Wet conditions on the Camino.

[wayfarer]

Conditions are a bit wet on the Camino at the moment....




Photo courtesy of Amazing World Places.

 

[SYates]

Yup, crossing streams on the Via de la Plata can be hazardous Buen Camino, SY

 

[whariwharangi]

I would at least roll up my trousers ...

 

[OTH86]

The water is SO clear!! At least one can see where one is stepping!!

 

[M. McNabb]

Conditions are a bit wet on the Camino at the moment....


View attachment 28317

Photo courtesy of Amazing World Places.

Ok, with my fear of water, that would end my camino I am afraid. Wow, unbelievable

 

[Kiwi-family]

Hasn't changed too much since June then;-)

 

[M. McNabb]

View attachment 28319 Hasn't changed too much since June then;-)View attachment 28321 View attachment 28322

That is very scary, will have to research that part of the journey

 

[M. McNabb]

That is very scary, will have to research that part of the journey

OK, am breathing again, did my research, not part of Camino Frances!

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Conditions are a bit wet on the Camino at the moment....


View attachment 28317

Photo courtesy of Amazing World Places.

Love the picture.
Looks like it's not raining anymore, that's good. !!!
Wish you well, Peter.

 

[gerardcarey]

Some people just don't use their noggins.
Don't you think they'd use a pack cover.
I would've worn me poncho at least.

 

[Kitsambler]

I would've worn me poncho at least.

If you rigged the poncho properly over the hiking poles, you'd have a boat.

 

[gerardcarey]

If you rigged the poncho properly over the hiking poles, you'd have a boat.

What a good idea that is! I can see myself now, as Toad, in "Wind in the Willows", going down the stream with Badger, Ratty and Mole running along the bank in pursuit.
Thank you very much Kitsambler!
Gerard

 

[Deleted member 43985]

Maybe this will finally lead to agreement about the wisdom of waterproof footwear...

 

[Juanajoanna]

Surely that is photoshopped!

 

[Jeff Crawley]

What a good idea that is! I can see myself now, as Toad, in "Wind in the Willows", going down the stream with Badger, Ratty and Mole running along the bank in pursuit.
Thank you very much Kitsambler!
Gerard

Go for it!

http://www.shelter-systems.com/kayak.html
http://www.shelter-systems.com/kayak.html
Or better still

http://koti.kapsi.fi/hvartial/coracle/coracle.htm

Which you could turn upside down and sleep under at night - instant refugio!

May we come along and watch?

 

[wayfarer]

Great links, thanks Jeff.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Great links, thanks Jeff.

And when you get tired of paddling . . .

 

[camster]

View attachment 28319 Hasn't changed too much since June then;-)View attachment 28321 View attachment 28322

Are you kidding Which Camino was this?

 

[Tia Valeria]

Would the Irish pilgrims, who recently sailed, be willing to lend their boat? see or maybe they could start a new life as ferrymen. I cannot find the link

 

[movinmaggie]

Ideal test for waterproof socks!

 

[spursfan]

Maybe this will finally lead to agreement about the wisdom of waterproof footwear...

No, it doesn't - when you see proper adventurers crossing rivers, they will typically take off their shoes and socks and put them on their shoulders to keep them dry
PS and why they need to use their poles I have no idea

 

[C clearly]

why they need to use their poles I have no idea

? Maybe you are joking? I have never been in that situation. However, my first thought is that I wouldn't attempt it without poles for balance, especially in moving water and when wearing a backpack which would make me top heavy. If the water isn't clear, I'd also want the poles to test for footing.

However, maybe I'd find that the poles were not functional in that way in such deep water, and it is just a placebo. Can anyone comment?

 

[Kiwi-family]

Some people just don't use their noggins.
Don't you think they'd use a pack cover.
I would've worn me poncho at least.

This is the first time I've disagreed with GerardCarey (sorry).
On our last Camino my kids did not use pack covers, but instead used Macpac waterproof liners - despite a serious amount of rain, and sometimes torrential, and despite their packs being absolutely sodden, not one drop got into their gear. (I still prefer my Packa raincoat, but this was a good alternative we tried after finding pack covers to be less than perfect. Of course, a pack cover as well would have been a good option this spring but we were cutting weight)

 

[Albertagirl]

? Maybe you are joking? I have never been in that situation. However, my first thought is that I wouldn't attempt it without poles for balance, especially in moving water and when wearing a backpack which would make me top heavy. If the water isn't clear, I'd also want the poles to test for footing.

