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River Crossings
When crossing deeper river, over crotch deep, use your pack as a flotation device. Place your pack on your chest and strap it up over your shoulders as you would normally. It is best if u have a large plastic bag sealed inside to pack you gear into as a liner this will make your pack water proof. Try it in a good safe pool first and u will find that u can swim for as long as u want in safety or just drift with the currant till u are safe...
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Te Hopo on -
Some good hints, I'd just like to add that I like to keep the shoulder straps loose and chest and waist clips undone and hug the pack to me when crossing a river in case I go over, I've seen someone get their pack tangled on something when they fell in the water and it was a scary tense few seconds until they were free.
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Permalink Reply by Rod Thompson on -
There is always the potential in water crossings to come unstuck. If u are unsure of the crossing because the water is a bit dirty and swollen, you can just take the extra time to check the surface and take note of any ripples that are visible. Hidden logs/branches/objects will quite often display themselves by a v shape ripple on the surface. Learn to read the "mood" of the rivers when u are out there, it becomes part of your "bush-craft" safety and will stand u in good stead when you are tired wet and hungry.
I floated down the Horomanga on three deer tied together years ago when the water was too high to ford safely. I tied their belly's/neck and ring hole up with a strip of skin and they floated perfectly. I used a pole of manuka to help control them till i reached my Landy. Sold the meat in Rotorua and got top dollar for them. Back home with my darling non the worst for wear.
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Permalink Reply by Rob Mac on -
Floated down the horomanga on three deer, that sounds like an adventure! And made some money.
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Permalink Reply by Rod Thompson on
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Not at all Rob. Bleedin hard work but better than packing them out, which was the usual way before choppers were used. My meat shooting over those years helped pay for a small farm block out of Rotorua and at one point i could make more on a wk end out of deer than a full wk at work. Thats "bushcraft".
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