[pct-l] Stream crossings and rope
Yoshihiro Murakami
completewalker at gmail.com
Thu Jan 20 06:11:31 CST 2011
Thanks Cat ( I like cat )
I searched the Japanese site, and found this technique is also used
among "the river climber"( or valley climber or water climber ) in
Japan. It is difficult for me to explain in English. So, I will post
some photos.
This is might be the example of Kiwi technique.
http://sawa55.img.jugem.jp/20091107_670264.jpg
This technique is used when the water level is within the waist level.
The guide rope technique is also used among Japanese climber. In this
case, two people or more needed.
simple technique
http://www.on.rim.or.jp/~tunnel/echigo/images/climb06_01.gif
photo
http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~matagi/pics0/water01.JPG
http://www.mitsumine.gr.jp/kaiho/304/kyujo1.jpg
http://userdisk.webry.biglobe.ne.jp/016/297/44/N000/000/000/128170597260916322733_006.JPG
2011/1/20 Cosmic Cat <cosmic.cat144 at gmail.com>:
> While 'tramping' in New Zealand I learned an excellent river crossing
> technique from Kiwis that works for 2+ people. The Kiwis seem to have
> an aversion to building bridges.
>
> Basically you all stand shoulder to shoulder facing the river and unbuckle
> the hip belts. Everyone reaches out behind the back of the person next to
> them in between the back and the pack and grabs the bottom of the shoulder
> strap on the opposite side. As a single unit you all cross the river at the
> same time. You want the strongest/biggest person on the upstream side, and
> the second strongest person to be the furthest downstream with the weakest
> interspersed throughout the chain.
>
> I have found this to be a very stable and safe way to cross swift rivers up
> to my waist. The nice thing is that it becomes even more stable by adding
> more people. If one person starts to lose their footing, the whole line can
> stop until everything is stable again. You can always back out and try a
> different place if things start to get nasty.
>
> Goodness
>
> On Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 6:40 PM, <ned at mountaineducation.org> wrote:
>
>> Absolutely right!
>>
>>
>>
>> "Just remember, Be Careful out there!"
>>
>> Ned Tibbits, Director
>> Mountain Education
>> 1106A Ski Run Blvd
>> South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
>> P: 888-996-8333
>> F: 530-541-1456
>> C: 530-721-1551
>> http://www.mountaineducation.org
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "AsABat" <asabat at 4jeffrey.net>
>> To: <ned at mountaineducation.org>; "Kevin" <hikelite at gmail.com>;
>> <albert at survivalcrafters.com>
>> Cc: "PCT MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net>; "Bruce 'Buck' Nelson"
>> <buck at bucktrack.com>
>> Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 10:35 PM
>> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Stream crossings and rope
>>
>>
>> True. But a line tied to a tree at each bank makes a nice handrail for the
>> less comfortable hikers in the group. This requires someone to set it up
>> and
>> take it down without the benefit of the line. I've used this with scout
>> groups.
>>
>> AsABat
>> PCT Water Reports SoCal http://pct.4jeffrey.net
>> Send water updates to water at 4jeffrey.net
>>
>> ned at mountaineducation.org wrote:
>>
>> >Parachute cord, or any other kind of rope anchor to a fixed object on
>> >the
>> >bank of a swiftwater stream to aid in crossing is a fatal mistake. If
>> >you
>> >loose your balance and fall under, hanging onto the rope will only take
>> >you
>> >further under. Not a good idea. Consult your local swiftwater rescue
>> >personnel in your area for more info on this.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >"Just remember, Be Careful out there!"
>> >
>> >Ned Tibbits, Director
>> >Mountain Education
>> >1106A Ski Run Blvd
>> >South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
>> > P: 888-996-8333
>> > F: 530-541-1456
>> > C: 530-721-1551
>> > http://www.mountaineducation.org
>> >----- Original Message -----
>> >From: "Kevin" <hikelite at gmail.com>
>> >To: <albert at survivalcrafters.com>
>> >Cc: <ned at mountaineducation.org>; "Bruce 'Buck' Nelson"
>> ><buck at bucktrack.com>;
>> >"PCT MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>> >Sent: Monday, January 17, 2011 11:12 PM
>> >Subject: Re: [pct-l] Stream crossings
>> >
>> >
>> >I'm not sure how useful 50' of 550 paracord would be at a stream
>> >crossing. I
>> >doubt it would stop a hiker with a pack being swept downstream. Maybe.
>> >Ned
>> >may know.
>> >
>> >It is useful for other things though. Hanging food, shoelace, pack
>> >repair,
>> >lots of things. If your rendering if you should carry some, the answer
>> >is
>> >yes. Carry some sort of cord. I won't have 550 paracord myself, but
>> >I'll
>> >have extra cord. If for no other reason then I like knots and like to
>> >practice tiring them in my downtime.
>> >
>> >See you on the trail!
>> >
>> >Misspellings and typos brought to you by iPhone.
>> >
>> >On Jan 18, 2011, at 12:02 AM, <albert at survivalcrafters.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> I have kind of a side-question related to this. In most information I
>> >read
>> >> about survival kits in general they almost always have 50' of 550
>> >paracord
>> >> listed as an essential item. These are mainly 72 hour type
>> >Bug-Out-Kits
>> >> but
>> >> I've been wondering if anyone carries some of this paracord for snow
>> >or
>> >> stream help on thru-hikes.
