To properly cross the river, you should:
a) swim across the river, use inflatable mattresses and inner tubes;
b) choose a place where the water looks calm and wade across the river using inflatable tubes;
c) choose a convenient place and wade across the river using a pole or alpenstock.
Correct answer: in
a) a bluish glow of the inner surface of houses, sparking of closely located (but not touching) electrical wires, the smell of gas in areas where this had not been noted before, flashes in the form of scattered lightning lightning;
b) sudden changes in weather conditions, self-ignition and spontaneous combustion of flammable substances and materials, heavy precipitation in the form of rain or snow;
c) a short circuit in the electrical network, an incomprehensible hum, the swinging of the chandelier and the shaking of the glass in the windows.
Correct answer: a
a) contact of several live electrical wires with each other;
b) touching an electrical outlet with wet hands;
c) touching faulty disconnected electrical wiring.
Correct answer: b
a) complete combustion of gas;
a) complete combustion of gas;
b) incomplete combustion of gas;
c) power outages in the apartment
Correct answer: b
If there was an explosion in a neighboring apartment, the door to your apartment is blocked, the lights went out, the phone doesn’t work, then you should:
A) turn off the gas, electricity, turn off the water, wait for rescuers, give signals from the window (balcony), knock on metal objects;
b) open the front door and try to clear the blockage in order to go out onto the landing or onto the street;
c) give signals, knock on metal objects until the building collapses, and then climb down from the window using a rope.
Correct answer: a
Our next lesson will be about overcoming water obstacles. This may be needed at the most unexpected moment. I'll bring you shining example from personal experience.
We went to the forest to pick berries. Not far, about 5-6 km. from the nearest village. On two cars: UAZ-31519 (mine) and UAZ-452 (familiar). While driving along the “wolf road,” we crossed a stream 50 centimeters wide and deep up to a child’s ankle. We arrived at the place, set up camp, had breakfast, and set out to collect forest gifts. In the evening it suddenly started to rain. Moreover, it was difficult to call it rain - drizzle, heavy fog. The all-clear was announced. The rain continued to fall. In the morning, returning back, we saw in front of us... Yes, you guessed it - a stormy stream 4 - 5 meters wide and about a meter deep. And it kept raining. Looking ahead, I will say that the stream was crossed by both vehicles within a few minutes without any losses. But... We were prepared and had a lot of experience. And what impression will this seething stream make on a beginner or inexperienced jeeper?! In addition to frantic attempts to speed up, we are likely to get a drowned car. By the way, not a single one of our cars was equipped with snorkels or had any special training.
Well, you've presented the picture. Let's start forcing. The first is reconnaissance. It is advisable to have for this Wellingtons(swampers) or, which is generally ideal, waterproof overalls (the so-called “chemical protection”). Why so serious? Yes, because sometimes you have to wander around in the spring, icy waters waist-deep to find some kind of opening for the jeep. If you come back and remember the bottom topography, that’s one thing. When you storm an unknown place, it’s different. We take in our hand the rope with which your friend will belay you. If it so happens that you are alone, or your fellow travelers do not have the strength (women, children), tie a rope to the car. This is a safety measure in case of strong currents, cramps, potholes, etc. If the current is serious, tie a rope around yourself. Carefully feel the bottom with your feet. Stones, pebbles? Great. All that remains is to choose a trajectory without boulders, so as not to damage the suspension and engine. Sand? Worse, but not so critical - we probe the maximum firmament. Silt, clay, organic carpet? This is already much worse.
I won’t describe the first two options - it’s clear without any hints. I will describe how to act in the most difficult situation - a shifting, unstable day. We attach a cable to the car in advance, wind it up and throw it on the roof or hood - we fix it in as a last resort– we throw it through the window into the salon. It’s great if you have two cables – you can fasten them both front and back! It's great if you have a winch! Determine the anchor (boulder, tree, protruding strong snags, poles, etc.) and unwind the winch cable in advance to a length that reaches the anchor, or maximum length, if the anchor is too far away. Wind up the cable and secure it in an easily accessible place. Before starting to move, close all windows and vents - excess water We don't need it. We remove all things from the floor of the cabin and place them as high as possible. If there is insulation, we remove it, or simply roll it up tightly.
