Questions tagged [rivers]
Questions referencing Rivers, this may also include springs, streams, tributaries and river mouths.
65
questions
40
votes
4
answers
4k
views
If I have to cross an icy, flowing river, what are some ways I can cross safely?
If I'm alone in a survival situation and I have to cross a very cold river that's still flowing, how should I accomplish this safely?
- 3,041
35
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Can I sail a raft on a European river with commercial traffic?
I'm thinking about sailing a part of the Danube, alone, on a self-built raft. I have no experience sailing rivers on any serious basis.
I'm considering a raft for a number of reasons:
It's cheap.
...
- 1,441
33
votes
4
answers
7k
views
In the US is it legal to travel on any river/creek my canoe will navigate?
I have always assumed that if my Canoe will float, and the waterway ultimately reaches an ocean it is legal to travel on.
I looked around for documents that said it clearly one way or the other. ...
- 30.3k
30
votes
9
answers
13k
views
What is the best way to cross streams while backpacking?
I'm curious of a good technique to cross a stream while backpacking that's above the boot's waterproof line but no higher than the knees. I typically face upstream and use my hiking poles for ...
- 1,495
27
votes
2
answers
6k
views
How to carry a bicycle in a canoe?
I am contemplating a river journey from Pittsburgh to the Gulf of Mexico. 981 miles on the Ohio river and 2340 miles on the Mississippi River. The current plan calls for completing the journey in 1 ...
- 30.3k
26
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Is it significantly faster to hike along a river bank?
Hiking through old-growth forest with no trail, is a lot slower than hiking on a trail. The actual speed seems to vary greatly depending on the particular forest, with estimates ranging from perhaps 1 ...
- 1,691
24
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Can horses ford deeper/faster rivers than humans?
Is it safe to follow a equestrian trail and assume I can ford where the horse-trail does? Or should I expect equestrians to ford rivers too deep or swift to ford on foot? I'm thinking of the ...
- 27.1k
21
votes
5
answers
6k
views
How can I find the safest place to cross a frozen river from a map?
Where is the better chance the ice on the frozen river in winter will be thicker and safer to cross?
I expect the river width oscillates between the following conditions:
on a shallow, wider, slower ...
- 311
21
votes
8
answers
8k
views
What are the dangers of swimming in natural waters?
What are the dangers of swimming in natural bodies of water? In essence I would like to know about all types of waters, but I am mostly interested in sea because it is most relevant to me. Like many ...
21
votes
4
answers
16k
views
Can a human survive in Saltstraumen or other whirlpool?
I am fascinated and afraid (at the same time) of whirlpools and water currents.
I wonder if a average human could survive water currents or whirlpools or maybe even the Saltstraumen?
- 311
19
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How can I tell if a natural snow-bridge is safe to cross?
In early summer in the high mountains, snowfields may lie over rivers. These rivers may be otherwise tricky to ford, and it can be very tempting to use the snowfield to cross the river. However, ...
- 27.1k
18
votes
10
answers
9k
views
What is the best type of shoe to wear for crossing deep rivers?
I'm heading up for some walking to Scotland soon. I will need to cross multiple rivers.
I have no interest in crossing wearing my walking boots as so many people like to do as wet feet are the worst ...
- 399
18
votes
3
answers
20k
views
How do you go upriver in a canoe?
Let's say you want to be a voyageur, canoeing on a river like the North Saskatchewan. (We'll leave aside the current state of the beaver pelt industry.)
What do you have to do differently to travel ...
- 681
18
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Sleeping in an inflatable boat
I am going to make a trip on a river in an inflatable rowing boat. The trip is going to be two days long: one day down the river and the next day - back.
The question is how I should spend night. I ...
- 313
18
votes
3
answers
3k
views
How do you survive getting towed under a log jam?
When I was a boy, my father and I were unexpectedly swept into a log jam (pile of logs the size of a house) on the banks of the Elk River while canoeing near our home.
Somewhat similar looking jam, ...
- 53.5k
18
votes
2
answers
684
views
I put a big gouge in the bow of my canoe going across rocks. How can I fix it?
While going through some rapids, we slid across a jagged rock and it put a huge gouge in the bow of my fiberglass canoe. What method and process is best for repairing it, so that next time I hit some ...
- 10.7k
17
votes
5
answers
7k
views
Figuring out from a map which direction is downstream for a river?
If you pull up a river on Google maps it's not clear what's downstream from what.
