River crossings on Eagle Rock Loop????

Hi.....I just stumbled on this site while looking for info on the Eagle Rock Loop and it looks like this is the right place for good info!

Can someone tell me about the river crossings on the Lil Mo. I'm planning on doing the loop in a couple weeks with my 11 year old and her Australian Shepherd. She is an experienced backpacker (for 11 anyway) and has handled spring crossings on the Buffalo just fine, but I don't want to get her into anything more than she can handle. At what river level would you recommend that we scrap the trip and look for something else? I've been watching the guage at Langley, but not sure exactly what a 3.75 looks like. Also, where exactly are the deepest crossings and how many are boots off crossings?

Any info would be appreciated.

We can give you a full report after this weekend. We'll be on the trail Friday morning.

I've hiked it twice; once in Jan. and once in June. If I remember right, there are 4-5 wet crossings and several rock hoppers. I did fall forward on the main Little Mo crossing near the winding stairs in Jan. (very cold). It passes over a large sand bar so it is actually a double wet crossing. It was definitely at knee level.

Anyway, one of us will report back early next week and you can compare what the levels were for this weekend with our information.

Hope your daughter is pretty tall and the dog is a strong swimmer...

skd

At the present water level (3.4'), the Little Missouri crossing near Winding Stairs is a little above the knee for me (I'm 6'-2" tall, 33" inseam). Even at this relatively low level there is quite a bit of current.

With spring and the rainy season approaching be very mindful of any rainfall in the area. The Little Mo can rise quickly and become very dangerous to cross.

Below is a link the the USGS gauge near Langley:

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/uv/?site_no=07360200&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060

Stay safe.

Thanks. I'll definitely be watching the weather and won't try the entire loop if it looks iffy. We might just do a couple different out and back overnighters if that's the case. The dog is a strong hiker/swimmer and carries his own safety line if there is current. I go across with his line and then help him over, but that just adds another level of complexity I'm not sure I want. Does anyone see many doggie backpackers on the loop?

Looks like 3.4 would be about low thigh for me and probably waist for my daughter. She's handled that on the Buffalo, but it was also 60 and sunny.

One more question. Is the Winding Stairs crossing the deepest or are there several that deep along the loop?

Have a nice trip RedBuffalo and let me know how it went when you get back.

Browtine - Welcome to the forum. I'm pretty sure the crossing at Winding Stairs is the deepest and fastest current. It's not the widest crossing, but deserves care.

I'm hiking the ERL the weekend of the 19th. Maybe we'll see you out there. Have fun.

Cliff

Browtine,

I would also like to say welcome! I haven't done the entire loop, maybe in a couple of weeks, I have crossed at the Vilesbranch
crossing and it is fairly wide and swift. Was in Feb. and lets just say it was brisk!

We hiked the loop in June and there was a solo female hiker with a nice looking golden retriever.

I think if you go across and then return to get your daughters pack and then maybe assist her on that one deep crossing you'll be alright.

I've taken my lab twice on ERL and I am taking her again this weekend to do the whole loop. I can't keep her out of the water. she has never had an issue with the current, actually does fine and every crossing seems to have easy points to cross.

RedBuffalo wrote:I think if you go across and then return to get your daughters pack and then maybe assist her on that one deep crossing you'll be alright.

Yep....I plan on over, back and over again at all the major crossings! I might just bring my swimsuit!

Thanks for all the info. I think we'll do fine if the weather cooperates. I'll make sure and post a trip report with lots of pics when we get back.

Browtine,

I just got back from the ERL today and the river crossings where fine. Winding stairs was the deepest and fastest for me, and I had no problem crossing with my trekking poles and rolling up my pants over my knees. I am 5'9" and the highest the water got on me was to my knee. Just take it easy look up and down stream for the best spots and you should be fine.

If it rains much before your trip, be sure to check the water levels using the link that OWL posted. Welcome and have a great time!

I was on this same trip. I counted five wet crossings w/ some stretchy rock hops that may be wet for your daughter. We had at least three members of our group get wet on the rock hopper crossings. Be sure to pack extra socks to change in to if you get wet. Waterproof boots are recommended as well as trekking poles for stability.

Ditto on what every one else said. The only thing I wanted to add was that the double crossing is not quite so bad about 50 yards up stream. There is a little bank there that you have to contend with but the water is not so deep. There is a small rapid there, just stay to the top of it and shouldn't be any prob. You may have to help them up and down the bank though.

She's got good boots and trekking poles. I just hope the water stays down. Long range forecast doesn't look quite so good today.

Any suggestions for a backup plan in the same area or farther north if the water is up next week? I was just starting to look at the Caney/Buckeye trail as a possiblity.

I was one of the ones who got wet feet trying to do some rock-hoppers last weekend, and I'd still recommend that she not wear waterproof boots. I've had awful trips where water got in over my boots, which then stayed wet for days.

As it was, my feet were usually dry within about 10 minutes wearing liners and wool socks. You're far better off to just change into sandals for every crossing if you want to avoid wet feet.

I agree with Stingray, wear sandals or water shoes when crossing.

Even if the water is up, it shouldn't effect your crossings. Just go slow and make sure your foot is planted when you put weight on it. We had several people fall in this last weekend from slipping, not from the current. Doesn't mean you don't need to use common sense.

We'll both have water shoes for the wet crossings as well and she'll have them on if there is any chance she might fill a boot. She usually takes Crocs, but I might make her take her water shoes for this trip. Just a bit heavier, but much better footing.

Browtine... there were quite of few with both water walkers and with crocks this past weekend. Also a few sandals. I prefer the sandalsas I can walk in them a ways but thats just me. There are many crossings so I don't have to stop and start..

I'm with TM on this, I had a crappy pair of Teva knock-offs, I think they are Coleman, but regardless, being able to just keep going instead of stopping after each watercrossing, changing shoes, going another 500 feet and changing back was nice.

We'll bring the Salomon water shoes. They are comfy enough to hike in for extended periods if the terrain isn't bad and not all that heavy.

Extended forecast did a 180 from last night, it's back to looking pretty good for next week. We'll keep our fingers crossed.