RIVER CROSSINGS

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Toepopper
Patriot ⭐ Construction, Shelter
Patriot ⭐ Construction, Shelter
Posts: 1229
Joined: 16 Aug 2007 12:03
Location: Southwest Oregon

RIVER CROSSINGS

Post by Toepopper »

Your hiking through the mountains with a full backpack, a rifle and ammunition, water purifier and other assorted survival gear when you come to a stream that you must cross. At this time of year the water level is low and there is not much flow so you may be able to find a spot where you can just walk across. Once the rainy season starts the streams will fill with fast moving deep water making a water walk impossible. In the military we would send the best swimmer across pulling a light line behind him which was tied around his waist and once he got ashore on the other side he would pull a heavier 5/8" rope across the stream/river and tie it off to a tree. Then each man would hang onto the heavy rope and pull himself across. The next option is to build a raft but this requires an ax or machete and some rope to tie the logs together and also requires lots of time and energy. It might take 2 days to construct a log raft that will carry you and your gear across a raging river. Plus you will need some steering mechanism or long pole to direct the raft to the opposite side. Needless to say this could be a very dangerous proposition and during the springtime the water temperture will be just above freezing from the snow melt that fills the rivers so when you get wet you will need to build a fire and warm up and dry out your cloths. The inability to make a fire after a good drenching could become a matter of life or death. The safest plan might be to stay where you are or walk along the river and wait till the water drops, no matter how long that may take.
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308gun

Re: RIVER CROSSINGS

Post by 308gun »

Another option is you have to wait try to travel either up or down river looking for a bend or point that may have big rocks or be a easy thin point , bends sometimes may be a better bet , as river will be slowed a little at such points, even finding a old railroad crossing may help.. or old washed out bridge ...
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acet7

Re: RIVER CROSSINGS

Post by acet7 »

Or another option would be to have some fishing waiters in you bag to keep you dry from the chest down.
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