Travelling up or down a river can be such a fun experience, but it can also be dangerous. Here are some considerations to think about before your adventure..
Temperature
To avoid hypothermia, it’s not a good idea to travel by river unless both the air and water temperatures are pleasantly warm. Any amount of time spent being wet is going to reduce your body temperature – this might not be an issue on warm days when you’re exerting yourself, but it would be dangerous in cooler weather. If you feel cold, get out and dry off. Always bring a towel and a dry set of clothes that you can change into
Water Depth & Speed
Only travel along a river in shallow and slow-moving water. Fast moving or deep water can pull you under and is a drowning risk. A heavy rucksack is also a drowning risk. If there is any risk of being pulled under and you are not able to exit the river, undo your rucksack straps so that if you’re taken by the water, you can remove the rucksack quickly and easily to prevent it pulling you down. Beware of hidden dips in the river bed, deep sections behind boulders or fallen trees and spinning currents. These deadly currents can be invisible and they can trap you under the water. They can and do take lives.
Silt and Mud
Be very cautious of silt and mud. Use a trekking pole to test the riverbed in front of you and check that it's solid. You can get stuck in silty, soft riverbeds, which could be disastrous.
Slips & Falls
The riverbed and river rocks are going to be slippery. I've found that hiking sandals are much more suitable than water shoes, providing more grip and better protection for your feet. I also use a trekking pole for stability. Take your time and assess each movement.
Obstacles
Most sections of river are going to contain obstacles such as fallen trees, overgrowth, flood debris, boulders, and waterfalls. You might feel comfortable attempting some obstacles, but some will not be passable, and you might need to leave the river. There is usually an element of scrambling involved. Wet scrambling in water requires a lot of care and careful assessment to avoid slips and falls. In case you need to backtrack, never attempt any obstacle that you wouldn’t be able to do in reverse
Leeches
I don’t see leeches often, but they are there. During a recent trip in the Moelwyns I had two leeches on my swim clothes after a waterfall swim. Most leech bites are harmless but it’s a good idea to learn how to remove them, in case you find one attached. Always clean and cover the wound after the leech has been removed
Route Planning
Before your adventure, examine your planned route carefully on maps. Study the contour lines and avoid river stretches on steep terrain. Be aware that in a gorge, you might not be able to exit the river
Upstream Lakes & Reservoirs
It’s good practice to be aware of any bodies of water upstream that could potentially flood into the river that you’re travelling along. We all know and expect that natural lakes can burst their banks and flood after heavy rain. But certain man-made reservoirs and dams can be particularly risky as the rivers below them cannot be expected to behave in such predictable ways. Rivers below balance tip dams for example can be unexpectedly flooded with no warning, even when there has not been heavy rain in recent days. With a balance tip dam upstream, unless you’ve actually been to check out the water levels up at the reservoirs, there’s no knowing if or when the water level might reach its tipping point and suddenly be released, and so crossing or entering the river at all is best avoided. Always check your map to see what might be lurking upstream and where possible research which type of dam is installed
Keeping your Gear and Dry Clothes Dry
Use a pack liner to line the inside of your rucksack, and dry bags to store your bedding, clothes and electronics, just as you would in rainy weather
Common Sense
Always tell a trusted person where you’ll be going, what your plans are, and when you’ll be expected back. Carry a PLB in case of emergency. If you aren’t sure if the way is safe enough, turn back. If you feel there is any possibility of getting stuck or stranded, turn back. If your gut tells you something isn’t right, listen to it and turn back
Protecting the River
It’s important that your water clothes are separate from your dry clothes, and that they aren’t treated with pesticides or bug treatments. At home I like to wash my water clothes with non-toxic detergent and use natural self-care products before and during my trips (because, if you aren't looking like a scary frizz-monster, are you really adventuring?)
