Crossing Granit Creek in record flood

Clark White

Explorer
Asking for trouble. Kids, having a snorkel and a winch doesn't make situations like this safe, I don't care how much scouting you do. Do not try at home. Maybe at some remote location in Bolivia where you're on the only road for 100 miles and you have no other option... fine. But it comes down to "Risk vs. Reward," and doing this for "fun" is entirely too risky; risk at the cost of your beloved truck and possible the life of yourself, or worse, your rescuer.

And for what reward? Bragging rights on an internet forum... pffft. Whatever.

Clark, not looking to stir up trouble with you, man. Nothing personal at all, just commentary on these types of overlanding choices. It's just situations like there which can all too quickly end up on CNN, and make the rest of us trail enthusiasts look some second cousin to the Bear Grylls wannabes of the world.

Sidenote:
It is my understanding that it is better to drive from an upstream position on the nearside, to a downstream position on the farside--i.e. go with the flow, not steer into it. I thought I'd heard Scott remark once in here about how this offers better traction b/c it offsets buoyancy, take less effort from the engine/gears b/c you're not fighting the current, and is safer b/c of less chance of the truck rolling.

Am I wrong in thinking this? Any Overland Training Certified gurus wanna chime in on this?

(Doggone, I need to man up, drop the $1200, and get certified! :) )
 

Applejack

Explorer
Technically you are right, but hey, it just looks to me like he's living like free man, and freedom=risk.
 

SilverBullet

Explorer
nice crossing, but I noticed your "safety" let go before you were safe. You were lucky. I don't recommend this, not a great idea, but nice video and congratulations on being lucky.

Change your profile location, I was trying to figure out where the dells in NC were...
 

elmo_4_vt

Explorer
X4... When I saw the rear floating up, I would've thought you were gone... Too much of a risk for me.

"Good way to wash your tuck" on the return trip had me laughing...
 
Yup. Lucky you did not come across a flood washed log or boulder in the middle.

With that truck floating the way it was, if he'd hit something with his left rear tire which brought him to a stop, the truck would've rolled several degrees to the left, offering underbelly plane to the oncoming rush of water. That 4Runner weighs 5-6k pounds, but has tens of thousands of pounds of water rushing against it every second--not a fair fight.

If enough current had gotten under the truck while it was rolled left those several degrees, the entire thing would've spun like a cork. And there's no way every square foot of river bed was scouted for hidden boulders, logs, and holes prior to the attempt. That water would've swept any wading/scouting man immediately off his feet.

He got lucky. Very. This could've turned out much differently.

People, please respect the immense power of moving water. Mere words cannot do it justice. You're playing with life and death in situations like this.

My $.04
 

Forum statistics

Threads
188,706
Messages
2,909,357
Members
230,892
Latest member
jesus m anderson
Top