If, as in the UAZ-31519, the fan has a belt drive (spinning from the engine), then remove the belt or completely loosen the tension. There are several reasons. Firstly, the rotating fan will flood everything around (read – the engine) with water. Secondly, once in the water at high speeds, the fan blades (due to the existing positive angle of attack and water resistance) can bend forward, wrapping around the radiator honeycombs and the radiator itself. In the latter, I am, of course, exaggerating, but I hope you understand the danger.
Whether or not to kick out your passengers is up to you to decide, at your own peril and risk, depending on the uniform, age, and degree of danger of the water hazard. You can cross a calm stream all together... But forcing a roaring rain stream with children in the cabin is very risky. It all depends on the situation, make a decision according to the circumstances.
Let's go. The first thing you need to understand and remember by heart is that we drive slowly but evenly, at approximately the same speed. If you have a UAZ, close the radiator blinds.
It is strictly forbidden to fly into the water from acceleration! In addition to the fact that you can get a water hammer in the radiator, the car will behave like a leaky float. The jeep will first hit the water, losing some of its speed. The rear wheels will hang out and lose traction, and the car will begin to turn around. Water will fill the engine compartment in a wave, filling the spark plugs and the variator, possibly reaching the carburetor, and, if there is no snorkel, the air intake. Then the car will float up sharply, the wheels will lose ground and it will be carried away to a deeper place. There, once it begins to sink, the car is guaranteed to stop forever.
Over-gassing is unacceptable. As soon as you see a wave in front of the car, adjust your speed, try to catch up with it (or, conversely, so that it catches up with you). The reason for this is simple - when the wave goes in front of the car in accordance with the graphic sine wave, the water level in the engine compartment is MINIMUM!
Stopping is NOT ALLOWED. Especially if the bottom is sandy or muddy! The reason is simple - a stationary car is quickly washed into the sand by the current, sinking lower and lower.
If suddenly you feel that the car is about to get stuck and the depth becomes significantly greater than calculated, do not panic. Very quickly engage reverse and begin to move backward along your trajectory. Attention! DO NOT SLINK when starting!
At the same time, take into account this thing that people say: Fear has big eyes! Namely, when moving forward, you collect water in front of you and the wave, naturally moving in front of you, visually raises the water level!
Next danger. If the current is strong, the car may turn around or be pulled sideways. Be prepared for this! In this case, you must immediately open all doors wide. The cabin will fill with water and the car will anchor in place. If the engine does not stall, continue driving carefully. The interior will, of course, get wet, but this is the lesser of two evils. After all, “auto-floaters” in most cases simply REVERSE the water flow.
When diving into water, be prepared for a sudden burst of steam! Don't be alarmed, this is normal.
If the engine suddenly stalls and you understand that it stalled due to your fault (for example, due to careless manipulation of the controls), try to start it immediately. If the engine “seizes”, increase the speed smoothly and immediately continue driving. If the engine doesn't start after two attempts, don't continue - you're out of luck. You will have to get the car out with someone's help!
On shore you can try to revive the engine. On a gasoline engine, open the variator cover and dry it. We unscrew all the spark plugs and run the engine with the starter to expel water from the cylinders. Attention! Do not forget to short-circuit the high-voltage wires to ground, otherwise there is a risk of burning electrical equipment. By removing the coarse filter (usually located near the tank), we look for the presence of water. We wipe everything, dry it, screw it in and try to start it. In most cases, the engine starts without any problems.
With diesel it's a little more complicated. If the crankshaft rotates with difficulty, we probably received a hydraulic shock in the cylinders and bent the connecting rods. A tug or tow truck is already needed and very serious repairs are required.
According to statistics from seasoned off-roaders, the vast majority of vehicles cannot cross a ford and get stuck, not because of technical problems or difficult terrain of the day, but because of basic crew errors.
In conclusion, a few tips just in case. If you understand that overcoming fords may not be possible a rare occurrence, you just need to equip your car. Despite the formidability of the event, it is uncomplicated and inexpensive. Necessary activities:
- Install the snorkel (extracted air intake).
- We additionally insulate the wiring. Electrical tape will not work; it is advisable to tighten it in a special mastic. Waterproofing of wires is not critical, especially if the wiring is intact and not old (without transverse microcracks).
