Crossing Granit Creek in record flood
- Thread starter Clark White
- Start date
Overland Hadley
on a journey
Ouch!
Clark White
Explorer
As a matter of fact, I busted out the fish finder just to make sure there were none! LOL. But really, I did cover all bases I could think of. The strong and deep current really was only 4' across and the rest of the creek was fairly mundane. That goes to show just how powerful water is though. It was only a few feet deep and a few feet across, and yet it was at the limit of what I would cross in anything but an emergency.
I suppose a full explanation of my prep work is in order both to show that I did not just blindly and stupidly cross and also so others can understand what all goes into something like this. I initially drove out there to hike and take pictures of the snow covered Dells, but when I got done I walked down to the creek and took a look. At first I thought no way, not just cause, but then I started studying how the water was flowing. It's not as obvious in the videos, but the way the water was flowing was very even. When there are large rocks there will be a change in the way the water flows past. Rather then being smooth (yes this is a relative term), with the rise and fall being very even from one point to the next, there will be a different rise. I'm really not sure how to explain this better, I hope you all can understand what I'm referring to. After I had studied this for a while and felt confident there was nothing chassis grabbing big under there, I took the largest tree limb I could find laying around and went a few feet above the crossing where the fast current came right up to shore (and I really do mean only a few feet from the crossing, I did not walk but 4' up stream from where you see me enter). I poked and probed every point I could reach from there. At that point I called my friends with my proposal and they headed my way. While I waited for them to arrive I stripped off everything I felt comfortable with out in a (relatively) public place and waded in. Yes, it was quite cold. I did not walk all the way across to the far shore as most of what you see there is only a few inches deep. I did, however, walk out into the strongest current, stood there for a second, then walked down the strong current a bit before exiting. Feeling nothing but sand on my feet, I dried off as best I could (I'm such a genius I didn't have a towel so I used a spare shirt) and warmed up. I then went back to the bank and studied the flow of the water for a long time, looking for anything that would indicate something big.
None of this is foolproof. Being as sandy bottomed as it was made it easy to identify anything large underwater, but also makes traction more of an issue, and of course there is always the possibility that I could have missed something big enough, just not big, and everything could have gone south in a hand basket. I did this with a full understanding of the risks involved, full assumption of said risks, and full confidence in my plan (from experience) and my backup plans should things have gone wrong, including my ability to escape from the vehicle.
Clark White
S
Scenic WonderRunner
Guest
Have you been able to get the crease out of the middle of your drivers seat?
I'm really worried about the serious damage to it!:sombrero:
Great job!:victory:
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I'm really worried about the serious damage to it!:sombrero:
Great job!:victory:
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7wt
Expedition Leader
Only at the keyboard and monitor.
Wes Craiglow
Member
Fellas, no need for cheap shots. For me at least, I am a US Army Ranger. I am paid by your tax dollars to travel to far away places, jump out of airplanes, and get blown up by and exchange gunfire with the enemies of our country for months on end... while y'all hang out in the wilderness and enjoy your trucks. Trust me, gentlemen, I know a thing or two about adventure, and I am not risk averse.
But I am risk aware.
I have zero problem with Clark making the decision to risk his own life and truck for this moment. However, as someone who has been involved with swift water rescue twice in my life, I am not okay with the thought of anyone "innocent" having to go in after him had something gone wrong.
Clark may have been thoroughly prepared and the attempt well-thought out, and for that, as you all have, I will offer him praise. (Well done, Clark; you're truck is cool and you have big balls.) However, the odds became exponentially greater for someone else to have to go in after him and his truck once he made the unnecessary decision to travel into the water--those are odds which didn't even exist before that moment.
I stand behind my earlier statements. It was an unnecessary risk which it potentially placed the lives of others in danger for no justifiable reason other than bragging rights on ExPo and YouTube, and therefore, in the minds of most cops, firemen, SAR, and the general public, it reflects poorly on every responsible trail user.
We will agree to disagree on this topic. No hard feelings, swear.
See y'all out there.
wikid
Adventurer
That would be a crossing I would do only if I had no choice. especially twice.
I am surprised no one commented on the fact that the recovery strap had been rolled over in during the second crossing, which could have been a real mess if it wound up around the passenger tire/axle. That in itself could have lead to a recovery situation.
Thankfully there wasn't an incident.
thanks
Don
I am surprised no one commented on the fact that the recovery strap had been rolled over in during the second crossing, which could have been a real mess if it wound up around the passenger tire/axle. That in itself could have lead to a recovery situation.
Thankfully there wasn't an incident.
thanks
Don
LandCruiserPhil
Expedition Leader
I was worried about the tow strap getting wrapped around the tire on the return trip and stopping forward progress:Wow1:. That was the only thing that concerned me. Other then that I say thanks for the entertainment:coffeedrink:
Mr. Leary
Glamping Excursionaire
:coffeedrink:
As mentioned before, I would only do such a crossing only if I had no other choice but forward travel.
But, I did find it pretty cool and took some screen shots.
And my favorite of all.... the idea of the recovery strap wrapping around the wheel and causing the truck to stop... or even funnier, the strap ripping the snorkel off.... that might have made for an even more awesome video.
Glad you made it OK, but be more careful next time, dont forget to check the differentials if you dont have breathers on them.
The crazy guy...
But, I did find it pretty cool and took some screen shots.
And my favorite of all.... the idea of the recovery strap wrapping around the wheel and causing the truck to stop... or even funnier, the strap ripping the snorkel off.... that might have made for an even more awesome video.
Glad you made it OK, but be more careful next time, dont forget to check the differentials if you dont have breathers on them.
The crazy guy...
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SilverBullet
Explorer
I have to say, credit to the driver. You prepared, which was not told in the beginning. I would not do it, but well done prep work and great video. If you ever need another spotter vehicle, give me a call, my 4Runner is always up for some fun.
Overland Hadley
on a journey
I like this YouTube comment.
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soonenough
Explorer
Off-topic: I think the population sample of people who post comments on YouTube have to be some of the least intelligent / most ignorant the world has to offer.