Posted: 10/5/2013 2:40:07 PM EDT
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I'm looking for some places to take the kids out next spring, and one of the candidates has a couple of streams to cross that are reportedly 1.5-2' deep under normal conditions. Looking on recommendations on process, gear, and safety. Do you carry a different set of shoes/boots? Pants? Or do you not worry about getting wet and staying that way? I suppose it depends on outside temps. I hate wet feet, so last time I had to mess w/ this I put on my slippers I keep for around the campsite and tied my boots to my pack. It was late spring so I had shorts on. |
| It depends on the time of year but a cheap pair of canvas sneakers similar to Converse Chuck Taylor's will work for crossings and camp mocc duty. Where I go hiking you are invariably going to get soaked so I now generally wear lightweight breathable shoes though so they dry out before I hit the trail's end. |
Some years back I waded across a slow-flowing but deep stream that went up to my chest. Halfway across I realized I had my $300 camera in my non-waterproof backpack. Killed that camera dead 
I'd recommend closed-toe shoes (spare pair of boots or maybe Crocs, though I've never tried the latter). I had a near disaster with flip flops while crossing a stream once (flip flop got ripped off by the water, and I nearly broke a toe when I hit a rock while trying to chase it down). And cross where the current is slow, even 2' of fast flowing water can sweep you off your feet and potentially cause a serious injury. This PDF has good info on stream crossing safety. |
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There's some good info online. Google Results
I usually bring an extra pair of shoes, and cross rivers or streams in those. If you're hiking in pants, a pair of shorts to cross in is nice to have. If you're hiking with trekking poles, use them. If not, find a hiking stick for the crossing. Oh, and un-clip your hip belt so you can get out of your pack if the worst happens. Losing your pack is better than drowning. ETA, I have crossed streams in unlined boots and just changed my socks and poured out the water in the boots on the far shore. It wasn't bad, but most boots have foam and fabric or leather liners that retain water like a sponge. |
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Military me: bomb through, drive on, and change socks in a few hours after I walk the boots dry. Civilian me: bomb through, take of boots and socks, swap insoles out for dry set, put on CDS and powder my feet, drive on and walk the boots dry stopping to change socks once more only if needed. |