However, maybe I'd find that the poles were not functional in that way in such deep water, and it is just a placebo. Can anyone comment?

@C clearly
I have used a walking stick for river crossings since Wally, a backcountry warden in Jasper National Park, instructed me in their use many years ago. Face the flow of the river and place your walking stick upstream of you in the water. Lean on it with both hands as necessary, using it for balance. Walk sideways across the current to the opposite bank, placing the stick in the current upstream of you, a little ahead of your route. A stick helps to keep one's balance in the current and when negotiating an irregular bottom with rolling rocks. I have learned two important things since: 1. a stick which you pick up on the bank may break halfway across, dumping you in the river; 2. an expensive purchased walking stick, if collapsible, will take in water and collapse while you are partway across. I would expect that the same is true of some poles. I do not use walking poles, which is partly illogical, as I have not come across difficult river crossings on the camino. But I am used to using a stick for balance wherever I walk. The poles in the photo do not appear to me to have any function, as the water looks more like a lake than a river and has a fairly level bottom. I would not use walking poles for this purpose: comparatively fragile and most are collapsible.

 

[C clearly]

@C clearly
I have used a walking stick for river crossings since Wally, a backcountry warden in Jasper National Park, instructed me in their use many years ago. Face the flow of the river and place your walking stick upstream of you in the water. Lean on it with both hands as necessary, using it for balance. Walk sideways across the current to the opposite bank, placing the stick in the current upstream of you, a little ahead of your route. A stick helps to keep one's balance in the current and when negotiating an irregular bottom with rolling rocks. I have learned two important things since: 1. a stick which you pick up on the bank may break halfway across, dumping you in the river; 2. an expensive purchased walking stick, if collapsible, will take in water and collapse while you are partway across. I would expect that the same is true of some poles. I do not use walking poles, which is partly illogical, as I have not come across difficult river crossings on the camino. But I am used to using a stick for balance wherever I walk. The poles in the photo do not appear to me to have any function, as the water looks more like a lake than a river and has a fairly level bottom. I would not use walking poles for this purpose: comparatively fragile and most are collapsible.

Some interesting points to consider - in particular, facing upstream while stepping sideways, and using a solid stick instead of hollow poles. Thanks!

 

[Kiwi-family]

@C clearly
I have used a walking stick for river crossings since Wally, a backcountry warden in Jasper National Park, instructed me in their use many years ago. Face the flow of the river and place your walking stick upstream of you in the water. Lean on it with both hands as necessary, using it for balance. Walk sideways across the current to the opposite bank, placing the stick in the current upstream of you, a little ahead of your route. A stick helps to keep one's balance in the current and when negotiating an irregular bottom with rolling rocks. I have learned two important things since: 1. a stick which you pick up on the bank may break halfway across, dumping you in the river; 2. an expensive purchased walking stick, if collapsible, will take in water and collapse while you are partway across. I would expect that the same is true of some poles. I do not use walking poles, which is partly illogical, as I have not come across difficult river crossings on the camino. But I am used to using a stick for balance wherever I walk. The poles in the photo do not appear to me to have any function, as the water looks more like a lake than a river and has a fairly level bottom. I would not use walking poles for this purpose: comparatively fragile and most are collapsible.

If you look really closely in my first picture above, you'll see the guy who is helping us cross is using his pole in exactly the way mentioned. He also instructed the kids to face upstream and walk sideways. Unfortunately you do not have to look too closely to see son did not follow the admonition to keep his arms locked across his front at all times - the water was cold (you can see *that* on his face) and he let go a little subconsciously hoping to avoid the deeper patch! Of course it was not life-threatening, although I doubt the girls would have managed to cross on their own - the current was swift and the rocky bottom quite uneven.
If I had had my way, the kids would also have undone the hipbelts on their packs so that they could flip out of them if necessary, but this lovely guy who had stopped in the rain knowing that we would soon be coming and could use a hand across the stream which was rising quite fast, assured me there was no need - he would not let go of the youngest! When I crossed with the other two, we undid out packs because I was not so confident of my own ability. By the way, the pole was priceless in finding the bottom and steadying against the flow.

