Walking creeks - it's a great theory...?
Submitted: Monday, Jun 12, 2006 at 20:17
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Mike Harding
I guess most of us know that conventional 4WD wisdom says we should walk an unknown creek before driving it in the vehicle - very sensible too, except... in much of the north of Oz the crocs make that a "challenging" task and in the High Country (from where I have recently returned from a few days (nights) of minus 5 deg C) the winter/spring temperature of the creeks require you to be something of a masochist. I measured the creek water at 3 deg C.
My question is; how many people strip off to their shorts, put (in the case of us soft footers) thongs on, park up on the bank, wade the creek and back and dry ourselves off before attempting the crossing then, if you're in the High Country, doing the same thing again 10 times in the next hour? Or is this one of those things we preach to newbies but, generally, ignore ourselves?
I ask because last week I went through a creek which looked (and was) shallow for 90% of the crossing but the final 10% was a bit deeper than I thought :) I got across OK but had I waded it first I might have chosen not to cross or taken a different line.
Mike Harding
mike_harding@fastmail.fm
Reply By: hoyks - Monday, Jun 12, 2006 at 20:30
Monday, Jun 12, 2006 at 20:30
I was in Queensland, north of
Townsville and walked the creek. It was knee deep to a sand bar in the middle. The other side of the bar it didn't look any deeper, the water was crystal clear and only looked about a foot deep.
I jumped in the mighty Sierra and ploughed in to find that the creek was closer to chest deep. Water broke over the bonet and washed up over the roof, but the little car kept going and only resulted in 1" of water through the floor. Oh, and no
snorkel.
Now I prod, walk or watch the crossing for others to do it first.
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Follow Up By: chump_boy - Tuesday, Jun 13, 2006 at 08:18
Tuesday, Jun 13, 2006 at 08:18
Been there, done that in an old sierra.
It is amazing how
well they float, without a
snorkel and everything....
lol
I miss my zook
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Reply By: Member - bushfix - Tuesday, Jun 13, 2006 at 07:08
Tuesday, Jun 13, 2006 at 07:08
G'day Mike,
yep, I'll get out and walk it, rather than "hit and hope." One good reason is as you mentioned, that final 10%. Somentimes the exits can get a bit torn up or on the other hand, there may be a big
rock in the way. Last time I did the Kowmung crossing near
Dingo Dell she was fair flowing after a few days of rain, right across the normal approach. So I stripped off and found a significant hole just near the exit on the RHS. Water was waist height so I tarped up. Also gave me a good idea of the strength of the current.
Got through safely as I had kids on board and had to be confident. :)
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Reply By: Steve63 - Tuesday, Jun 13, 2006 at 09:56
Tuesday, Jun 13, 2006 at 09:56
Hi Mike,
Get out and walk it or if it is a popular track wait and someone else (probably a local who knows the lay of the land) will drive across it. The year we went to the Kimberly the Pentacost was quite high (
well over the wheel arches) and we had been warned there was a large croc in the area so we just waited (with two other groups) and sure enough some hero came along and ploughed through. He did identify the very large
rock near the exit for us! I have learned my lesson about "looking". We went through to the Bungle Bungles and the water in the creek had settled into two layers. It looked like 6 inches of water over a muddy bottom. It was actually closer to 600mm. I can tell you it is a shock when you expect ankle deep and most of your car disappears into the drink! Many rivers/creeks change conditions in a few hours, don't rely on wheel tracks on the other side. You don't know what made them.
Steve
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Reply By: ro-dah-o (WA) - Tuesday, Jun 13, 2006 at 10:38
Tuesday, Jun 13, 2006 at 10:38
I always thought the duty of walking the creek was under the JDF of the '
gate opener'?- or atleast thats what I tell my passengers.
Generally, unless it is shallow and clear enough that I can see the bottom, I will walk it first. Once had a floodway to cross a few years ago in the wheatbelt of WA near
Hyden. I was the '
gate opener' for the day, so off to the jocks and across I went. They picked me up 200m down stream as part of the road had dislodged and off i went for a short rip down the rapids- glad we didnt try and drive ot first
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Reply By: Member -Dodger - Tuesday, Jun 13, 2006 at 17:04
Tuesday, Jun 13, 2006 at 17:04
Mike ,
It does pay to walk all crossings that show a little depth.
As for croc's
well if the water is only 3% c then you are very unlikely to find one as they are a cold blooded animal and must maintain body temp viz. sunbaking.
If the water is warm then get your co-pilot to keep a
lookout whilst you cross, but first do a recce yourself before plunging in.
I would rather have the cods in my throat due to cold water than a drowned vehicle out in the never never.
I too have found on occasions that although the crossing looks good that there was a hole or a
rock just waiting to catch the unwary.
Sometimes you may find that the wheel tracks in the creek bed are quite deep and with a little thought you can avoid them and cross easier and shallower.
To me there is nothing quite as scary as a fast flowing water course.
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