River trekking is a very progressive form of trekking and can be very demanding both physically and mentally. It requires things like rock climbing, swimming, and lots of planning. This is why you must be absolutely confident of achieving each ability in the best possible manner.
The attraction to river trekking is the danger and the satisfaction you get when you execute the trek. It also takes a lot of preparation; you should have previous experience rock climbing and be ready to handle slippery surfaces. River trekking also involves the geographical understanding of rivers and canyons.
You should be ready to make split second judgements when going river trekking as it can be a very risky and hazardous activity. You may find yourself in situations of drowning, exhaustion, getting lost, falling from a cliff or slipping on a rock, which is why you should be very assured of your own judgement.
Most of these risks are hard to prevent if you don't expect them, but there are things that you can prepare for a little easier. These include changes in weather that can raise the water levels and create stronger currents. You should always know your exit points in order to avoid this scenario.
When river trekking you may also come across low visibility scenarios. This might be because of foggy weather, dark weather, or you may even come across a cave. This is when a waterproof, head-mounted flashlight would come in extremely handy.
Often, you will come across steep cliffs that you must navigate through, this can be difficult for the average trekker. This is why it is definitely recommended that you have some prior rock climbing experience. This experience can actually save your life on a slippery cliff.
River trekking requires many similar dangers like this; most river trekking places have a star rating for the difficulty of a certain trek. This will be very handy for trekkers of all levels. Typically, an one star river trek can be accomplished by a regular healthy person, whereas a five star trek will demand a lot of ability and strength to successfully accomplish.
Some people like to push themselves to the limit when trekking, but river trekking is a completely different ball game, the uncertainties associated with it are significantly higher. You should never go on a trek that you are uncomfortable with because things can turn bad very quickly. If you are not confident with the abilities required for a certain river trek it can become very hazardous.
As long as you know your limits and can confidently do all the things a river trek may require you will be able to stay safe. I would always advise that you never undertake your river trekking trip alone, always do it with at least one other person as capable as you.
Author Resource:
Thanks for reading this article on river trekking . You may also enjoy this article about trekking poles