- We install ventilation pipes for axles, gearboxes, transfer cases (and other components with breathers - depending on the car brand) under the hood. This may be a discovery for you, but the gearbox or rear axle has so-called “breathers” - a mechanical bypass device for connecting the internal volume with the atmosphere. The purpose of the breathers is to relieve or increase internal pressure so that the seals and gaskets do not squeeze out. When the unit operates, the oil in it heats up and expands. If, say, the gearbox is made completely sealed, the expanding oil will seek a way out. And the way out is weak point, which are the seals. The reverse process also occurs - when immersed in water, the oil cools sharply and negative pressure is created in the unit. The breather “sucks in” air to equalize the pressure. And when immersed in water, the water will be “sucked in”. I will not explain to you the consequences of water being inside the unit; this is understandable to any sensible person.
I will devote to the above topics separate article with illustrations using the example of UAZ. The design on other cars is fundamentally similar.
I wish you good luck and successful assaults on water barriers!
While moving through enemy-controlled territory, the group will encounter rivers, tributaries, streams, irrigation canals, etc. water obstacles, which, quite likely, will have to be overcome on the move, without preliminary reconnaissance of these obstacles and thorough preparation, without having specially designed means for this, in any weather, day or night.
While moving through enemy-controlled territory, the group will encounter rivers, tributaries, streams, canals of irrigation systems, and other water obstacles on its way, which will most likely have to be overcome on the move, without preliminary reconnaissance of these obstacles and thorough preparation, without special means intended for this purpose, in any weather, day or night. Therefore, in our difficult times, it is useful to know how to short time and, in compliance with safety measures, overcome the water obstacles encountered along the way, how to equip the simplest crossing facilities using available materials, learn to assess the obstacles encountered along the way and choose the most suitable ways to overcome them.
River crossings are among the most dangerous obstacles. Therefore, before crossing water obstacles, it is necessary to comprehensively assess possible difficulties problems that may arise when crossing unfamiliar rivers, take into account the number of people in the group, their physical fitness, the experience of the elder and other people in making crossings.
Plain rivers are distinguished by a wide channel, a slow calm current, a soft or muddy bottom, often deep, mountain rivers - fast current, changing water levels throughout the day, low temperatures. The bottom of mountain rivers is hard, rocky, the longitudinal profile is stepped, with rapids and waterfalls; in the upper reaches the flow is rapid and uneven.
Seasonal floods and bad weather can complicate the crossing. During or shortly after heavy rainfall, river levels may rise. In mountain rivers, the water level is lowest before dawn and highest in the evening. This is due to the melting of snow and ice in the mountains. But in the middle and lower reaches of large rivers, the daily flood is delayed.
Sharply different seasonal level water in mountain and lowland rivers. During the driest and hottest time of the year, when lowland rivers They are getting shallow, and the mountain flood is in full swing. This must be taken into account when developing an action plan and movement schedule.
Choosing a place for crossing. To ensure safety, it is important to be able to choose the right crossing point. Circumstances will not always allow the group to explore the water line in advance and choose a suitable place for crossing. A topo map helps make this task easier. From it you can determine the direction and speed of the river, its width and depth, banks, fords. Unfortunately, this detailed information Contained only on military maps. On ordinary commercially available ones there are no such details. Considering that military topographic maps at a scale of 1:200000 (1 cm 2 km) have been declassified and classified as chipboard, try to have one of these.
You can approximately determine the speed of the river flow in a simple way. To do this, throw a piece of wood into the river and mark the distance it floats in one second.
By determining the direction and speed of the river flow, its width, you can find the amount of possible drift when crossing by swimming or using improvised means. To do this, the figure 2.5 is multiplied by the flow speed (m/s), the resulting result is multiplied by the width of the river (m). This will be the amount of drift. Having estimated how many meters people will be carried downstream, you need to choose the most suitable landing area on the opposite bank.
When choosing a crossing site, they take into account not only the speed of the current and the width of the riverbed, but also the depth of the river, the availability of places for organizing insurance, monitoring and guiding the crossing. In addition, the nature of the bottom and the stones rolling along it are taken into account, which usually make themselves felt with dull impacts on the bottom.
When crossing a stormy river downstream, it is advisable to organize a post to intercept people in case they fall into the water and are carried away by the current. The post is installed at the point where the person who has fallen into the water should be carried out. This location is determined by a branch thrown into the water from the site of a possible fall. You can also throw a log or wood chips into the water. If they are carried along snags, whirlpools or sharp stones, the place for crossing is unsuitable.
