Planning Ahead

When you use your map and plan out your hike, you will be ready for known hazards, such as river crossings. It will take more than a map to know the best way to cross the water, or even if it is possible to cross the water given the season and recent local rainfall. If there is a water crossing on your route, its a good idea to contact the agency that manages the trail to ask about how it is normally crossed. Your choices are a dry crossing, wet crossing, or no crossing. Having a pair of hiking sandals along just for crossings is a good idea, but an extra weight to carry.

Whenever you cross water, keep these tips in mind:

• Seal electronics in zip-loc bags
• Unhook any waist straps on backpacks so you are not dragged down by their weight if you do fall
• Cross high altitude streams in the morning if possible. As the day wears on, sun and warmer temperatures melt more snow which makes water levels rise. They tend to be lighter in the morning after a cold night.

Dry Crossing

A dry crossing is the first choice. A bridge is always nice, but there are often logs fallen across small streams. Even smaller streams can be crossed by hopping from rock to rock, but that can be a dangerous choice. Risky dry crossings often become wet crossings.

Where the trail hits the stream, it may be low enough to easily cross at some times and not at others, such as after a rain or when snow is melting. If there is no obvious way across, take 10 minutes to hike upstream looking for a safer way across. Then, come back and check downstream if no way was found. The delay is worth it if you can find a dry crossing and not too costly if nothing turns up.

Use your hiking stick for extra balance when crossing on rocks or a log if you can firmly plant it. A third leg almost always makes a better platform.

Wet Crossing

If there is no dry way across a river and you are determined to cross, then you are obviously going to get wet. If you are on a trail, then it should be pretty obvious where other hikers have crossed. Otherwise, scout up and downstream to find the best place to cross.

Walking across a stream is dangerous. It's easy to make a mistake and get very wet. If the weather is not dry and sunny, getting wet can be deadly. You should always be flexible and willing to turn back or take a different route if the water looks too difficult or the weather too threatening.

When considering a wet crossing, think of these things:

• Slow moving water should be no higher than mid-thigh on the shortest person. Water has a lot of force, the rocks are slippery, and a pack makes a person more unbalanced. Any higher than mid-thigh is too risky. If you are tall like me, your knee might be someone else's thigh.
• Fast moving water should stay below the knee. It's like having someone kicking at your shin trying to trip you with every step.
• A wider crossing usually means shallower water so look for the widest area in t...