 

[Albertagirl]

If you look really closely in my first picture above, you'll see the guy who is helping us cross is using his pole in exactly the way mentioned. He also instructed the kids to face upstream and walk sideways. Unfortunately you do not have to look too closely to see son did not follow the admonition to keep his arms locked across his front at all times - the water was cold (you can see *that* on his face) and he let go a little subconsciously hoping to avoid the deeper patch! Of course it was not life-threatening, although I doubt the girls would have managed to cross on their own - the current was swift and the rocky bottom quite uneven.
If I had had my way, the kids would also have undone the hipbelts on their packs so that they could flip out of them if necessary, but this lovely guy who had stopped in the rain knowing that we would soon be coming and could use a hand across the stream which was rising quite fast, assured me there was no need - he would not let go of the youngest! When I crossed with the other two, we undid out packs because I was not so confident of my own ability. By the way, the pole was priceless in finding the bottom and steadying against the flow.

@Kiwi-family
It is very common in the Canadian Rocky Mountain parks to instruct hikers to undo their waist belts when crossing rivers and major streams. I tried it once. It put me extremely off balance. I prefer to retain my balance and avoid flipping over into the river. Of course, this is with a pack that is at least twice the weight of what I carry on camino. I really need to be stable when doing river crossings. Your crew appears to be managing very well, with a little help from a friend.

 

[jirit]

Reminds of me when I walked the via de la plata - had to cross a number of creeks including one that waist deep. This was followed a few days by a freak snow storm.

 

[C clearly]

@Kiwi-family and @Albertagirl - I did a bit of the VdlP in March, seemingly before the high waters and before I had to change plans for other reasons. Now I am very keen to get out there and test this new knowledge!

It is very common in the Canadian Rocky Mountain parks to instruct hikers to undo their waist belts when crossing rivers and major streams. I tried it once. It put me extremely off balance. I prefer to retain my balance and avoid flipping over into the river.

This illustrates how each of us needs to have some knowledge and then assess the risks as they apply in each case! I would be inclined to undo the belt, but I walk with only a 7 kg pack. I can see the point about the heavier pack!

 

[jirit]

The picture also reminds of when my wife and I hiked the Abel Tasman coastal track in New Zealand and we crossed Torrent Bay estuary during high tide.

I was able to locate a sand bar that crisscrossed the entire estuary. I stripped down to my swimsuit, and waded across carrying my backpack above my head. I returned, and I repeated the same process carrying my wife's pack above my head. During the crossing, the water got so deep that I was barely able to carry the pack above my shoulders, without it touching the water.

 

[Albertagirl]

The picture also reminds of when my wife and I hiked the Abel Tasman coastal track in New Zealand and we crossed Torrent Bay estuary during high tide.

I was able to locate a sand bar that crisscrossed the entire estuary. I stripped down to my swimsuit, and waded across carrying my backpack above my head. I returned, and I repeated the same process carrying my wife's pack above my head. During the crossing, the water got so deep that I was barely able to carry the pack above my shoulders, without it touching the water.

@jirit
I was thinking that the photo reminded me of New Zealand. I walked part of the Abel Tasman track a couple of years ago, but did not overnight on it or attempt any water crossings.

 

[jirit]

@jirit
I was thinking that the photo reminded me of New Zealand. I walked part of the Abel Tasman track a couple of years ago, but did not overnight on it or attempt any water crossings.

Actually the photo reminds of a gorge on the island of Crete that my wife and I hiked.

During the wet season the water can run high.

 

[jirit]

However the photo was taken in Malaysia, not on the Camino in Spain

http://imgur.com/a7FrmoO

http://mykelah.com/sungai-chiling-fish-sanctuary-kuala-kubu-bharu-selangor/

 

[Jeff Crawley]

No, it doesn't - when you see proper adventurers crossing rivers, they will typically take off their shoes and socks and put them on their shoulders to keep them dry
PS and why they need to use their poles I have no idea

No, you take off your trousers and socks to keep them dry (ever tried walking in soused kecks?) but put your boots back on cos you don't want to step on a sharp stone and lose the lot.