It is also necessary to check the location of the safety post. The people on it must be safe themselves and be able to provide assistance. The belay post must be located in such a place that the rope does not cross dangerous places or obstacles. It is advisable to have a tree or rock nearby that could be used to lay the rope.
A float is tied to the end of the rescue rope. With one hand they take half or a third of the skein, and with the other, free, they throw the remaining part of the rope (previously carefully laid out to avoid tangling during the throw) to the person being rescued. In this case, the end 3.5-4 meters long is left untwisted.
The rope must be thrown to the place where the current carries the person who has fallen off at the crossing - downstream in front of the person who has fallen into the water.
The rescuer pulling the victim out should secure the rope to a rock or tree to make it easier to hold the person when he grabs the rope.
Anyone caught in the water must know the location of the safety post and, while waiting for the thrown rope, must turn around and face downstream. Having grabbed the rope, the person being rescued must be prepared for a jerk and strong resistance from the current. You need to hold on to the rescue line firmly, but without wrapping the rope around your hand. The victim must approach the shore, moving the rope with his hands until he reaches shallow water. After this, the rope is used to stay on your feet while going ashore.
To cross, you need to look for the safest areas. At the same time, sometimes you have to decide where it is better to cross: where it is safer, but there is a high probability of being captured by the enemy, or where there is no enemy, but the crossing itself will be more dangerous. In all cases, common sense and practicality are required. It is a good idea to do an analysis and decide where there will be fewer possible losses.
The approaches to the river and the point of exit to the opposite bank should ensure maximum secrecy for the group so that it can prepare for the crossing and put itself in proper readiness after the crossing. It is necessary to look for a place so that the river bank from which the crossing will go is higher than the opposite one, this will allow better control of the surrounding area.
If time and situation permit, then to reconnoiter the other bank, where the group’s path lies, it is advisable for one person to cross, and only at his signal do the rest begin to cross.
In all cases, when crossing water obstacles, it is necessary to keep weapons and ammunition in combat readiness, and clothes and shoes, if possible, dry.
Crossing ford. The crossing area should be looked for where there is shallow water, since in these places the soil of the bottom and banks is always denser. Fords, which local residents regularly use, can be easily identified by the entrance of a road or path into the water and its continuation on the opposite bank. Places suitable for fording can be identified by the following characteristics:
Visible shallows in clear water;
Places with sloping banks, where the river widens and forms floods;
Small ripples on the surface of water with a weak current;
Water changes.
Swampy rivers, the beds of which are overgrown with reeds, sedges, and algae, are in most cases unsuitable for wading due to the high marshiness and viscosity of the bottom.
Before fording a river, especially in places that have already been used by troops or local residents, it is necessary to check whether the ford is not mined and to determine whether it is under enemy surveillance.
The depth of the river and the condition of the bottom soil are determined with a pole. The pole penetrates into muddy soil easily, but with difficulty into clay or sandy soil. When determining the depth of the ford, along with the layer of water, the layer of silt up to the solid ground should also be taken into account.
The wadeability of a river depends on the depth and speed of the current. So, at a current speed of 1 m/s, it is quite safe and without insurance you can cross a river 1 meter deep; at a speed of 2 m/s, a safe depth is 0.6-0.8 meters. The fine rocky bottom makes crossing easier.
When choosing a place for ford, you need to take into account that it is better to cross the river at an angle of 40-45" downstream, especially with high flow speed. Never try to cross the river in close proximity to the waterfall. The stream must be crossed where there is comfortable shallow water or sand spit.
It is best to cross mountain rivers in the morning, since in the middle of the day and especially in the evening, the melting of glaciers intensifies and the water level rises.
On small rivers, where the depth is small - up to the knees, and the speed of the current does not impede movement, it is possible to cross without insurance and setting up a handrail, but before that it is necessary to reconnoiter the path. Reconnaissance is carried out using the “wall” or line method.
To cross the scout team, you should appoint the highest and strong people. The strongest of them becomes further upstream. He will experience highest pressure flow. The other 2-3 participants stand next to him in one line along the direction of the flow, put their hands on each other’s shoulders, holding the shoulder straps of the back, and move forward in small steps.
The “Tajik” method is no less reliable. Four to six people, hugging the waist or shoulders, form a circle and, trying to coordinate their movements, walk slowly so that everyone can feel the most reliable places for their feet.
On more difficult places, insurance for the person going first is mandatory. He is belayed with the main and auxiliary ropes, the ends of which are tied on his back.