Like the Colorado River... Hoover Dam is downstream of the Grand Canyon, which is downstream of Lee's Ferry, which is ...
- 715
17
votes
3
answers
718
views
How can I take my dog kayaking?
I wonder if there are any dog crazy people like me out there who have ever tried to take their dogs kayaking or floating down the river. Has anyone seen anything created for dog-friendly kayak ...
- 171
15
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What is the most effective means of paddling a canoe, against the current, under a bridge?
Today I was out in the canoe on Monongahela River I started out paddling up river, and there was a head wind. I noticed that when I got with in about 100 feet of a bridge the wind picked up. The ...
- 30.3k
14
votes
2
answers
5k
views
In kayaking how would you escape an underwater whirlpool current if you were trapped in one?
In kayaking I've heard a term called the 'washing machine'. Apparently as a river is flowing over terrain it can create whirlpools and currents that swirl in all manner. Occasionally a condition can ...
- 873
13
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Why do some people stand inside the river fishing?
Why do some people stand in the water to fish and not just stand on the bank of the river? They get wet this way.
- 233
13
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How to anchor a raft on a river
The past couple years I've been taking a homemade raft out onto the Charles River in Boston to see the fireworks on July 4th (think an old boxspring mattress holding 4 people). One problem we always ...
- 3,633
13
votes
3
answers
434
views
Can I expect a mountain stream to have less water in the morning, even when it is not primarily fed by meltwater?
In late September 2015, I hiked part of the trail in the incredibly beautiful Lónsöræfi in southwestern Iceland, near Vatnajökull. The easternmost segment of the trail requires fording Hnappadalsá (...
- 27.1k
12
votes
6
answers
4k
views
Can I use a blue plastic tarp to float my vehicle across water?
For those unaware, the US army has been using canvas tarps to float jeeps across water for decades.
Video http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675028751_US-4th-Engineers-troops-with-Bantam-...
- 30.3k
12
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Advice on wild swimming in Ontario, Canada
I am pretty much a newbie when it comes to wild swimming, or swimming in rivers and lakes having only went once or twice. However, I'm an avid swimmer and have participated in several swimming ...
- 223
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What is this floating raft-like object in the waters of a reservoir in Massachusetts?
My husband frequently walks at the Wachusett Reservoir, which spans a few towns in central Massachusetts.
This past Sunday he was on his usual path, and saw something floating in the water which he ...
11
votes
5
answers
5k
views
What are the risks of stream crossing with bare feet?
Sometimes while backpacking you have to cross streams, and from a weight point of view, it would be nicer to just cross in your bare feet, instead of bringing an extra pair of shoes along.
These ...
- 69.2k
11
votes
5
answers
2k
views
River crossing in winter?
So we were out looking for some new ice to climb today and discovered this short pitch of ice:
There's only one problem:
The ice is on the wrong side of a rather wide creek. The nearest crossings ...
- 53.5k
11
votes
3
answers
449
views
How to cross rivers or streams at night or in darkness?
I am preparing a dayhike with some buddies of mine but to get to the trailhead, we have to cross more than ten river crossings which are passable by huge vehicles. The water there is quite fast and ...
- 1,521
11
votes
3
answers
902
views
How do hikers cross fast-flowing rivers without wading staffs?
Outdoor instructions in Lapland often recommend to always use a wading staff for river crossings, and not a trekking pole. Ever since I purchased my Folding Wading Staff in a Swedish outdoor store, I ...
- 27.1k
11
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What is involved in taking a canoe through a lock on a major US River?
Most of the locks on rivers in the United States are built for commercial traffic. like barges to navigate the river system. I know they exist and I have seen them on television, but that is all I ...
- 30.3k
11
votes
2
answers
721
views
How do you protect yourself against crocodiles when you have no option but to camp on the banks of a croc-infested river?
I am reading Escape Routes by David Roberts. This is a collection of 20 articles ranging from a winter ascent in Iceland to the first descent of a river in Ethiopia, the Tekeze, a major tributary of ...
- 23.4k
10
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How can one know where to throw one's spear when spearfishing?
Spearfishing has been around ages and everyone has heard of how great the Native Indians were at spearfishing.
As we all know, light is refracted (bent) when it enters water. The key to spearing fish ...
- 9,619
10
votes
2
answers
370
views
Does fordable by 4WD imply fordable on foot?
I am investigating the feasibility of a hike looping around Hofsjökull. Among the foreseen challenges are 17 crossings of named rivers (and many smaller ones). All rivers I need to cross have 4WD ...
