River Safety

2. Making the crossing

The mutual support method is the safest way to attempt a river crossing as a group. Every crossing should be taken seriously.

1. Put your strongest group members at the upstream end and less confident members in the middle. Practice crossing on the riverbank first - agreeing on signals in case the river noise makes communication difficult.

2. Remove baggy clothing such as jackets or anything outside your pack - keep boots on.

3. Undo your pack chest straps, this makes it easier to remove if you need to. Keep your waist belt done up, but loosen it off slightly. This will keep your pack balanced on your back.

4. Stand side by side and travel closely together with hands woven (see below) holding each other in a line parallel to the current. Go slowly and communicate, especially if you need to retreat.

5. Concentrate on footing and the exit point, not at the water moving around you.

Ideal crossing is:

• Shallow depth (up to knee deep) or deep and very slow for experienced group members

• Check the downstream runout. Don’t cross where the run-out (where the current will take you) leads into conditions that are more dangerous such as waterfalls, rapids, debris such as trees and big boulders.

When crossing:

• Keep your body side on to the current to reduce resistance

• Take small shuffling steps , don’t lift your feet too much

• Don’t grasp at logs or boulders underwater or you could lose balance

• Move diagonally downstream and conserve energy, watching your exit point.

Retreating

The person at the upstream end co-ordinates the group and ensures that they keep almost parallel to the current. It is the strength of the group as a whole that gets you across safely, so don’t let go or split up while crossing. If you need to turn back, take extra care with your footing and go slowly against the current. There are methods to this that would be worth training in.

Recovery

If you lose your footing, the safe runout you chose earlier means there is no in-the-moment decision making needed.Your pack can provide buoyancy and you can travel with the current towards the bank, try to position yourself feet first. There are techniques to this that have advantages and disadvantages that should be practiced to gain confidence and remaining calm.

Whether it is a smooth crossing or not, once everyone is across safely, regroup and keep warm with additional clothing.

Further learning

• Watch the river crossing video on our website

• NZ Bushcraft Manual, free on the MSC website

• Plan My Walk for track alerts

The current is faster and deeper on the outside of a bend. You can use this to your advantage by planning the crossing between two bends.

IF IN DOUBT, STAY OUT!

• Regional council river level websites

• MetService and NIWA weather forecasts

• Get training on these skills with a course or with experienced trampers.