Search activities
River Crossing Clinic for Backpackers

Clinic

River Crossing Clinic for Backpackers - Middle Fork Snoqualmie River

Sharpen your river crossing skills at a local waterway. We'll review assessment strategies, discuss common mistakes, rehearse crossing techniques on the shoreline, and then get our feet (and legs) wet to practice what we've learned.

Contacts

Colin Chapman
Colin Chapman
Primary Leader
  • Moderate
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 4.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 500 ft

Participants will learn assessment strategies for finding the safest place to cross a river, timing your crossing, evaluating the terrain (rocks/logs/snow) you're considering for your crossing, and making your shoreline go / no-go decision.  We'll discuss the human factors and heuristic traps that apply to river crossings, such as familiarity with the area, wanting to be accepted by your peers, following an expert into a dangerous situation, and being overly committed to an objective on the other side of the crossing.

After discussing these assessment strategies and common mistakes, we'll demonstrate and rehearse solo and group crossing techniques on the shoreline.  We'll then enter the water to practice what we've learned.

Is this clinic right for you?

  • Are you willing to "embrace the suck", getting your feet and legs wet in cold water?
  • Do you have good balance?

What to bring:

  • Backpack containing your 10 Essentials
  • Snacks/food
  • Trekking poles
  • Boots
  • River crossing shoes
  • Shorts
  • Towel
  • Change of clothes

Clinic will take place along the shoreline of a river in the Puget Sound area, followed by practice in the river.  Precise location will be selected one week prior to the clinic to ensure appropriate water conditions.

Potential clinic locations include Taylor River (or other tributary to the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River), Barnes Creek (Olympic Peninsula), and White River (MRNP).

Depending on the selected clinic location, up to 2 miles / 500' gain of hiking (each way) may be required between the parking lot and our clinic location.

We'll meet at 8am and should be finished by early afternoon.

Route/Place

Middle Fork Snoqualmie River


  • Green Trails Skykomish No. 175
    Trails Illustrated Alpine Lakes Wilderness
    Green Trails Mt Si No. 174
    Green Trails Stevens Pass No. 176
    Green Trails Snoqualmie Pass No. 207
    Green Trails Middle Fork Snoqualmie No. 174SX
    Alpine Lakes Wilderness (ALPS)
  • See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

  • Backpack containing your 10 Essentials
  • Snacks/food
  • Trekking poles
  • Boots
  • River crossing shoes
  • Shorts
  • Towel
  • Change of clothes
Trip Reports