Suppose you need to bug out. Or just get home. Water is in your way. Here in the midwest, that’s been the main story of late spring. Bridges out, roads under water. Whether in a vehicle or on foot, ploughing through a water crossing can be a pretty terrible idea, even if it doesn’t look too deep. Here’s why, and some ideas on how to handle water crossings.
Water crossings in cars…crossing lanes, that is
It was a dark and stormy night. Salty and I were driving along a road: Not a creek crossing, not even a real low spot; just a chunk of road between one farm field and the next. We couldn’t see the water was streaming across as well as down until it was too late to stop. It was only a few inches deep — but still the car literally floated across a full lane before our momentum got us across. It was nothing but sheer luck that we had a second lane with no head-on traffic coming available to us.
Vehicles not designed for water crossings are terrible at them.
The moral of the story? Cars, and to a lesser extent trucks, float off of roads way better than you’d expect them to. They can also drown out and fail to fire the spark plugs; although that’s less common in newer models. Your vehicle will not double as an acceptable duck.
These ‘ducks’ *are* specially designed to do both road and water crossings. Not the most practical bug-out vehicle though.*
So … If in doubt, don’t try it. A failure is a world of hurt; failure to try is more likely to merely be a delay.
Moving water has a lot of power
How about wading across that stream? This is something hikers face a lot. I learned this lesson when I was about seven, trying to cross a rapid but shallow stream. Ankle-deep water, and it put me right down on my butt by sweeping my feet out from under me. No harm done, but it displays the point.
Here is Spice wading across the Mississippi River (five feet downstream of its origin).
The photo above is me wading across the Mississippi … five feet from its origin in Lake Itasca, MN. Why not take the iconic pic of crossing right at its origin? The water is three times deeper five feet downstream — and so 1/3 as fast. It was a much easier water crossing; and safer too given the slippery, rounded rocks at the origin.
You can also see I’m facing upstream and walking sideways. That’s not for a photo op. Sidestepping while facing the current gives you the most secure footing and best opportunity to correct a slip before it goes catastrophic.
Muddy water crossings hide the dangers
If the water is muddy, keep in mind you don’t have any idea how deep it really is. Fast-moving water can and does scour deep spots very quickly. One confident step can take you (ok, HAS taken me) from shin-deep to chest-deep. Also keep in mind all the stranded tree trunks and other junk you see on river banks after the water recedes. That stuff is all sweeping downstream during the flood; much of it bouncing along the bottom and unseeable.
Don’t trust smooth mud surfaces
If you see rocks, they might roll but at least they won’t sink. Sand is relatively stable, too. Mud is a sneaky sonnuvagun though. Sometimes it’s solid enough to walk on. Sometimes it’s fluffy silt that lets you sink thigh-deep. If you’re *really* lucky it’s sticky gunk that lets you sink ankle-deep then keeps your boot. That’s lucky? Sure! You wanted an excuse to buy new boots, right? Not to mention trying to bug out with one foot bare. Yeah. Great fun.
Barefoot or boots for water crossing afoot?
If you do have to cross any stream afoot, the question arises: Should you cross barefoot to keep your footwear dry?
Water crossings done barefoot give you a shot at dry feet for the rest of the walk. On the other hand, unless your footwear stinks, you’re more likely to slip when barefoot. You’re also more likely to get a cut or puncture. One slip barefoot on a wet rock cut me almost to the bone once; so I prefer to keep my boots on. If the weather was cold, I’d have to modify that position. I’d rethink if I tended to blister when my feet were wet (many people do) too.
Waterproof boots solve the problem…if the water is shallow enough. And if your foot doesn’t slip to turn your boot sideways. Not that *I* have ever done that. (often)
Alternatives to water crossings
Sometimes Not crossing is the best answer. Sometimes flood waters recede quickly; it might be best just to wait.
Other times, you need to go around. This is way easier if you have a topographic map. (You can get those here.) Lots of roads follow ridgelines and are less likely to flood. Others follow the flat rail line corridors, which favor floodplains. The last time Salty and I needed to use this approach was … two days ago. We ran into flooded roads and the GPS had no clue how to work around it. Maps are your friend.
* Thanks to Joe Mabel [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)]