In this position it is more convenient to walk, and it is easier for someone who has been carried away by the current to swim. When pulled to the shore, the person floats on his back, and the water does not flood his face.
The person carried down by the current is held on the main rope, while being pulled to the shore by an auxiliary one. Therefore, belayers with an auxiliary rope are located on the bank downstream from the main rope.
When someone crossing falls, they sometimes have to run along the shore, since the tightly stretched main rope can make it difficult to stay above the water. In this case, the coordination of the actions of those belaying the main and auxiliary ropes is very important. While the former give the opportunity to swim across the current, the latter must pull him to the shore.
When crossing mountain rivers, you should wear boots to avoid injuring your feet. For stability, they use a strong pole, which they rest against the bottom on the side of the current. When placing their foot, they feel the bottom and look for reliable support. After the first one has crossed, the railings are tightened and the rest are crossed.
Setting up the railings. Even in cases where there is masonry across the river, which is used by local residents, or a reliable trunk of a fallen tree itself has formed a bridge, it is necessary to build a railing. If the river is not wide, with a more or less calm current and there is no obvious dangerous places(waterfalls, rapids, sharp rocks, etc.), the railing can be made from a pole that two people each hold on their own shore. Anyone walking along the masonry is secured with a rope from the shore.
Rope railings are placed to wade across rocks and logs to the other side.
The railing should be taut, as a loose rope can be more dangerous than if there was no rope at all. Therefore, both ends of the rope are tied to the supports. The best option- trees on both banks.
If the tree is thin, the same end of the rope is tied to another tree, bush or support driven into the ground and covered with stones. Large shrubs can also be used for support; the rope should be tied at the very root and secured in the same way as with thin trees. Rocky ledges, large boulders, stakes driven into the ground or poles covered with stones are quite reliable. The reliability of the railing is checked by the person going first with belay from the shore.
The end of the rope, fixed to the shore from which the crossing begins, must be tied on a support with a knot that can be easily untied after the crossing is completed. If you pull strongly on the rope that is tied to the free end of the knot, the knot will easily unravel. All that remains is to pull the rope out of the water.
Crossing over protruding rocks are carried out on the rifts of shallow mountain streams and rivers. If in some places of the river the stones are located far away, you can make artificial islands. For self-belaying, you must have a pole in your hands, which can be used to probe the bottom, the density of the stones, their mobility, and create additional support.
On crossings over rocks dangerous rivers Insurance is always required.
Canopy crossing, This type of crossing is the most difficult, therefore it is used only when there is no other way out. In the absence of a sufficient number of ropes, suspended crossings are impossible. The choice of crossing point is determined by the following requirements:
The width of the river should be 8 - 10 meters less than the length of the main (unconnected) ropes;
- both banks must be raised above
water, taking into account the inevitable sagging of the rope;
The bank from which the crossing is carried out must be higher than the opposite one, in addition, there must be trees, a rock or protruding stones on it, to which you can tie a rope.
When the place is chosen, you need to secure the rope on the opposite bank. This is done in different ways: you can throw a double rope with small stones or sticks tied to its middle in the hope that they will get caught in the trees. If a ford is found, the strongest of the group, carefully belayed or swimming using improvised means, also with belay, goes to the opposite shore, where he secures two main ropes to a tree, a protruding rock or clogged hooks. Those remaining pull the ropes tight and secure them.
With the help of an auxiliary rope secured in the middle, the packs and then the people are transported to the other bank. Those crossing are positioned with their heads towards the crossing so that they can pull themselves to the shore with their hands when the rope sag.
The middle of an auxiliary rope is attached to the chest harness on the back to help pull oneself up to the opposite bank and return the chest harness and the arbor back for use by the next person. The trailing person secures the ropes so that they can be removed from the opposite bank after crossing.
Crossing the masonry most convenient and safe, especially in the cold season, with great depth and the force of the flow, rolling stones along the bottom. Typically, masonry is found in forests and is used by local residents. This is a fallen tree trunk or several fastened poles attached to the banks. Such masonry is unstable, often carried away by water after floods, so they often have to be made anew. Sometimes it is possible to find a washed-out section of the bank with a tree leaning strongly towards the other bank. This tree can be felled and used as a bridge. Just first you need to cut off the branches and twigs that will interfere with the crossing. So that the tree does not fall prematurely, but lies in in the right place, he is secured with ropes. In addition, these ropes will serve as railings for the first person crossing. In many places in the mountains and taiga there are fallen trees along the banks of rivers. Having made sure that the tree trunk is suitable for crossing and that the group can lift it, they begin to work. First of all, it is cleared of branches and twigs. To prevent the trunk from being slippery, especially during rain, its surface is covered with notches.
