Basic River Safety

I summed up some basic river safety rules. If you want more detailed information about river crossings in New-Zealand, this is the place to go. Link 

Before

• Check the trail notes before starting a section so you know what to expect on the trail.
• If it has been raining for a few days. Check at a local DOC office how river levels are. Local rangers know the area best. Sometimes river levels can rise when it's raining in other areas too. Rivers can get filled up from other mountain ranges further away.

On trail

• Take a good look at the river
• Look for a spot where there are not a lot of rapids
• Rivers tend to be less deep where the river is wide or where there is a little island in the middle
• The flow is faster after a river bend, so try to avoid that
• Use walking poles
• Did you find a good spot to try?
• If you don't want a wet shorts or skirt, take off and go cross in your undies
• Check if your PLB is on and clip it somewhere on you. I clipped it on my bra strap
• Loosen your buckles on your backpack. This is to have a quick escape when you get swept away into the river.
• Make sure your stuff is waterproof somehow (dry bags)
• I sometimes pull my backpack up so the bottom doesn't get wet

Crossing

• Make sure your eyes are looking upstream. That way you see what is coming from upstream.
• You are more stable if you move sideways. So, you put your hiking poles firmly into the bottom of the river and put your legs wide open. Take small steps and make yourself wide.
• Always make sure you have 3 stability points, only lift one point at a time. If you move your feet, keep other leg still an don't move your poles.
• If you feel like you are losing control, go back and keep looking till you find a good spot where you feel confident to cross.
• It's always safer to cross with two or more people. That way you can support each other.