>> >>
>> >> I checked a couple of sites and the cord is cheap but they don't tell
>> >how
>> >> many ozs or grams 50' weighs.
>> >>
>> >> Albert
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> -----Original Message-----
>> >> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net
>> >[mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
>> >> On Behalf Of ned at mountaineducation.org
>> >> Sent: Monday, January 17, 2011 8:21 PM
>> >> To: Bruce 'Buck' Nelson
>> >> Cc: PCT MailingList
>> >> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Stream crossings
>> >>
>> >> Hi, Bruce!
>> >>
>> >> This subject comes up every year and we are happy to talk about why
>> >we do
>> >> what we do.
>> >>
>> >> As you may know, we teach Wilderness Skills, mostly Snow Safety
>> >Skills, so
>> >> that hikers need not be afraid of it. We also teach summer skills
>> >like
>> >> crossing swollen creeks. Squatch has even captured us doing just this
>> >on
>> >> DVD
>> >> ('06?) in a creek just north of Kennedy Meadows!
>> >>
>> >> Facing the opposite bank allows us to minimize the amount of our body
>> >that
>> >> is pummeled by the torrent, to seek foot placements we can see and
>> >feel in
>> >> a
>> >> natural manner moving forward, to easily select a route across, and
>> >to use
>> >> a
>> >> long branch or walking stick as a "third foot" immediately downstream
>> >for
>> >> balance. I believe we have some of our own video shot last Spring of
>> >us
>> >> doing just this along the PCT north of Mt. Whitney. We're still
>> >trying to
>> >> get all of this footage onto our new and future website for the
>> >school...
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "Just remember, Be Careful out there!"
>> >>
>> >> Ned Tibbits, Director
>> >> Mountain Education
>> >> 1106A Ski Run Blvd
>> >> South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
>> >> P: 888-996-8333
>> >> F: 530-541-1456
>> >> C: 530-721-1551
>> >> http://www.mountaineducation.org
>> >> ----- Original Message -----
>> >> From: Bruce 'Buck' Nelson
>> >> To: ned at mountaineducation.org
>> >> Sent: Friday, January 07, 2011 5:13 AM
>> >> Subject: Re: Stream crossings
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Hi Ned,
>> >>
>> >> Very good. The "topic within the topic" I'm interested in is why
>> >you
>> >> folks face the opposite bank when crossing solo, rather than facing
>> >> upstream
>> >> which is what's usually taught.
>> >>
>> >> I've actually got a lot of experience crossing tough spots, on the
>> >PCT
>> >> and
>> >> in Alaska (I live in Fairbanks) and elsewhere. I face the opposite
>> >bank
>> >> also, and I've got my theory as to why it works best for me. What are
>> >your
>> >> reasons?
>> >>
>> >> No need to cover the whole stream crossing topic if you'd be so kind
>> >as
>> >> to
>> >> give me your theories on the this one facet.
>> >>
>> >> I hope the course goes well today. There are a lot of close calls on
>> >the
>> >> PCT, I saw some myself last year!
>> >>
>> >> Thanks Ned!
>> >>
>> >> Buck
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On Thu, Jan 6, 2011 at 6:44 PM, <ned at mountaineducation.org> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Hi, Buck!
>> >>
>> >> You can watch the way we teach it on one of Squatch's "Walking"
>> >videos
>> >> from the trail taken in 2006 out of KM, or I can just tell you that
>> >we
>> >> encourage group crossings, but if that is not possible, and you've
>> >ruled
>> >> out
>> >> all the "better and dryer" ways to cross, use your poles together as
>> >a
>> >> "third leg" downstream and face the way you're going.
>> >>
>> >> There is so much to tell on this subject and I do not have the
>> >time
>> >> right now, but remind me to get back to you as we are teaching
>> >another of
>> >> our Snow Skills Courses starting tomorrow and have to go pack up!
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "Just remember, Be Careful out there!"
>> >>
>> >> Ned Tibbits, Director
>> >> Mountain Education
>> >> 1106A Ski Run Blvd
>> >> South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
>> >> P: 888-996-8333
>> >> F: 530-541-1456
>> >> C: 530-721-1551
>> >> http://www.mountaineducation.org
>> >> ----- Original Message -----
>> >> From: Bruce 'Buck' Nelson
>> >> To: Info at mountaineducation.org
>> >> Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 5:04 PM
>> >> Subject: Stream crossings
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Hi,
>> >>
>> >> I've asked many people about their stream crossing techniques,
>> >and
>> >> have read quite a bit of advice from experts. People tend to agree on
>> >most
>> >> of the basics, like finding the easiest crossing point, considering
>> >the
>> >> consequences if you fall, etc.
>> >>
>> >> I'm curious what you advise as to which direction a solo hiker
>> >should
>> >> face in relation to the current, all things being equal. Or, which is
>> >> better, facing upstream or toward the opposite bank.
>> >>
>> >> I've actually got a lot of experience, but I do some things
>> >> differently than others and I'm trying to figure out if I should
>> >change my
>> >> ways!
>> >>
>> >> Thanks!
>> >>
>> >> Bruce aka Buck, Trail name: Colter
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> www.bucktrack.com
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> www.bucktrack.com
>> >> _______________________________________________
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>> >>
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--
Sincerely
--------------- --------------------------------------
Hiro ( Yoshihiro Murakami )
Blogs http://completewalker.blogspot.com/
Photo http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/CompleteWalker/
Backpacking for 30 years in Japan
2009 JMT, the first America.
2010 JMT, the second America.
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