitterbug]

Any opinions on waterproof packs and wading safety? I've got one of those sweet packs, and I've always wondered how to handle going in with that thing on. They are pretty buoyant, but on your back. Maybe I should practice spinning the thing around and using it as a pfd.

Best is to try in a swimming pool or lake first.

Here's a copy and paste of an article I wrote last year. The principles are the same if you're swept away from wading.

Swimming and Self-Rescue

Being prepared for self-rescue on rivers is extremely important. If you become separated from your boat, you have two swimming positons that are used for different situations. The defensive swimming position is used when you're floating down fast shallow sections or rapids with boulders, or to conserve your energy until you get close to an eddy. Float on your back with your feet up and face downstream, and use a backstroke at an angle to the current to manoeuvre yourself to shore or an eddy. This position allows you to look downstream and push off any rocks or other obstacles with your feet.

With your body close to the surface you reduce the potential of hitting submerged obstacles, and prevent foot entrapments. This position will slow you down (the fastest current on a river is 1 1/2 to 2 feet below the surface), which increases your chances of being rescued with a throwbag from another boat. The aggressive swimming position is used to get to shore or back to your boat, to avoid hazards and to break through strong eddy lines. The aggressive swim is the front crawl with your head up. To manoeuvre away from hazards, face upstream with a 45 degree angle to the current and aggressively swim away.

 

[skitterbug]

DO NOT TRY TO STAND UP IN FAST WATER IF YOU GO FOR A SWIM. getting an ankle trapped in the rocks is just as dangerous as swimming into a down tree in fast water

Copy and paste from an article I wrote last year.

NEVER attempt to stand up in knee deep water in a strong current; there are lots of obstacles on the river bottom that can trap your foot. Ever get your foot jammed between a couple of rocks when walking on shore? If this happens in a strong current, the current can push you over and pin you there. This is a grave situation! It's extremely hard to rescue someone in this situation, and generally becomes a body retrieval. To avoid foot entrapments, wait until your bum is hitting the river bottom, then roll onto your front and crawl onto shore, or swim into an eddy and then climb up onto shore. Never stand up or put your feet down in the water unless it's below your knees or the water is calm.

 

[martyg]

Any opinions on waterproof packs and wading safety? I've got one of those sweet packs, and I've always wondered how to handle going in with that thing on. They are pretty buoyant, but on your back. Maybe I should practice spinning the thing around and using it as a pfd.

Kyle -

Unbuckle the waist strap and sternum strap. Loosen the shoulder straps is needed. Note that it will take some time for a standard pack to absorb water. Your pack WILL NOT be heavier than water, so any pack will provide a degree of buoyancy.

Slip the pack off but keep a hand on it to aid with your swim. Being dead weight you will need to assess if it an aid, or hindrance. If it prevents you from hitting that close by eddy and a walk out then ditch it. If you are floating into Class VI death with no nearby eddies stay in contact - keep it downstream of you.

 

[skitterbug]

If you are floating into Class VI death with no nearby eddies stay in contact - keep it downstream of you.

The easy solution is NOT to wade above Hazards(rapids, waterfalls, strainers and logjams). Cross below the hazard then hike back upstream to fish. If you plan on high risk wading, then at least wear a whitewater PFD and wading belt/belts.

If you're heading towards any terminal hazard (Class VI, strainers and logjam), ditch the pack and get into the aggressive swimming position and get yourself to shore! Look for micro eddies, cracks or hand holds on the cliff to grab onto.