Heading to the backcountry this weekend? Watch out for hazards left by this week’s storms

Thanks to a series of relatively gentle storms and warming temperatures, this weekend promises to be excellent for venturing outside.

Still, danger lurks.

A tour of canyon areas found that large rocks and small slides remain scattered along roads and trails. But the most dangerous areas are swollen streams where a small slip can turn into a horror show.

Think something like a smaller version of the whitewater rapids in Netflix’s “Bird Box” — without the blindfolds.

Still, areas north of Los Angeles County were hit hard. Additionally, burn areas — such as the Holy Fire area in Orange and Riverside counties and the Woolsey Fire footprint in Los Angeles — continue to be fragile.

During the week, residents in some 20 homes in the Hollywood Hills were advised to evacuate, at least one home under construction was red tagged, residents in Lake Elsinore were told briefly to evacuate and on Thursday a hiker in Malibu suffered serious injuries when a boulder fell.

Regardless, most trails in steep areas emerged intact and by Friday afternoon hikers and mountain bikers were hitting the mud and dirt.

Orange County Parks reported the only closed trails were in Mason and O’Neill regional parks “due to wet and muddy conditions.” For other areas, check with your local city or county parks.

Stream dangers

Following a rainstorm a decade ago, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound Santa Ana College baseball player drowned in a stream in Fullerton.

His body was recovered in two feet of water.

James Patrick Wernke, age 21, was considered a good swimmer. But, relatives said, he likely hit his head when he jumped into a stream to save his beloved Labrador.

Here are my tips about stream crossings that I’ve gathered while making my way across rushing rivers in the Andes, deep water in Utah’s slot canyons and wild creeks in the Canadian Rockies.

But understand, because streams constantly change, there are no experts. There is only being careful.

On Friday morning, I started to mountain bike across Trabuco Creek. Then I realized even though I’d been there before, I had no idea how deep the water was, if there were hidden rocks or if I could handle the strength of the current.

My solution? Turn around.

Rule one: Realize that the giant concrete culverts we call the San Gabriel, Santa Ana and Los Angeles “rivers” aren’t really what most of us regard as rivers.

The concrete culverts are slick, slimy moss-covered chutes that offer nothing to grab hold of when you are hurtling along in the muck and debris that follows a storm.

Rule two: Never try crossing the bottom of these deadly rivers. Find a bridge.

What to take

First, wear sturdy shoes. Wernke was wearing flip-flops. Bare feet can shred. When there is a possibility of a stream crossing, I pack wrap-around sport sandals. Trail running shoes also work and dry out fairly quickly.

If you’re wearing leather footwear, don’t go barefoot. Keep your boots on even though wet leather is almost a guarantee for blisters.

Bring along trekking poles, handy for gauging depth as well as saving your life by helping you maintain balance. If you don’t have a hiking pole, find a branch and carry your homemade pole on the upstream side and lean against the current.

Also, hike or bike with a buddy. It’s true there’s safety in numbers. By locking elbows, a line of people (parallel to the flow) can safely cross where an individual cannot.

I’ve tested this in a thigh-high current at 11,000 feet. By myself, impossible. But with a group of three, we made it.

Be wise

Look for a bridge. Natural bridges often can be found with a series of boulders or downed trees.

Divide and conquer. Rivers and streams inevitably branch out and come back together. It’s easier to cross several tributaries than a single river.

Consider Chris McCandless, the true-life character in “Into the Wild.” McCandless might have made it out of Alaska if he’d walked along the river bank to where the river split up.

Find the best spot to cross. Hike the embankment, or if that isn’t possible, walk in the stream to find the safest area.

Check the other side. Be sure you can climb out on the opposite bank. Avoid steep, loose or rocky embankments.

As you cross, angle your direction so you are heading slightly upstream — not perpendicular to the current. This will make it easier to stay upright.

Unbuckle your pack. If you are backpacking, be prepared to drop your pack quickly. A heavy pack can pull you under.

If you are in the mountains, cross streams in the morning when possible. Keep in mind that snow-fed streams are shallower when it’s colder and there is less melt.

Consider these factors

Flow strength: Go slow to be sure you can handle the current. Factors include the speed, depth and volume of water passing through. The grade of the slope also matters.

Remember, the quiet eddy you step into may be a torrent just a few yards downstream.

If you doubt the power of water, consider the uprooted trees along the streambed.

Depth of stream: You may think you know a stream’s depth because you’ve crossed it before. Wrong. Like everything in nature, depths of streams change.

Use a stick, trekking pole or branch to determine the depth. As you cross, try to keep the stick just in front of your foot because the depth will vary.

If you think you are out of your depth, you probably are.

I once estimated that Trabuco Creek had risen three feet over several days. Fortunately, I didn’t take the plunge.

It turned out the rise was closer to five feet. With familiar landmarks wiped out, that difference wasn’t apparent until the water receded.

Speed: Unless you’re an expert, it’s nearly impossible to tell how fast a current is by looking. Toss in a twig or leaf to gauge the speed. Even relatively shallow currents can sweep you off your feet if the water is swift.

Hidden obstacles: Rocks, submerged branches or soft bottoms can throw you off balance. Even if you can see the bottom, the size of things can be misleading because of refraction and ripples.

Temperature: Snowmelt can numb your feet so fast you can’t feel. Be especially careful in cold water.

Fortunately, this weekend should be warm.

See you on the trail.