Читать книгу Sierra South. Backcountry Trips in California's Sierra Nevada онлайн

44 страница из 140

Stream Crossings: Stream crossings vary greatly depending on snow-melt conditions. Often, June’s raging torrent becomes September’s placid creek. If a ford is described as “difficult in early season,” fording that creek may be difficult because it is hard to walk through deep or fast water, and getting caught in the current would be dangerous. Whether you attempt such a crossing depends on the presence or absence of logs or other bridges, downstream rapids or waterfalls, your ability and equipment, and your judgment. We mention manmade bridges and other manmade aids for you to cross on, but we usually don’t mention chance aids like logs and rocks, because they can vary from year to year. (See for tips for ssss1.)

Trail Type and Surface: Most of the trails described here are well maintained (the exceptions are noted) and are properly signed. If the trail becomes indistinct, look for blazes (peeled bark at eye level on trees) or ducks (two or more rocks piled one atop another). Trails may fade out in wet areas like meadows, and you may have to scout around to find where they resume. Continuing in the direction you were going when the trail faded out is often, but not always, a good bet.