Water crossings in the Sierra felt way safer after I tried a different approach

Last summer I was doing the JMT stretch near Evolution Creek and the crossing was running faster than I expected. I always used trekking poles for balance, but they kept getting swept sideways. A guy I met told me to link arms with him and we crossed side by side, facing upstream. It felt WAY more stable, almost like a tripod. I learned that two people bracing each other beats poles on a strong current. Has anyone else tried this or do you stick with poles solo?

2 comments

2 Comments

riveradams20d ago

Remember you're supposed to lean into the poles, not just use them for balance. If they're sideways, you're probably holding them too light. That arm lock might work but it's a lot of trust in a stranger's footing, and fast water doesn't forgive mistakes.

cooper.phoenix21d ago

Take that arm-lock method with a grain of salt. I've done plenty of crossings solo with poles, and the trick is to plant both poles on the upstream side and lean into them hard. That gives you a solid tripod of your own without relying on someone else's footing. If the other person slips or panics, you're both going down, and then you're fighting the current while tangled up. Poles let you move at your own pace and bail out if you need to. That said, if the water's really ripping and you're not confident, sure, link up. But I'd practice that on a gentle crossing first, not when it matters.