Course Told Of Dangers Of Crossing Rivers

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31322, 18 March 1967, Page 17

Course Told Of Dangers Of Crossing Rivers

■ People would continue to Biake mistakes in crossing fivers until they learned to but into practice the proper techniques, said Mr J. Ede, bn experienced mountaineer, Addressing a bushcraft leadership course in Christchurch. F It was important that club knembers be told about these, fee told about 30 persons attending the course, organised |by the Canterbury Mountain [Safety Committee. I Men swept over in a fastbowing river—and this could easily happen—were often badly battered before being drowned, examination of inques files on mauntain accidents show, Mr Ede caid. Many of these drownings need not have happened. A national bushcraft seminar had produced a division of opinion between North Island and South Island people on the crossing of rivers. But it was dangerous to assume that anyone knew all the answers, he added. A rope, Mr Ede said, should be used as a safeguard, and not as an aid to river crossing. Far too much reliance was placed on ropes in crossings. A light nylon line could be used to haul men back to safety.

He said that techniques evolved were being adopted by the Army, and a film demonstrating these was shown to the representatives of clubs attending the series of lectures making up the course. They will attend a river-crossing practice tomorrow.

Rivers in Canterbury could rise rapidly, said Mr P. White, of the Christchurch Tramping Club, in emphasising the need for caution.

He said that if parties became lost in the bush or back country, they should not be

frightened to stay where they were. Injured persons should not be left alone if it was possible to have someone stay with them while help was sought. “Once you are in the bush, time does not mean anything,” he said. “If it rains for two days, then stay where you are, even though you might want to come out,” Mr White added.

“And when you lose your way, stay where you are. Someone will come to look for you You should have told someone about the area into which you were going.” He gave comprehensive advice to trampers in many situations.

Mr R. M. Smith, a meteorologist, spoke on the importance of the weather, and bushcraft and wildlife were dealt with by Mr P. C. Logan, a field inspector from the New Zealand Forest Service.