To prepare the masonry, first a stop is made of stones or a hole is torn off. Then a rope is tied to the thinner end of the trunk in its middle part, and the trunk is placed parallel to the shore. The thick part of the trunk is placed near the stop, and two small groups are held by the ends of the ropes. After this, on command, both groups begin to pull the guy wires and lift the trunk. For safety reasons, the group leader needs to ensure that there are no people within the radius of the trunk. The trunk is raised at an angle of 40-45 degrees to the ground. It is undesirable to increase the angle, since the log may fall, and at a smaller angle it will be difficult to hold it and direct it in the right direction .
Then, without lowering the barrel, they slowly move it towards the other bank and, at the command of the elder, slowly lower it. If you just throw it, it may break. After the log has rested with its end on the other side, check its stability and, if necessary, add stones or hammer in stakes. Then both ends of the rope are pulled to the limit, turning it into a railing for the first participant, who comes with belay and, after crossing, prepares a high-quality railing.
The top of the trunk can be floated to the opposite bank using the force of the current. This method can be done by a small group.
To do this, the trunk is placed parallel to the shore, securely strengthening the butt in the nest. Then the rope is tied in the middle to the thin end of the trunk. After this, the trunk is gradually pushed into the river, holding the butt until it is caught by the current. When the end of the trunk begins to approach the opposite bank, they try to lift it a little higher and push it onto the bank, pulling both guy wires.
The trunk should not be overwhelmed by water. If during the crossing of the first person the log sagged and touched the water or went into the water, he, having crossed and tied a rope for the railing to the support, should try to move the end of the trunk higher.
In order not to fall into the water, you need to walk along the masonry calmly; there should not be two or more people crossing at the same time on one log.
Crossing swim. To cross the river by swimming, you should choose the narrowest sections of the riverbed or cross in places where there are islands or shallows on which you can rest.
When crossing by swimming in clothes, you need to remember: that the swimmer's weight increases due to
water collecting in clothes and shoes. To prevent excessive weight gain, you should unbutton your sleeves and collar, turn out your pockets, and remove your shoes.
This raft is great for transporting things, but it is too small for people. Holding the raft with one hand, they push it in front of them and thus cross to the other side. If the current is fast, then it is advisable to tie the raft with a rope to your hand so that it does not get carried away. To covertly overcome a water barrier, you can use a tree trunk. They grab it with one hand and swim, pushing off with their feet and rowing with the other hand.
For camouflage, you can use floating boxes or a self-made artificial island. These methods are good for a small group of 2-3 people, since large quantity seeing these objects on the water may cause suspicion and shooting at them.
The most common obstacle is a water hazard. To ensure safety when overcoming it, it is important to be able to choose a place and
v- crossing method. If you have a map, you can preliminarily determine the direction and speed of the river, its width, depth, the nature of the banks, the presence of bridges, crossings, and fords. Conventionally, rivers can be divided into three groups: lowland, swamp and mountain.
Plains– flow in shallow valleys with a water surface slope of up to 0.2 m per kilometer. Their channel is wide, the current is calm and slow. The bottom is made up of soft, easily eroded rocks.
Swamp– occur in the tundra and low wetlands.
Mountain– flow in mountain gorges with a slope of the water surface from 1 to 100 m per kilometer. The bottom is hard, rocky, the current is swift,
stormy, uneven, rapids.
Depending on the nature of the water obstacle, the method of overcoming it is chosen. To cross water barriers, it is necessary to choose the narrowest sections of the watercourse. The main ways to overcome water obstacles are the following: using crossings, swimming, wading, on watercraft, etc.
Overcoming water obstacles using crossings. Small water obstacles can be crossed using ready-made bridges and masonry structures. An experienced rescuer should go first, “light”, secured with a rope, with a pole in his hands. Greatest danger is movement in the absence of handrails, on wet, unstable, icy, snow-covered, swinging surfaces, or surfaces covered with water. The first rescuer, having overcome the water obstacle, participates in the installation of railings (rope, wooden) and helps all members of the group.
