Often when you ride cross-country in the mountains you traverse various drainages … which are often where some of the best snow collects. But the reason we call these areas “drainages” are just as the name indicates—the small valleys are riddled with streams.
Often during the winter, these streams will pack full of snow. But depending on the size of the stream, sometimes there can be large gaps that separate one side from the other.
So do you let something like a six-foot gap that has vertical banks and icy water in the bottom stop your progress?
Well, for the expert rider, jumping the gap becomes less of a challenge and more of the fun. But if you don’t know what you’re doing, it can become a lot of work. Many a rider has filled his boots with water trying to lift a sled out of a creek.
We caught up with Craig Leigh, Iona, ID, out in the backcountry where he was having way too much fun busting through the deep powder and jumping Bear Creek in eastern Idaho.
Leigh offered some important tips when it comes to making such crossings.
First, look for shadows that can tip you off to the angle of the bank. You want to pick a line that allows a smooth transition so you don’t end up face-planting into the bank.
Next, you have to be looking ahead—eyes ahead—so you can see what’s coming up. If you’re not anticipating your next move, and the next one after that, you end up either going to fast to make your turns or too slow to maintain your momentum.
Leigh makes a creek crossing look easy and natural … while some of us may be a little more reluctant to attempt it.
It all comes down to experience, confidence and taking the time to learn the proper techniques.