Planning for contigencies Leave your itinerary with a dependable person and make firm arrangements with an air taxi operator. Air taxis may be delayed several days due to bad weather, so carry extra food. Leave natural objects and cultural artifacts Natural objects of beauty or interest, such as antlers or fossils, should be left for others to discover and enjoy. Antlers also provide an important calcium source for small mammals. It is illegal to remove any natural objects, including plants and flowers from all National Park Service lands.
River Crossings Plan by choosing a careful route and a good technique.
Stream currents are swift and cold, and the water level can rise significantly within a few hours, making a slow stream an impassable torrent. Silt carried in the rivers can prevent a clear view of the obstacles along the bottom. Pick a route through the widest channels or where there are many channels instead of just one. As water disperses it'll run more slowly and shallow out. Spend time walking up and downstream, or climbing to a high point, in order to find a crossing site suitable for the entire group.