If there is no ready-made crossing (luggage), it can be quickly built by laying a tree across the water barrier. For this purpose, a tree standing on the shore is selected, preferably with a natural slope towards the water. Its height should be more width rivers. The tree can be cut down or cut down in compliance with safety precautions.
You need to cross the logs one at a time, and the crossing itself must be fenced with railings (rope or wooden). Particular attention must be paid to ensuring safety when moving on wet, slippery, swaying, poorly secured logs.
Sometimes a water barrier can be overcome through natural jams and rubble, which are formed as a result of the accumulation of trees, branches, and debris. In this case, you should carefully move along the top of the rubble, constantly checking each place with your foot and removing obstacles. The danger with such movement lies in the possibility of failing and falling into the water. After reconnaissance of the blockage, selection of a route and installation of railings, the entire group carries out the crossing.
One of the main safety conditions in the process of overcoming water obstacles is the preservation of dry clothing and shoes, as well as food, equipment, communications, and weapons. During the cold season, this requirement becomes especially important.
To keep clothes, shoes and other things dry, you need to wrap them in waterproof fabric and tie it with a strong knot. The bundle can be secured on a makeshift raft, held in your hand above your head, or sailed with it.
Overcoming water obstacles by swimming. One of the ways to overcome water obstacles is to swim across. To ensure safety in this case, it is necessary to swim well in breaststroke, crawl, on the side, on the back, alternate swimming styles, be able to stay on the water with one hand raised above your head, which contains things, push a raft, log or bundle of clothes in front of you, swim with clothes and equipment.
A convenient and safe place to overcome a water obstacle by swimming is a deep area without whirlpools, rapids, rocks and trees sticking out of the water. You need to swim at an angle to the current, taking into account the natural drift down the river. Do not overcome the force of the water flow the shortest route– this will lead to a significant loss of time and effort.
Important indicator safety when crossing by swimming - river flow. At a speed of up to 0.5 m/s it is considered weak, at a speed of 0.6 - 1.0 m/s - medium, 1.0 - 2.0 m/s - fast. To determine the speed of the river flow, you should measure the distance between two objects (stones, trees, driven stakes) on the bank. Then throw a floating object into the water and measure the time it takes for it to swim the marked distance. The speed of the river flow is determined by dividing the distance (m) by time (s). The speed of the river flow affects the amount of drift of a swimming person, which can be determined by the formula:
Where X– drift value, m; v– river flow speed, m/s; S- river width, m; V– swimming speed, m/s.
For example, with a river width of 100 m, a current speed of 1 m/s and a swimming speed of 0.5 m/s, the drift value will be 200 m. Knowing the drift value has important from a safety point of view, since it allows you to quite accurately determine the place of exit from the water on the opposite bank. It is safe to cross rivers with a width of 50-70 m at a current speed of up to 1 m/s by swimming without any available means.
In case of melting in clothes, it is necessary to release the waist belt, turn out the pockets, unfasten the buttons on the sleeves and collar, remove shoes and put them under the belt, compact the contents of the duffel bag (backpack), lay and secure the tools on top of the duffel bag (backpack). Sometimes a rope attached to the swimmer's back can be used for belay. With this arrangement, a person can be pulled out of the water face up.
You need to enter a fast-flowing water stream backwards, lie on your back and swim. You cannot suddenly enter and jump into the water. Whirlpools are especially dangerous; there are several junctions water flows(currents), waves. If a person gets into a whirlpool, he must take a deep breath, dive and swim to the side under the water. On the surface of the water it is much more difficult to do this due to the high speed of the current.
In reservoirs with large breakers, you need to swim towards the shore in the depressions between the waves. If a wave moves directly towards a person, then you need to dive under its crest, and when it passes, swim further.
Dangerous are the swirling waves, which can trap a person in the outgoing current. In this case, there is no need to swim against the current; you should try to go ashore with the next oncoming wave.
One of the ways to overcome water obstacles by swimming involves the use of animals (horses). In this case, you can, having freed your legs from the stirrups, hold on directly to the horse’s neck, mane, tail, and to special harnesses. It is necessary to cross at an angle against the current, without preventing the animal from choosing its own path in a given direction.
Additional safety when crossing by swimming is provided by available floating devices, such as a log, a board, a wooden shield, a raincoat filled with floating material, bags with straw and bark, bundles of reeds, reeds, branches, and a raft. When crossing on a raft, you can row with your hands, boards, poles, a shovel, an oar, or drag the raft itself with a rope.
