Does anyone know what the stream crossings are like now on the JMT?
joemama
Stream crossings
system
#2
I did them all over the past two weeks. You will not have any problems. You may want to go downstream 200 yards to do the Bear Creek crossing.
Gary
system
#3
I did them all over the past two weeks. You will not have any problems. You may want to go downstream 200 yards to do the Bear Creek crossing.
Gary
system
#5
I did everything before Evolution about 2 weeks ago, Bear Creek was sketchy. I’m 5’4" and the water was up to my waist, I got washed down stream and was lucky to have a hiking partner to help me get out. We found that putting our hands on each other’s shoulders and walking like a crab was the best way to get across. This was the only tough crossing though.
tumblina
system
#6
There were only a handful of crossings we made that were above my knees (I’m 5’9"). However, there were many that were 1.5’ or less. Here is what we found on the most critical ones:
7/22/06 - Mono Creek (three crossings on the descent from Silver Pass). Mid-thigh deep (2’) and flowing moderately strong.
7/23/06 - Bear Creek. We crossed at a meadow about a 1/4 mile downstream of the official crossing. There is an island in the middle so we crossed to the downstream end. Both branches were about 1.75 feet deep and flowing slower than any other place we saw. The Hilgard Branch (Lake Italy junction) crossing about a mile before that was 2’ deep and had a section of smooth granite that made keeping our footing interesting. It would have been easier had we gone upstream just a bit.
7/26/06 - Evolution Creek. We crossed at the meadow per a note left by the McClure Ranger and on the advice of every northbounder we met. Follow the use trail along the creek just before the official crossing for 1/2 mile if you are going southbound. We did it at 7 a.m. and found it to be about 2.5’ deep and flowing slow.
The key is that there were still snow patches higher up but they should be greatly diminished by now. All crossings will be lower unless you try it after a four hour thunder storm. The thing we learned is that all of the official crossings are placed in the best spots for horses to cross. You only get a bridge if a horse can’t make it (with a few exceptions). If it looks sketchy, scout around for a better spot to cross.
Snowball