SCT Prion boat crossing

[weighty walker]

Hi everyone, I was wondering if it is possible to swim new river lagoon instead of using the boats as i will be walking alone and am not sure if I can manage the boats. I am going on the 23 of December so maybe the track will be busy and I may get some help.What do all you walkers in the know think?? Please help

[bumpingbill]

Hey

You should be able to handle the boats as a solo walker.

Dragging the boats to the water should be doable if you use a few logs of wood to help.

Then it's a matter of doing a few trips - over, get the 2nd boat, both back, tie up first boat, third crossing.

It'd be much easier and safer to row rather than swim.

[Mark F]

If the water level is very low like last summer then dragging the boats solo is very difficult unless you resort to using log rollers. I ended up accidentally leaving my walking poles on the wrong side after the boat switch performed with a couple of other walkers. Rather than launch a boat I swam across about 150 m down stream of the boat points. The outlet narrows as you head from the boats towards the ocean so it is a matter of picking a point where the current is sufficiently slow but the distance is manageable. I was able to wade about half way and swim the rest (50-80metres) without difficulty but this was without a pack.

I assume you are a capable swimmer and can waterproof your pack satisfactorily for the swim. If the level is low then swimming across with a pack is feasible but would suggest using the boats if the water level is high or current is strong.

[Azza]

There is a pretty good chance if you hang around at the crossing for a while you'll bump into others that can help.

Being right next to the campsite your not likely to be on your own.
I've been through there 3 times now at different times of the year and there was always other people stopping to camp the night at Prion.

[scrub boy]

one time in the middle of summer i walked across the outflow on the beach and completely bypassed the whole section of track from the boat camp along the back of the lagoon. it was waste deep and wasn't a problem BUT - do this at your own risk and spend time observing the conditions. probably stick to the boats.....

[weighty walker]

Thanks everyone I guess I will know if there will be help as other walkers will probably use the same camp the night before.
Thanks for your thoughts it's appreciated.

Whoops just like you said Azza

[mahju]

Hi there,

I did the crossing on Wednesday, and a couple of points to chip in here:
- i think you could do the boats solo, but it wont be easy, and I'd allow extra time for this, and also possibly waiting for the tide to be ride to minimize the distance you'll need to drag the boats. The water was high on the west side, and about 20m on the east side - but I suspect that will be high than what you get in December
- I took my gps and did a waypoint at either boat side, and the distance from each mooring point showed 285m
- as others mentioned, you could consider further towards the ocean, but apart for the currents etc, I'd also point out that the water will be COLD - I had a dip at Louisa Creek and Deadmans Bay, and was very cold after a very short period of time... I wouldn't want to have to swim a long distance

[Jon MS]

Its rare that its too deep to wade cross directly opposite where Milford Ck comes out. This saves having to do the boats plus walk through the up and down dunes between the boats and Milford Ck. Over my last about 20 trips through the South Coast, I have only had to use the boats once (and that trip was in winter).

Wading across also saves nearly 2 hours walking time.

However, following heavy rain and when there is a strong tidal flow it can flow too fast to safely cross, so be careful.

[bumpingbill]

Its rare that its too deep to wade cross directly opposite where Milford Ck comes out. This saves having to do the boats plus walk through the up and down dunes between the boats and Milford Ck. Over my last about 20 trips through the South Coast, I have only had to use the boats once (and that trip was in winter).

Oh that's a clever idea. So you continue walking down the beach and cross near/in the circle?

When we were there the other day, there was a very very high tide (I think?) and it took us an hour to get from Milford Creek to the track as it goes up the hill again. Ended up just pack-rafting half of it because getting over the scrub was too slow.

[Jon MS]

No, cross opposite Milford Ck, about 500m upstream. I normally wade across immediately upstream of where the creek comes out. The lagoon is about 75 to 100 m wide and rarely deeper than my waist.

There is some coffee rock where you have marked which makes the water depth highly variable plus the current is normally much faster.

I have crossed there, but not often.

[weighty walker]

Thanks for all the advice. I guess as usual it depends on weather conditions,temperature,tides and if any others are around at the time. Plenty of food for thought though.......mmm I like food

[mahju]

Good plan - worth noting also the there's a temp inland track from Prion camp to milford creek (the storm meant that the existing track isn't available). The ~1km of new 'track' is very up and down, and involves a lot of fair bit of climbing over tress and branches - quite fun, but not fast or easy.