Water crossing in the Wind Rivers gave me a new rule about ropes

Last August I was on the Highline Trail near Titcomb Basin and hit a stream that looked ankle deep from ten feet away. Turned out it was knee deep with a strong current, and my hiking pole slipped on a mossy rock. I went in up to my chest, pack and all, and my sleeping bag came out soaked. I spent that night shivering at 11,000 feet and had to bail to Pinedale the next morning. Now I always carry a 30 foot length of paracord and actually use it to toss a line across before I step in, even on small crossings. Anyone else changed their river crossing setup after a close call on a specific trail?

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evand6522h ago

That paracord trick works but I found tying a small rock to the end helps get it across on windy days. Also switched to a dry bag for my sleep system after a similar dunking in the Winds, cheap insurance for the one thing that will ruin a trip. The key is practicing the toss a few times before you actually need it, nothing worse than a wet rope on a cold morning.