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Stop ignoring creek crossings when planning your route
I just finished a 4 day loop in the Smokies last week and saw three separate groups trying to cross swollen creeks that were clearly over the trail markers. People look at topo maps and check elevation but nobody seems to factor in recent rain and how those little streams turn into real hazards. I almost had to help a guy who slipped on a wet rock crossing Indian Creek and banged his knee pretty bad. Has anyone else noticed that most route planners just don't account for seasonal water levels?
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hugo_moore1mo ago
Bro have you checked how many people actually look at rainfall totals in the week before their trip? I keep seeing folks just glance at the weather app for the day they start and call it good. Last spring I hiked a section in Shenandoah where a normally ankle deep creek was waist high because of three days of downpour. Nobody I talked to on the trail had checked the USGS water data or even the NWS rainfall maps for the area. It's like everyone thinks trails are static and never change with the seasons. What's the point of planning a route if you're not gonna check if the crossings are even passable first?
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