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    • paleoman
      Member
        Post count: 931

        I’m heading E for a family visit and hunt. I have to cross a stream which is tricky at best to find a crossing. Now anywhere from 1-3″+ of rain is forecast. What a pain. Any advice? Strip down and just get it over? Stream is normally 10-15′ wide and a foot or 2 deep with a few lower spots I can hop scotch across. Not too worried I’ll drown but certainly will use some sense. Would you attempt to cross? It’s a long way around any other way. This must be a common issue in remote areas.

      • Doc Nock
          Post count: 1150

          there was a time I could do trees across, hop scotch on rocks, etc… but the lower limbs are a bit too stiff to do that.

          I have a set of Orvis hippers that are stocking foot…and very light weight…I could see using something like that and old sneakers… then bag and stuff it all in a pack.

          That stripping down and wading in stuff is not for the feint of heart! If you do, remember to BREATHE!

        • jason samkowiak
            Post count: 141

            2 contractor garbage bags and a cheap pair of sandels (like crocs or teva knock offs).

            I use this method to cross a couple creeks and it works awesome. when you get to the creek take boot off and put leg in contrator (thick) garbage bag then put foot and bag into sandle. then do same for other leg with other bag and cross. its like poor man hipboots.

            The sandels are light weight and pack every easy and dry instantly. they protect the bags from the rocks and crap on the bottom.

            works like a champ and packs up light and compact.

          • Doc Nock
              Post count: 1150

              What would we do without Jason???

              His input on lights was spot on…helped me thru the maze of dizzing choices of something better than a mini-mag and now this good idea!

              Course, you don’t want to be some stumblefooted ole person trying to cross some nasty greased cannonball streams with flip flops…but hey… bunch easier than un doing boots, pulling on think hippers and a sneaker or something! Sweet!

              Gravely bottom creeks…sounds about perfect and you can do lots with those trash bags…

              Living in MT, we would take 2 such bags, cut the bottom out of one and duct tape it to the top of the other, fold in neat and keep it for an emergency sleeping bag

            • paleoman
              Member
              Member
                Post count: 931

                Thank you Jason! I’d have never thunked of that on my own. Always just got wet! Delayed a couple days now driving out due to the winter storm….ugh..I’m ready to hunt!

              • Doc Nock
                  Post count: 1150

                  So you got snow, eh?

                  How lovely to hunt deer in snow with a bow!

                  I’ve said for YEARS there is no socially redeeming value to WINTER after hunting season

                  We Seldom see snow in the woods for hunting…but after January… look out. Last year was an open winter, but I got a feeling about this one… 😯

                • paleoman
                  Member
                  Member
                    Post count: 931

                    They’re calling more for heavy rain today where I’m heading. It’s the trip from Mi. Once you hit eastern Oh, Pa and upstate NY traveling conditions look horrible…heavy snow, ice. My hunting won’t start until Monday so it’s all good. Using my most modern tool…a traditional cap lock on this hunt though. Usually no one around but the wind and the ridges. It’s like the idea of America up there. Freedom!

                  • Doc Nock
                      Post count: 1150

                      Some snow and Ice reported in Central PA around State College area… just spoke with people today. Elevation is everything between clear roads…and NOT!

                      Take candles, old coffee cans, matches and some hot chocolate along with your sleeping bag…

                      Haven’t heard reports farther up than State College. Good luck and BE SAFE!

                    • Ralph
                      Moderator
                        Post count: 2580

                        We used to use that concept when crossing the Canadian River on the Lake Meredith National Rec Area. The river during most of the hunting season is normally wade-able. It’s a sandy bottom so we waded in stocking feet and plastic trash bags. We’d then leave our bags under a rock to use upon our return (the Feds dictated where we could cross). It worked well for years until some bodies on their return trip thought we had a good idea and left our bags on the other side of the river. To add insult to injury, right in plain sight and weighted down with rocks just like they’d found them. Just wrong side. Bet they found that to be humorous. After that we either hid our bags well or carried them with us.

                      • Doc Nock
                          Post count: 1150

                          Good Heavens!That is just wrong on so many levels… I’d have taken an extra set of bags next time and left them with pin holes in them…just to tempt them…

                          Bags don’t weigh much in your pack…once water was shook off!

                        • Ralph
                          Moderator
                            Post count: 2580

                            Doc, we wizened up quickly. We started to leave a present in the bags for when those fellers returned but we figured our luck would run poorly if a ranger came by and got prickly about litter, especially a bit odorous litter.:(I’m thinking plenty of cow piles around, what you thinking?) 🙄

                          • Doc Nock
                              Post count: 1150

                              Bad boys, bad boys…whatcha gonna do?

                              😆 That’s rich…

                              I think I’d have had to go w/ sabotaging the bags so midstream, they’d fill up with water… SOB’s!

                              Course, it takes all kinds… but it’s a shame folks who participate in outdoor activities have to come in all sorts of attitudes and values…

                              Wiser to just take your pokes along with ya… Couple of Scorpions i n the bag might have been nice! 😯

                            • Don Thomas
                              Member
                                Post count: 334

                                I can’t answer the question without seeing the creek. You’re really asking two questions–how to stay dry and how to stay safe, and they’re different. The trouble with crocs and garbage bags is that they provide very poor footing in water moving fast over slippery rocks. My choice in real high water (other than turning back if its too nasty) is lightweight stocking foot breathable chest waders with felt (where legal) or cleated soles. That’s also the absolute best way to stay dry in Alaska. Don

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