Even though years have passed, Damon Graham can still remember the day a woman and her daughter were snatched away by a strong current at Rock Island State Park.
Though shaken and scared, the two walked away with only minor injuries. But not everyone is so lucky.
As park manager of the 883-acre natural area near Sparta, Tennessee, Graham has seen many fatalities involving hikers attempting to cross swollen rivers or creeks during his 10 years there – and he says the nearby Tennessee Valley Authority dam that releases every day or two isn’t always to blame. Instead, he’s found that most incidents occur when hikers overestimate their ability to cross a body of water or underestimate the conditions of the water.
“Water can be really deceiving,” Graham says. “As park rangers, we look at it and say, ‘Obviously nobody could cross that without being swept downstream.’ But the general public just doesn’t really understand how strong water is.”
Avoid making the same mistake by following Graham’s tips for safely crossing a river or creek.