Terrain

2 min read

Moving safely

Climb and descend in zigzags on steep slopes. Go down sideways or facing the slope on very steep stretches, with three points of contact (two feet and one hand, or two hands and one foot).
Test each foothold before putting your weight on it. Loose rock, wet leaves, and dusty soil are the typical causes of falls.
Do not go down what you cannot climb back up. Many lost people end up trapped in a ravine they descended without trouble.
Be careful about "following water downhill." Streams sometimes lead to roads and towns, but also to waterfalls, closed canyons, and impenetrable brush. Never do it at night.
Stop before dark. Walking at night over unfamiliar terrain causes more injuries than it solves.

A knee-deep river with a strong current can knock you down. The National Park Service (NPS) recommends the following:

Decide whether you really need to cross. If the water is muddy, fast, or swollen, wait. Rain-fed streams drop within hours; no hurry is worth a life.
Choose the spot. A straight, wide stretch or one with several channels, where the water spreads out and loses speed. Avoid bends, narrow sections, and whatever is downstream (snagged logs, rapids, drops).
Unbuckle your pack's hip belt and chest strap so you can shed it if you fall. A strapped-on pack can pull you under.
Use a walking stick or a sturdy branch as a third point of contact. Always keep at least two points of contact with the bottom.
Face the current and move sideways, at a slight angle downstream. Take short steps; shuffle your feet.
In a group, cross together: the strongest person on the upstream side to break the current, everyone holding on to each other's arms or pack straps.
If you fall and the current carries you away, get your pack off, float on your back with your feet first and downstream (so you hit with your feet, not your head), and swim diagonally toward the bank.