Hikers Anadromous Guide to Salmon Hiking

What is Salmon Hiking?

It's just like regular hiking, except that hiking (wading, swimming) up the middle of a small river or large creek is a significant part of it. Attempting to leap over dams is optional and not recommended.

Salmon hiking may or may not include whitewater hiking and/or swimming; it all depends on the location, seasonal variations in water flow, and the mood of the organizer and of the group.

Why?

• To cool off on a hot day.
• For fun.
• No so many mountain bikers.
• Why not?

Where?

Any reasonably wadeable stream will do. Avoid major rivers, or anything with dangerously strong currents. It's best to have alternative routes available, so having at least one hikeable bank along the route is a good idea.

On the other hand, little trickles are just no fun. It's best to choose a stream with moderate flow, and some decent swimming holes along it.

• In the Santa Cruz Mountains, the San Lorenzo River up by Felton is good (at least during the hot season).
• Other areas are under investigation... much depends on the attitude of the managing agency; many forbid any sort of water-contact activities in their domains, just on general principles. On the other hand, a "No Lifeguard on Duty" sign (as at, for example, Henry Cowell) tends to imply that it's OK to go in the water, but that you're expected to look out for yourself.

When?

• Don't go wading along salmon or steelhead streams during the spawning season -- roughly, October through April. (Not that this would be a good time of year for this sort of thing anyway.)

Useful Information

• Sturdy, non-slip, amphibious footwear is important.
  • Tevas (or similar sturdy hiking sandals) are just about optimal, as they're good both in the water and on the trail, once you've gotten used to them.
  • Special-purpose river-walking shoes may give good traction on the river-bottom (and keep sand and gravel out), but may not be sturdy enough for trail use.
  • Old sneakers with good tread may also work, but keep in mind that any socks you're wearing will get wet.
  • Switching footwear to go between trail and river is time-consuming, besides which your trail footwear is likely to get soaked while you're carrying it through the river.
  • Bare feet are not recommended, unless you have tough feet.
• You will get wet! So will everything you're wearing or carrying. If you come prepared for this, it'll make the hike much easier: instead of worrying about keeping your gear dry when you come to a deep section, you can just flop down and swim. Keep this in mind when packing; Mr. Plastic Zipper-Bag is your friend! Also, leave water-intolerant valuables at home, or at least in the car. While a good salmon hike affords many opportunities for filming, carrying a camcorder will make your life much more difficult as you try to protect it from the water.
• Salmon hiking is considerably slower than trail hiking. While a typical group may keep up a 2-3 mile per hour pace on dry trails, don't expect to go more than half this speed in water, even with a hard-core group. With a random group, plan on 2 hours per mile.
• The bottoms of rivers are commonly covered with smooth, slippery stones. Keeping one's balance can be a challenge. Learn to feel for secure footing.
• Setting out upstream is the recommended strategy, despite the apparent masochism:
  • Hey, it's part of the gimmick!
  • If you're going upstream, and run into an unexpectedly difficult spot, and get swept away by the current... it just takes you back to the part you just came through. If you're exploring downstream and the same thing happens, who knows where you'll end up?
  • Isn't it better to be up a creek without a paddle than down a creek without a paddle?

Gee, that sounds like fun! Where do I find a group?

Well, you _could_ try looking up the local chapter of Hikers Anadromous in the Yellow Pages. On the other hand, that won't get you very far, because there's no such organization.

If you live somewhere in the south part of the San Francisco Bay Area, you can check my schedule, www.gumbyware.com/~eric/upcoming.php, for the occasional hot-summer-weekend event with the local Sierra Singles chapter. I tend to decide about these things on Wednesday, so check Thursday.

Or, you could just look at your usual hiking areas. Do you keep seeing inviting-looking creeks along the way, and just wading across them? Hey, try something different next time -- wade halfway across, turn upstream, and go exploring!