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Crossing the Teklanika River

Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 3:25 am
by erikhalfacre
The most common question I get over at my site is about the crossing of the Teklanika River.

One thing I notice, that seems almost universal, is that everyone seems to be going to do the hike in August. August is the worst month for water depth guys. I'm not trying to tell you what to do... but think about it.

Anyway, the article can be found at:

http://pathfinderalaska.com/stampedetrail/crossingthetek.php

Also, if you have anything to add or contribute, FEEL FREE to do so. I love getting input from other folks. Have a great day everyone.

Re: Crossing the Teklanika River

Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 3:45 am
by bobenns
If everybody is going at once during high water then we need one of these.


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Re: Crossing the Teklanika River

Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 11:59 pm
by SteveSalmon
~SS

Re: Crossing the Teklanika River

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 4:01 pm
by GoNorth
erikhalfacre wrote: August is the worst month for water depth guys.


Seems to be true as this woman from Switzerland died there in the middle of August last year.
However I always thought that in general, in those regions June should be worst, and lower depth rather in August and September. At least that's my own experience from arctic and subartic Europe, and I think I alread read something like this about Alaska as well. ??
And Chris failed to cross the Tek in early July (he must have tried in the morning as well, as he had stayed near the river at least one night). And Krakauer and also someone else wrote that Chris should just have waited a few weeks for the water to get flatter (which would have been August more or less).
So couldn't it rather be the unpredictability of nature (especially in Alaska) that can make rivers grow more than usual once in a while? Or is there anything special to rivers like the Tek?
I'm not interested in the Stampede Trail myself, but I am interested in Alaskan conditions in general.

Re: Crossing the Teklanika River

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 8:17 pm
by JesusIsLove777
SteveSalmon wrote:I'll take the two in the middle. ; )



total perversion my friend ;)

Re: Crossing the Teklanika River

Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 10:51 pm
by erikhalfacre
In response to GoNorth:

It's been my observation that most of the flooding of the rivers I'm familiar with in AK happens in mid July to mid August. I would imagine this is because that's the hottest time of the year.

Also it's important to note that I'm not standing out there with a yard stick or anything, but at least in 2009 and 2010, from all the reports I got from people doing the trek, the majority of failed attempts due to river depth were in August.

September is a great time to go (weather-wise.) It's cool, but not frigid yet (by AK standards.) The colors are awesome. A lot of the leaves have fallen so you can see farther in the brush. It's really not a bad time to go, other than the fact that everything touristy is shutting down, if you're into that.

There is no guaranteed 'good' time to go though, as has been noted. The river is affected by a lot of things and it's never safe to assume that just because it's a particular time of year that it WILL be low, just that it's more likely to be.

Now if you had a packraft with you, none of that would really matter :D

Re: Crossing the Teklanika River

Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 10:53 pm
by erikhalfacre
Oh and also... if you go in mid August or later: wear an orange hat.

Re: Crossing the Teklanika River

Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 7:01 am
by bobenns
Or wear the fox hat!

When I told my friend I was going to cross the Teklanika River he said "Wear the fox hat"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb0kiiB3O-o

Re: Crossing the Teklanika River

Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 11:08 am
by GoNorth
erikhalfacre wrote:Oh and also... if you go in mid August or later: wear an orange hat.


Thanks for your replies. But what's that orange hat thing? :?: :mrgreen:

Re: Crossing the Teklanika River

Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 12:55 pm
by erikhalfacre
That's so you don't get shot by an over-eager hunter.