June 12, 2022 | Unsubscribe

⬆ This week in Rocky Mountain National Park - a swollen stream that's normally a trickle and easy for hikers to cross! Not today...

Crossing Rivers & Wet Shoes

Hi there,

Crossing streams and hiking in wet shoes are not high on a hiker's "list of favorite things" but it's really not as bad as you think.

Spring runoff has now started across most of the Western US - melting snow, swollen rivers, rushing creeks, and flooding trails. That means wet feet for most of us that rely on trail running shoes as our only footwear while on a backpacking trip.

In wet areas where there are lots of stream crossings, your footwear will perform better with the following characteristics:
 

• Lightweight. In general (although not always 100% true), lighter materials absorb less water, which means they will dry faster. This holds true for shoes, socks, and gaiters.
   

• Flexible. After you cross a stream, your shoes will be sopping wet. But when you start walking on the other side of the stream, each step “plunges” water out of the shoe. The more flexible a shoe is, and the more drainage options in the upper, the quicker you can expel all that water from the shoe as you continue walking on the other side of the stream.
   

• Breathable mesh uppers. Breathable mesh uppers not only drain water quicker as you walk out the other side of a stream crossing, but also keep your feet cooler in warmer weather. Cooler, dryer feet are less likely to blister.

What about wet shoes? Don't they cause blisters?

Blisters form in the presence of friction between your skin and another surface (like the inside of a shoe). They are more likely to form in warm temperatures and when your feet are damp. While it seems counterintuitive that getting your hiking shoes wet in a stream crossing is beneficial, most streams are cooler than the air temperature, and that cooling effect can actually help mitigate blister formation. So in the summer, just hike in light, flexible, and breathable trail running shoes and leave your "water crossing shoes" at home!

Can't I just wear Crocs for stream crossings?

Stream crossing injuries are common. Don't suffer a sprained ankle or slip-and-fall by wearing no footwear, or poorly-supportive footwear during a stream crossing. This is especially important in mountainous areas where streams and rivers are running swift and high right now.

Learn more:
 

• Crossing Rivers & Water Shoes
   

• Maceration, Immersion Foot, and Backpacking

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