- 27.1k
10
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Bald eagle vs. vultures?
I witnessed a bizarre scene on the James River in Richmond, VA, USA (1000 yards west of Mayo Bridge if you want to examine Google Maps). It was on a large rock in the middle of the river, where nearly ...
- 291
10
votes
1
answer
577
views
Are there any possible telltale signs along a water's edge that it would be a good spot for gold panning?
A friend and myself would like to do some gold panning this summer for the first time. We both live in southern British Columbia and have the intention of going into some known gold producing areas.
...
- 9,619
8
votes
3
answers
123
views
Is there a website with current river water levels for Arizona/Utah?
Is there a website that water meters on rivers report to? I am planning a white water river trip and I am worried the river will be dry. I know there are meters on the river but accessing them or ...
- 6,232
8
votes
3
answers
293
views
What is the longest stretch of bike trail that parallels a navigable river in the US?
I have begun adventuring where I drive to a boat launch on a river near a bike trail, put the canoe on a trailer, and tow the canoe up the trail with the bike. At another boat launch I put the canoe ...
- 30.3k
8
votes
1
answer
188
views
Long term autonomous winter expedition northern Quebec/Labrador: Advices/questions
I'm pondering a longer-term hike in Northern Quebec/Labrador. Autonomous style, sky or snowshoe (TBD) with a sled etc. Right now, considering going Fermont, going south to Sept-Iles (possibly ...
- 510
7
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What is an ice circle, and how does it form?
I've seen ice do a lot of strange things, but I've never seen it do this before: Ice Circle spinning on Middle Fork Snoqualmie River (Vimeo).
What causes ice circles to form?
- 53.5k
7
votes
1
answer
241
views
Strange river level changes (similar to tides) near the "Lech Fall"
The "Lech Fall" in Austria is a huge waterfall with a small peninsula on its inflow. This picture gives a nice overview:
From Wikimedia
I was standing on that peninsula and experienced extremely ...
- 23.5k
7
votes
5
answers
2k
views
For fording cold rivers, is there any special clothing (as opposed to makeshift bags or tightly connected raintrousers) to stay dry and warm?
On my treks, I often need to ford rivers — on my last trek (3½ day) I forded five, including four on a single day (not counting >100 smaller streams). My current practice is to take off my boots and ...
- 27.1k
7
votes
2
answers
364
views
What is the best stroke for swimming in rapids aggressively?
So I know that most swimming in rapids should be defensive, on your back feet together and pointed downstream. However, there are times you need some good aggressive swimming to get to an eddie or out ...
- 6,232
7
votes
2
answers
8k
views
Is it illegal to remove rocks from a riverbed in the UK
I would like to take just a few rocks from a local river bed to use in my aquarium. Is this legal?
- 79
6
votes
5
answers
591
views
Can you notice a waterfall in time to get off the river?
If you are going downstream by canoe or raft on an unfamiliar river, and there is a waterfall ahead, are you likely to be able to detect the sound and the cloud of spray sufficiently far in advance to ...
- 1,691
6
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Flat bottom boat trolling motor power
I am wondering how to estimate the needed motor power for boating upstream on big rivers like, for example, Danube. (mean the bottom to middle part, i.e. where the Danube is wide and "slow"?).
To be ...
- 163
6
votes
1
answer
95
views
How long to travel the Mopan River by canoe between San Ignacio and Melchor de Mencos?
I’m researching river travel for a novel and need to figure out about how long it would take a canoe to go from San Ignacio to Melchor de Mencos via the Mopan River. This would be upstream travel, so ...
- 201
5
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How can I use horsetail as a "indicator plant" to find gold while gold pannig?
How can I use horsetail as a indicator plant to find gold while gold pannig?
What are Indicator Plants?
Indicator plants are peculiar to a certain place. Though they aren’t necessarily rare, ...
- 9,619
5
votes
1
answer
539
views
Can you sit on the comfy trike saddle while the canoe is in the water?
My answer to How to carry a bicycle in a canoe? includes the image below.
The following question was asked in a comment, and to give it a decent answer, I am posting it as a new question.
...
- 30.3k
5
votes
1
answer
352
views
Terminology and cues for reading river water when fly fishing
When reading or watching videos on about reading water for fishing in English, I often come across terms like riffle, run, pool, seam, among others. However, when I get o the river ready to float that ...
- 1,934