This is superb advice regarding stream crossings. If you are new to stream crossings, commit WD's advice to memory.Wandering Daisy wrote: There are some really good stream crossing skills that depend on a larger group of hikers. You are ALWAYS better off crossing a large creek with one or more other people. Basically you join (lock arms, etc) and make a line so that everyone except the first is in a calmer wake and the group pushes to keep the first guy up.
If the stream is really tough, it is better to first get a rope across and make a tight line to haul packs and use as a hand line.
If you choose to go solo, be extremely conservative. Like I said in my post on my Yosemite trip, water is always twice as deep as it looks and distance across twice as long as you think.
In most cases, do not cross barefoot. At some difficulty, do not even use wading shoes - stay in your hiking boots. Neoprene socks, or just putting plastic bags over our socks really help keep feet warmer. When your feet go numb, you get really clumsy.
Unbuckle your waist belt. If you fall in you want to be able to quickly escape out of your pack.
Jumping rocks or crossing on logs also have their own dangers. When wet, both are very slippery and it is probably safer to wade if that is feasible. I have fallen head first in a river jumping rocks, but was in a large group so was pulled out and most of my gear was also retrieved.
Take time to really scout up and down a creek to find the best crossing. It may take an hour or more. Most trails cross where it is best for horses. You may have to wait for the next morning at lower flows. A one foot difference in river level translates into a vast difference in the power of the flow. In general, once over your crotch you cannot stay attached to the bottom- you start to float away. Tall big (heavy) poeple definitely have an advantage.
I tend to get dizzy if I look at the water too much. I try to focus on a point on the far shore. I use the three-point concept, just like in climbing. Keep three points of contact all times - one foot and two trekking poles, and move one foot. Then move one pole, next pole, next foot. Always having three points of contact.
Personally, I wade rather than using logs or rocks whenever possible. I have seen several people take dangerous falls. I did myself once, going over backwards into (fortunately) a pool that was deep enough that I did not hit my head.
I believe I have read (here somewhere?) that the top cause of death in the wilderness is drowning. If you fall into a creek and hit your head on a rock, you can drown in a few inches of water.