River crossing techniques

[Quixoticgeek]

The walks I want to do up in Scotland, are likely to involve some river crossings.

What are peoples preferred techniques for river crossing?

I know some people change shoes into crocs, and some people keep their shoes on and dry them out at lunch/camp.

What is your preferred method? My hiking footwear is a pair of TNF Hedgehog approach shoes.

Cheers

Julia

[hailiamdigby]

I did the river crossing you hear about in the Fisherfield forest.
I took my shoes off and walked across the smooth pebbles that line the river bed.
It still hurt like a mother but I managed.
In hindsight, I realize that if I had taken a pair of flip flops, I could afford to get those wet and still have the dry boots for after the crossing.
I'd also take elastic bands or something to keep your rolled-up trousers from constantly slipping down, over your knees and potentially in to the river you're crossing

[rockhopper]

Flipflops if there's a chance they may be needed as they're very light..........wetsuit shoes instead more probably if it's a definite the water will need to be waded. Two poles to help keep you steady as well.

I'd also take elastic bands or something to keep your rolled-up trousers from constantly slipping down, over your knees and potentially in to the river you're crossing

Easier just to take them off as well if the water's knee deep.....

[Caberfeidh]

I prefer a bridge myself, or if it's a big river, use a boat. A pole for vaulting over is fun, and you can keep it and laugh at your mates stuck on the other side. Trying to climb across on a deer fence is a very dodgey proposition. When trying to find a bridge which you know is there somewhere, do not aim directly for it, because if you then get to the river and find no bridge, you are faced with the quandary: do you search up or downstream? Instead aim upstream and walk down until you find the bridge. Weaving your own coracle is probably impractical in most situations, but a quick google search will show you how.

[basscadet]

Well it depends on the river.. There arent many where you cant find stepping stones or a bridge.. I can count the ones I have had to wade on one hand..
if I have to wade, it is best to have some kind of shoes on your feet, be it crocs, flip flops or just your boots (with socks and foot beds removed and dry in the rucksack). Try and look to the far bank instead of at your feet
Like I say though, that is a very rare occurence. Mostly there are rocks or a split in the river or something that facilitates a crossing. In spate, your poles not only help with the pressure of the water, but also good for finding rocks just below the surface obscured by white water..
At the end of the day, unless the rivers are raging in spate, the worst that would happen if you get it wrong is you get a wet foot - not worth getting yourself worried or stressed about really

[Nigels3011]

Geneally, I think you can get across most rivers. My choice would be to take spare footware. I have only done this once though. On a second visit to Strath na Sealga where I knew from my first visit that its diifcult to cross without getting your feet wet. I tried walking on water but the water wasn't thick enough to overcome the effects of gravity. I took an old pair of trainers and they worked really well.

[gaffr]

Has anyone suggested that it is worthwhile releasing the hip belt of the rucksack when getting into the deeper fast moving stuff?

[gammy leg walker]

.
Cant see what all the fuss is about to be honest.

[CharlesT]

smsas0001.jpg

.
Cant see what all the fuss is about to be honest.

When did you manage to snap Caberfeidh?

[electricfly]

Here are the techniques adopted in the Mountain Leader courses...

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Fz2U ... te&f=false

Hope this is useful.

[RyanfaeScotland]

Never use crocs, ever, for anything, ever.

[Dan Scheer]

so far I only ever had to cross rivers while on the way home or exhausted beyond the point of caring and just walked through and accepted wet feet. even in winter the water inside your boots warms up quickly enough to not be a major problem (as long as you keep moving) and can even be a nice (for a few mintues) refreshment from sweaty feet