The nature of a water barrier can be determined by external signs (the sound of water, the presence of foam, the speed of the water flow of waves and whirlpools, the knock of moving stones on the bottom of the river). The number of pitfalls in the river bed can be judged by the breakers. If the breaker does not move relative to the channel, but only slightly pulsates on the surface of the water in the same place, then this fact indicates the presence of a stone.
Fording water obstacles. Water obstacles can be forded. For this, a place is selected, preferably in shallow areas of calm water. Safety is achieved by taking each step carefully, using a pole to feel the bottom, and moving along a shallow or riffle. On fast water it is necessary to rest with the pole on the side of its pressure. It is not recommended to look at the water due to possible dizziness and loss of balance; You need to look at the place where you exit the water.
Fording a river in a group of two or more people is considered relatively safe. Two rescuers stand facing each other on the river bank, put their hands on their shoulders and move in the water. Several rescuers stand in a line or form a circle, put their hands on each other’s shoulders and overcome the water obstacle.
Mountain fast rivers Most often they walk over rocks. It should be remembered that the stones are sometimes wet, slippery, and sometimes icy. This could cause a person to fall into the water and be injured. Rope railings must be used with a chain to prevent such cases. A mountain river with a depth of no more than 1 m is considered safe. If its depth is greater, then such a river can be forded only with the use of special devices. The most favorable way to cross a mountain river is early morning- at this time its depth is minimal.
If the river bottom is rocky or there are logs or metal (reinforced concrete) structures lying on it, you must cross the river in shoes without socks to keep them dry. Bushes, reeds, and aquatic vegetation should be moved apart with your hands; Do not lift your legs, but move them carefully in the water.
When wading (swimming), danger to a person appears at the moment of entering and exiting the water, because River banks tend to be sloping, steep, wet and slippery, which can cause falls. In these conditions, it is advisable to use insurance or build steps.
When wading through a water obstacle, clothes, shoes and equipment must be held above your head; after exiting the water, you must immediately get dressed. This will provide warmth and prevent colds. You cannot ford water obstacles if there is a fast current, there are floating logs, branches, moving stones in the water, or it is impossible to install special means insurance. It is prohibited to wade across timber-rafting rivers and rivers with ice drift.
In order to ensure safety when fording rivers, it is necessary to first examine the nature of the bottom, measure the depth of the water and the speed of the current. You can hire a guide from local residents. Data about safe ways river crossings are presented in Table 4.3.
The pedestrian tourist will have to do this repeatedly during the hike or. Crossing is one of the most treacherous obstacles, requiring, in addition to knowledge, a certain skill. A mountain river is a serious water obstacle.
Overcoming water obstacles - types of crossings
In populated areas water obstacles cross bridges. In other cases crossings you have to do it yourself. Depending on the conditions, the following are transported:- ford,
- according to masonry,
- on a rope (the so-called suspended crossing).
Place for ford
The shallow river can be forded. Place for ford choose the widest and shallowest section of the river or where it breaks into branches - here, as a rule, the current is weaker. A sign of a ford can be a path or road that goes into the water and appears on the other side. Depending on the nature of the river and the speed of the current, the crossing is organized alone with support on a pole (the pole rests upstream) or a “wall”. To do this, participants (3-4 people) stand in a line, put their hands on each other’s shoulders and cross the river, holding tightly to the straps of their comrades’ backpacks. Crossing streams and rivers
To cross fast-flowing streams with steep banks on a rope, you need special training and equipment. The rope with the anchor is thrown to the opposite shore, so that the anchor securely hooks onto the tree. Having pulled the rope, the other end is tied with a special knot behind a tree or stone and the crossing begins.
Streams and narrow channels with a fast current and a rocky bottom are crossed along masonry, using a railing made of a stretched rope or a light pole for safety. Through rivers usually transported on a log. With appropriate insurance, this is the fastest and safest way. To establish such a crossing, one of the tourists, having previously tied himself with a rope, crosses along a log to the opposite bank of the river. The rope is then pulled tight and secured at chest height above the log. The rest of the tourists cross one by one, holding onto the rope railings. The last one unties the rope. 
Laying across the river - more reliable way crossings. If you are not sure of the safety of this method, you should organize a canopy crossing over water obstacles, but it is much more complicated and requires a lot of experience and effort of the entire group.
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