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TIL a trick for clearing silt in zero vis on the Mississippi
Got stuck in a total blackout trying to find a valve, so I tied a small garden sprayer to my umbilical and gave it a few pumps. The jet of water cut a clear line right to the target in about 30 seconds. What's your go-to move when you can't see your hand in front of your face?
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adams821mo ago
That gravel trick is smart for getting depth. But for finding something specific in the muck, like that valve, how do you keep your bearing after you make that first clear line? Current could just fill it back in before you get there.
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amy3021mo ago
Heard about a guy who tied a bright orange rope to his belt loop before he went in. He'd clear a line, then follow that rope back hand over hand, no matter how much the current messed with the silt. Said it was like having a safety line straight to the spot. He could even give it a tug to signal his partner on the bank. Seems like having a physical guide you can't lose might beat trying to keep a visual. What do you use when the water just won't stay clear?
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That's a clever trick with the sprayer. Reminds me of a time we were mapping a muddy river bottom and lost all reference. My buddy just grabbed a handful of gravel from the bank and tossed it straight down. The sound of it hitting the bottom gave us a perfect depth fix and the big rocks made a crunch we could feel through our boots. Sometimes the low tech solution is right there.
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