 

[jirit]

It's closer to home . The photo was taken at Washington Olympic Peninsula by photographer Ian Coble, see Mountain Hardwear . The backpacks are Mountain Hardwear Outdry backpacks which have a watertight main compartment.

See also http://blog.iancoble.com/behind-the-scenes-mountain-hardwear-commercial-shoot/

Humans: 1 - AI: 0

 

[wayfarer]

It's closer to home . The photo was taken at Washington Olympic Peninsula by photographer Ian Coble, see Mountain Hardwear . The backpacks are Mountain Hardwear Outdry backpacks which have a watertight main compartment.

See also http://blog.iancoble.com/behind-the-scenes-mountain-hardwear-commercial-shoot/

Excellent work. This photo popped up on a Facebook hill walking page here at home and I thought it was an excellent one. It also reminded me of all the discussions on waterproof boots, shoes and other gear.

 

[Albertagirl]

No, you take off your trousers and socks to keep them dry (ever tried walking in soused kecks?) but put your boots back on cos you don't want to step on a sharp stone and lose the lot.

@Jeff Crawley
You are partly right: trousers, sock, boots off. Running shoes on. They can be tied to the pack and are often dry when you arrive in camp. I only wear boots for river crossings when I feel that I must for stability. Wet boots can take two or three days to dry even in dry weather.

 

[Nanc]

crossing a stream with a pack fully belted has resulted in bad outcomes when someone slips and gets pinned (even on top of the pack belly up) or more seriously, if swept downstream snagging said pack on branches and debris
As for removing trousers to cross, I think I'll save the world from these pale legs and keep mine on!

 

[clearskiescamino]

eh? no gaiters?

 

[gerardcarey]

This is the first time I've disagreed with GerardCarey (sorry).
On our last Camino my kids did not use pack covers, but instead used Macpac waterproof liners - despite a serious amount of rain, and sometimes torrential, and despite their packs being absolutely sodden, not one drop got into their gear. (I still prefer my Packa raincoat, but this was a good alternative we tried after finding pack covers to be less than perfect. Of course, a pack cover as well would have been a good option this spring but we were cutting weight)

No no! You are quiet correct. I was being facetious as to those underwater people in wayfarers photograph.
Mind you I do quite enjoy the ridiculous appearance I must present in my Altus. Except for one day when I had to walk thru Paris in the rain. I kept my head down hoping not to attract the attention of the fashion police.
Regards
Gerard

 

[wayfarer]

It has certainly sparked a lively discussion .

I was initially convinced that it was photoshopped, that's why I was determined to find the original. And when I had found it, I felt the photographer deserved some credit .

I saw it on the page "Amazing World Places" that is why I mentioned them in the OP.

 

[MooBro]

N

Conditions are a bit wet on the Camino at the moment....


View attachment 28317

Photo courtesy of Amazing World Places.

No problem. I'll just add an inflatable boat to my backpack. And an outboard motor. A 5 horsepower should do.

 

[Trevor Ockenden]

Some pilgrims will go to any lengths to take the weight off their feet.

 

[Nika]

OK, am breathing again, did my research, not part of Camino Frances!

Very glad to hear that !

 

[Cedar Schimke]

OK, am breathing again, did my research, not part of Camino Frances!

I almost wish it was! Adds to the adventure

 

[SYates]

I almost wish it was! Adds to the adventure

For that kind of adventure try the Via de la Plata during a rainy spring ;-) Buen Camino, SY

 

[M. McNabb]

I almost wish it was! Adds to the adventure

I do think I will have quite enough adventure without the water crossing!!!!

 

[Kiwi-family]

We have returned home to a very rainy winter and six weeks later the kids are still saying "At least we're not walking in it".
We look back with fondness on our Via de la Plata, but it was surely very wet. (And also got into the 30s, so there was quite a range)

 

[M. McNabb]

We

We have returned home to a very rainy winter and six weeks later the kids are still saying "At least we're not walking in it".
We look back with fondness on our Via de la Plata, but it was surely very wet. (And also got into the 30s, so there was quite a range)

Welcome home and I admire your stamina and perseverance .!!!