Swimming Pack Across a River?

[Dave Bremers]

The amount of water in the food bag was more than just condensation, but again, no catastrophe, especially when coupled later with the packliner. Most of the drybags were at their wettest after sticking a wet hand in - obviously they keep water in too!

[tomberli]

If you got a calm body of water, I prefer to 'walk' the pack across if it looks wadeable. Its significantly easier and fast than swimming. Make sure you undo the chest and waist straps though and put the shoulder straps on the loosest possible setting. That way you can easily 'slip out' if it gets too deep. Then just grab your pack and swim it across, use it as a float and kick with your legs. Thats how we got taught in the army at least. Ah and NEVER wear your boots when swimming. Makes life a lot harder! Gotten across New River Lagoon that way before and it works fine.

Walking pack across New River Lagoon

If you are talking a river, then I would probably cross solo and then try and pull the packs on ropes as described before. Seems much saver as the current is usually significantly stronger than it looks from the side!

In terms of waterproofing, I use large pack liners ( i think they are sea to summit) with the big roll-tops. They work extremely well - you can even submerge them to quite some depth if you rolled them 3 or more times at the top. I tend to have one really big one as a general pack liner and then several small ones for other items (one for clothes, one for tent/sleeping bag, one for food etc.) Never had anything get wet so far.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Why didnt you use the boats??

[tomberli]

What there is BOATS there???

[ILUVSWTAS]

Hahaha errrr yes

[tomberli]

Hahaha errrr yes

I was being silly. There was some issue there. Was a few years ago. Can't remember what the details where, but as we came toward New River, we bumped into a bunch of very distressed girls that told us an exhaustive story. One of the boats was missing from memory. But you actually save well over an hour for braving the waters at the narrowest bit rather than getting up to the boats and back and forth 3 times.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Yeh I figured as much. didnt think anyone was that silly. Though it's hard to tell lately.......
I have considered wading myself in the past, it's quite a walk behind the dunes, then theres the matter of rowing across 3 times.......

[tomberli]

Well thats right. The first time I did it (on the photo) it wasn't voluntary. But it wasn't all that bad really. 5 minutes or so and you're over and if you jog a bit when you get there you warm up quickly. So on a sunny day i would definitely contemplate doing it again.

Speaking of missing boats however. Last time I was down in Melaleuca, we had to sit out a storm waiting for the planes to come for two days. In the worst weather, a guy came running down the port davey and he seemed quite distressed. He was walking on his own and when he got to the Bathurst crossing the day before he decided it looked nice and camp on the northern side rather than cross and camp on the other side. New day that storm rolled in and it was too rough to cross - but after sitting in his tent alone for a few hours he got bored and decided to 'give it a go' regardless. So he rowed across with one boat, dumped his pack and started rowing back with two. But as there was now a lot more drag from the wind, he started to be dragged out towards Port Davey. As he realised that he didn't have the strength to control the boats he panicked and jumped in the water to swim to the shore... He than ran to Melaleuca to ask for help... Luckily the ranger was there with a powerboat and managed to rescue the two dinghies which were apparently half way to Argentina... He was even nice enough to get the guys backpack that he had left on the shore to run faster...

[flyfisher]

Interesting story there Tomberli,at least the ending was good.

ff

[north-north-west]

Even if it is to know what to expect in case of a slip into a river in an unexpected situation. Always good to try these things in more controlled situations first.

That's a good idea. I'll be interested to hear how easy it is to get a strapped-on large, heavy pack off, once your in water over your head. It might be good to have somebody nearby with a video camera too. $250,000 up for grabs on Australia's Funniest Home Videos.

I'd suggest you had a rescuer prepared to go in before you try it. And a ventilator standing by.

I once slipped climbing out of Ela Elap, with full tech diving gear on, minus mask and fins - and found that the hose on my BC had been pulled off the inflator unit when it snagged on a rock. Of course, I hadn't clipped the reg I was using back onto the BC, either. I was 30 foot down and sinking fast when I finally managed to unclip the other reg and get some air, and a good bit further before I could grab some rocks on the wall and start dragging myself back to the surface. Very much not fun.
Of course, the diving gear would be heavier than a pack, but the imbalance issue would be the same - there's something of a tendency to go down half upside-down.

[Dave Bremers]

Scary, good work getting out of that. Hmm falling with a pack would make you fall upside down

[Ent]

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[Area54]

That experience reminds me of surfing big days on the waveski. Being strapped to the boat with both waist and thigh straps (for powerful manoeuvres) and upside down in big surf - you eskimo roll up to find another set bearing down on you, tip over to duck dive the set, eskimo roll again - not easy in foamy surf and turbulent water, get your bearings then have to repeat the process over and again several times till you get a lucky break. Sometimes you get held down or the wave drives you along, you have to keep a cool head, time your breathing and work things out.

I guess it's a similar thrill for whitewater kayaks, only with bouyancy vest and helmets?

[Cocksy_86]

I tried swimming across the spit from Bribie Island to Bulcock Beach. I triple bagged my pack and went for it. I got about a third of the way and it sunk. I got back to the island and ended up spending the night cold and wet. In the morning I paid two fishermen $10 to take me over.

I have heard of some air mattresses making a good raft. The aboriginals in the area would make a raft out of dead wood and paperbark, but I think I will try the packliner approach. Cheers guys.

[eddie the eagle]

Hi All,

back to the original question - I picked up one of these when I was in the UK last year. Haven't seen them here, but I haven't looked too hard either.

http://exped.com/exped/web/exped_homepa ... ent&Click=

Think it cost me about GBP20 or so.

It's had about 10 days in the bush so far and held up fine - no cuts and tears, waterproofing still looks OK and I'm not that gentle on my pack - leading with a 70L pack means that everything's crammed in.

I've got a river crossing of unknown depth, but probably shallow/stepping stones but maybe not, next weekend - will let you know how it goes if submerged. I'm avoiding the election hype. (Royal NP - river crossing is the Couranga track onto Forest Island. If anyone knows what it's like could you please let me know by PM)

Cheers,

eddie