Gorge Walking
There are some routes which are a bit more ‘extreme’ and are popular with guided tours, such as the Afon Ddu gorge walk from Dolgarrog. Always follow the gorge walking code of conduct and if unsure, hire a guide
To avoid hypothermia, it’s not a good idea to travel by river unless both the air and water temperatures are pleasantly warm. Any amount of time spent being wet is going to reduce your body temperature – this might not be an issue on warm days when you’re exerting yourself, but it would be dangerous in cooler weather. If you feel cold, get out and dry off. Always bring a towel and a dry set of clothes that you can change into
Water Depth & Speed
Only travel along a river in shallow and slow-moving water. Fast moving or deep water can pull you under and is a drowning risk. A heavy rucksack is also a drowning risk. If there is any risk of being pulled under and you are not able to exit the river, undo your rucksack straps so that if you’re taken by the water, you can remove the rucksack quickly and easily to prevent it pulling you down. Beware of hidden dips in the river bed, deep sections behind boulders or fallen trees and spinning currents. These deadly currents can be invisible and they can trap you under the water. They can and do take lives.
Silt and Mud
Be very cautious of silt and mud. Use a trekking pole to test the riverbed in front of you and check that it's solid. You can get stuck in silty, soft riverbeds, which could be disastrous.
Slips & Falls
The riverbed and river rocks are going to be slippery. I've found that hiking sandals are much more suitable than water shoes, providing more grip and better protection for your feet. I also use a trekking pole for stability. Take your time and assess each movement.
Obstacles
Most sections of river are going to contain obstacles such as fallen trees, overgrowth, flood debris, boulders, and waterfalls. You might feel comfortable attempting some obstacles, but some will not be passable, and you might need to leave the river. There is usually an element of scrambling involved. Wet scrambling in water requires a lot of care and careful assessment to avoid slips and falls. In case you need to backtrack, never attempt any obstacle that you wouldn’t be able to do in reverse
Leeches
I don’t see leeches often, but they are there. During a recent trip in the Moelwyns I had two leeches on my swim clothes after a waterfall swim. Most leech bites are harmless but it’s a good idea to learn how to remove them, in case you find one attached. Always clean and cover the wound after the leech has been removed
Route Planning
Before your adventure, examine your planned route carefully on maps. Study the contour lines and avoid river stretches on steep terrain. Be aware that in a gorge, you might not be able to exit the river
Upstream Lakes & Reservoirs
It’s good practice to be aware of any bodies of water upstream that could potentially flood into the river that you’re travelling along. We all know and expect that natural lakes can burst their banks and flood after heavy rain. But certain man-made reservoirs and dams can be particularly risky as the rivers below them cannot be expected to behave in such predictable ways. Rivers below balance tip dams for example can be unexpectedly flooded with no warning, even when there has not been heavy rain in recent days. With a balance tip dam upstream, unless you’ve actually been to check out the water levels up at the reservoirs, there’s no knowing if or when the water level might reach its tipping point and suddenly be released, and so crossing or entering the river at all is best avoided. Always check your map to see what might be lurking upstream and where possible research which type of dam is installed
Keeping your Gear and Dry Clothes Dry
Use a pack liner to line the inside of your rucksack, and dry bags to store your bedding, clothes and electronics, just as you would in rainy weather
Common Sense
Always tell a trusted person where you’ll be going, what your plans are, and when you’ll be expected back. Carry a PLB in case of emergency. If you aren’t sure if the way is safe enough, turn back. If you feel there is any possibility of getting stuck or stranded, turn back. If your gut tells you something isn’t right, listen to it and turn back
Protecting the River
It’s important that your water clothes are separate from your dry clothes, and that they aren’t treated with pesticides or bug treatments. At home I like to wash my water clothes with non-toxic detergent and use natural self-care products before and during my trips (because, if you aren't looking like a scary frizz-monster, are you really adventuring?)
Gorge Walking
There are some routes which are a bit more ‘extreme’ and are popular with guided tours, such as the Afon Ddu gorge walk from Dolgarrog. Always follow the gorge walking code of conduct and if unsure, hire a guide
I am not on TikTok - all TikTok profiles with my name are fakes. There are also many scammers pretending to be me on Facebook and YouTube. The links above are the official and only real WildBeare social media accounts
All Content Copyright © Claire | WildBeare