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tattooed_climber
Jun 8, 2004, 10:03 PM
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Registered: Dec 13, 2003
Posts: 4838
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I expereiced one during an appoarch to an alpine climb this past weekend...
it wasn't too bad, it had been raining hours before i started the appoarch, but when i started the weather was fine and i didn't even consider the possibility of flash floods (even though i know they can happen in the area and there was even a sign at the trailhead)..
it happend when i was crossing a creek (normaly totally dry, but the normal crossing had about 1-2 feet of water deep of run-off from the mountain)...so i travelled 20 metres down the creek (also 20 metres away from the trail) to where the water wasn't so deep (about 4 inchs)...as i was in the middle of the creek crossing, i heard the creek begin to "roar"...and just as i said "the the hell...."...the water raised about a foot and a half and swept me down the creek.....between 10 and 20 metres down.....(now i was between 20 and 30 metres away from the trail (at night by the way) and there was about a negative 15 metres in elevation change..
thank god i have my moutaineering axe in my hand when it happened, i managed to self-arrest on the bank....
i'm lucky, nothing broken...nothing lost (except one 1.5m prussik which was on my pack)....but everything was wet and muddy....
i guess this can be considered a flash flood....
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sarcat
Jun 8, 2004, 10:25 PM
Post #2 of 7
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Registered: Jan 22, 2004
Posts: 1560
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Yep!
I've read alot about how people down around Lake Powell on a perfectly clear sunny day get hit because of rain miles away that shows up hours latter. 9 died a few years ago when this happened - sad. Be careful but how to protect against it is a good question.
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flying_dutchman
Jun 8, 2004, 10:35 PM
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Registered: Nov 20, 2002
Posts: 708
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Where were you hiking? I've never heard of any flash floods in BC.
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killclimbz
Jun 8, 2004, 10:43 PM
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Registered: May 6, 2000
Posts: 1964
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Sounds like an exciting ride. Not your typical everyday experience, was it?
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sarcat
Jun 9, 2004, 2:34 PM
Post #7 of 7
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Registered: Jan 22, 2004
Posts: 1560
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No that would be Scooby-doo.
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