Question on setting up camp close to water

[bigsallysmom]

I watched todays Zion National Park flood as it quickly spread and dragged vehicles down stream.  My question is how close do you park to moving water?

 

[PeacefulSoul]

Well, for me, it depends on how many bears are in the area!

 

[highdesertranger]

it all depends where you are and how close you pay attention to weather reports. for instance if you want to camp next to a major year around water way in a populated area you are pretty safe. any chance of major flooding and you are going to hear about it. however in remote locations you must have a way to monitor weather reports. in the desert areas do not camp in the sandy area of a major wash, I repeat DO NOT camp in a major wash. keep a safe distance in elevation above the wash and keep in mind what will happen if that wash is at full flood stage. flash floods in the desert flats are seldom more than a few feet high(but have tremendous power). so if you are 20 feet above the sandy wash you are pretty safe. however in the desert mountains flash floods can exceed your wildest imagination, one minute the wash could have a trickle, the next it could have a torrent 20-50 feet deep carving out the canyon. that's how those boulders the size of school buses get deposited at the mouth of alluvial fans. be safe and have a weather radio or monitor AM radio for weather reports. remember it could be sunny where you are at but in the mountains above you there could be thunder storms and we all know water like everything else flows downhill. another thought, never try to cross a creek, stream, river, wash or any type of water way during high water, wait until the water subsides. highdesertranger

 

[akrvbob]

The key thing is to look around you and find the lowest point that water flows. Then make sure you aren't in it and are well above it.
Bob

 

[cyndi]

 in remote locations you must have a way to monitor weather reports.

 in the desert areas do not camp in the sandy area of a major wash,  I repeat DO NOT camp in a major wash.  

keep a safe distance in elevation above the wash and keep in mind what will happen if that wash is at full flood stage.  

flash floods in the desert flats are seldom more than a few feet high(but have tremendous power).   so if you are 20 feet above the sandy wash you are pretty safe.  

however in the desert mountains flash floods can exceed your wildest imagination,  one minute the wash could have a trickle,  the next it could have a torrent 20-50 feet deep carving out the canyon.  that's how those boulders the size of school buses get deposited at the mouth of alluvial fans.  

be safe and have a weather radio or monitor AM radio for weather reports.  remember it could be sunny where you are at but in the mountains above you there could be thunder storms and we all know water like everything else flows downhill. 

 another thought,  never try to cross a creek,  stream,  river, wash or any type of water way during high water,  wait until the water subsides.    

What HDR said bears repeating. In big, bolded letters.

In AZ they have the *Stupid Motorist Law* an aptly named law that charges these less-than-bright drivers for the full cost of their rescue, plus a hefty penalty.

 

[rvwandering]

I'm a bit paranoid about floods so we do everything that highdesertranger suggests. Flash flooding can occur in any location and terrain so always check for signs of previous high water - debris caught in the vegetation along the banks, flattened grass and soft soil. A nice view close to the water is not worth the danger.

 

[GrantRobertson]

In AZ they have the *Stupid Motorist Law* an aptly named law that charges these less-than-bright drivers for the full cost of their rescue, plus a hefty penalty.

Speaking only about Tucson, AZ; That law seems to be making up for the "Stupid Government's" habit of not installing adequate drainage in known flood prone areas. The title of that law is just a lame attempt to pass off the responsibility to provide adequate services. You could tell when you were leaving a poor area and entering an area populated by wealthier people because you would suddenly see storm-water drainage all over the place. In a lot of the most poor areas, they just ran the road right down through the wash. In some areas with a wash on both ends of a street, it was impossible to get in or out of an entire neighborhood when it rained.

 

[B and C]

I am sure it is the governments fault that those poor people built/bought a house on an existing road with a wash at both ends :s  I am sure the land to build on is much cheaper there though and probably the taxes too.

Brian

sorry-off topic

 

[Gary68]

not to mention the down by the river bugs,depends on where you are,here in oregon it's kinda obvious it's raining and the river is a rising where out in the desert it could be a rain storm 100 miles away,you could be siting there tanning when chocolate thunder comes round the bend

 

[TMG51]

you could be siting there tanning when chocolate thunder comes round the bend

Are we talking about weather or about what happens when you eat one too many tacos?

