cbr said:
Well, i can tell you in the lower brazos if its rained or the river was up in the last few days that powdery beach sand turns into sticky damn near quick sand mud. Its easy to instantly drop a modern 4 wheeler to the frame in it, and horses can easily sink to the hocks in it. Ive actually had to take my muck boots off and crawl up my ramp before.
It can be deceptive too- if the surface looks dry but its still wet underneath.
Ive stuck every 4wd tractor, truck, gator, 4 wheeler we have at one point or another, and we just know better than to risk a horse down there unless the conditions are perfect.
The upper brazos/whatever river they actually filmed on was more rocky and smaller, with no deep cut banks, but i can tell you that generally speaking river crossing in a covered wagon would truly be a fearful challenge back then. Until i lived and worked here id have never dreamed.
And then to have people who cant swim terrified of water on top of it?
I mean, you people act like y'all never played Oregon Trail. The damn thing is is either going to sink or it's not.
But seriously, you're right. If you haven't been around a river like these, it can be very treacherous. I lived in Richmond near the river so we spent a lot of our childhood along the cut bank side. The sediment types change drastically within 1/4 mile from gravel and sand bars to mucky clay based muds. Plus, like you said, if you haven't been exposed to swimming or being in water like the Germans, then any amount of moving water is terrifying.
