[pct-l] risk reduction on swift water crossings

[Eric Lee]

David wrote:
>
in theory at least, it's 
possible to safely self-belay across fast water by carrying a short 
(>20m) stretch of climbing rope, plus a belay device and a locking 
biner.
>

Actually this technique is *highly discouraged* for swift-water crossings
because if you do lose your footing despite the rope, the rushing current
will usually force you down to the bottom of the river and pin you there.
In other words, the failure mode with a rope is that if you slip, you die.
Without a rope, if you slip you still have a chance to swim/float to safety.
If the crossing is sketchy enough that you feel like you need a rope to do
it, then it's sketchy enough to look for a better crossing point or wait
until the current subsides.

It's interesting to note that although spring Sierra river crossings can be
very dangerous, thruhikers also take them very seriously and I don't think a
single thruhiker has ever lost their life in a river crossing (though many
other Sierra hikers have).

The key, as always, is to use common sense and be willing to face the
situation as it really is, not as you wish it were.  Waiting and
backtracking are valid options.

Eric