 

[Gary68]

Are we talking about weather or about what happens when you eat one too many tacos?

both

 

[B and C]

ROFLMAO 

 

[SternWake]

On the South Island of New Zealand's west coast, I found a beautiful spot near a river to overnight. I woke up with the buzzing of mosquito in my Van, and when i opened the curtain to the front and shined a light up there there were hundreds. I stepped outside into a cloud of them. I wound up driving 90 miles with windows open in the rain to flush the ba$tards out, and still spent an hour hunting the remaining ones down inside.

Kind of lost my desire to park down by the rivers since then.

Now next to the ocean, that's another matter.

Too bad one cannot do this in the US, and now in Baja, one might find themselves a victim of crystal meth addicts

 

[akrvbob]

I'm going to say it again, don't count on any warning--it may never come. Before you make any camp in the desert look around and ask yourself if there is a flood, where will the water flow?  Be well above that low area! 

Don't bet your life on a warning that probably won't come!

I've been in one Arizona flash flood where we knew the storm was coming and were prepared. But since I don't trust warnings, I camped safely even if there had been no warning. I don't have any pictures for that one, I wasn't blogging back then. 

I've been in another where there could never have been any warning. All of a sudden a cloud opened up and a Biblical downpour flew out of it. Most rain I've ever seen. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET ANY WARNING FOR IT! There was sunshine before and sunshine after!

Here is a post I did on that event:
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/staying-safe-desert-flash-floods/

I do have some pictures of that one:

This is the river that formed over the road into our Ehrenberg camp:

Looking back after I crossed the river:

And my camp when I got home to it. Why is my trailer dry? Because before I set up camp, I looked around and said to myself. "If there is a flash flood, where will the water go?" Then I camped above it.

A stream on the way to camp:

 

[GypsySilver]

Please be careful if you are camping anywhere in Texas. The flash floods come quickly and many times without warning. For years I have watched news reports about people getting killed by super fast rising water here. Be safe out there!!

 

[DannyB1954]

Where I am in Southern Nevada The top layer of dirt gets like sticky clay when wet. Walk across it and that top layer will stick to the bottom of your shoes. You will soon be 4" taller if the weight doesn't take off your shoes for you. Dry it can be like baby powder. 4 wheel drive is a plus here, but you can still get plenty stuck. If it starts to rain at camp, plan on staying where you are unless you can clearly drive to higher ground. Driving through a wash to try to get there will probably get you stuck in even a worst place. The sun can be shining where your camp is, but over the next ridge that you can not see over there could be a downpour. So just like akrvbob has stated. Be on high ground and be prepared to be there for a while. Our average yearly rainfall is 4", so the rain will not last forever. Over a dozen lives were just lost in a flash flood in Utah. Being surrounded by mountains makes for a nice view, or funnel.

 

[cyndi]

Speaking only about Tucson, AZ; That law seems to be making up for the "Stupid Government's" habit of not installing adequate drainage in known flood prone areas.

We could also blame the STUPIC MONEY HUNGERY DEVELOPERS (Who, for the most part, are probably also the government or at least pay the government.)

At any rate, I try not to depend on anyone but myself and my dog for my safety.

 

[SoulRaven]

One of the benefits of living in Florida in the winter months is that it's the dry season, and when it does rain the calcareous sand based soil is so dry that 3 inches of rain will be easily absorbed by the soil and then when the sun comes out any surface puddles are gone and you are on your way in a short time after the precipitation event.

 

[akrvbob]

Oddly, that hasn't been my experience in Florida in the winter. I go at least every other year an spend a month or more with my mom and I always go expecting some rain.

This last winter it rained more often than it was sunny.

In my experience they get more rain than Arizona does. I always hope for winter rain in AZ because if it comes the desert will explode in wildflowers in March.
Bob

 

[WriterMs]

I think sink holes appearing without notice is the Florida equivalent of flash floods.