Boots and quickmud

[Fred588]

I can speak from indirect experience only, although that experience is somewhat abundant. Actresses who have performed here at Studio 588 universally report that any kind of footwear is harder to move in than with bare feet, and that most boots are harder to move in than with shoes. The mud here is moderately thick this year, so far, but I see no reason why the effect would be different in thicker mud except in degree. There have also been several times when an actress wore a heavy, full-length dress with multiple folds of cloth, and had to strip the dress off to get out. Way back in the first year any shooting was done, such a dress was left behind in the mud and it took me the better part of an hour the next day just to get it out of the mud. I'm not sure but that dress may be still in the wardrobe collection some fifteen years later.

[rgadt]

Maria:
Unfortunately, so far my experience with waders is almost nil; I have a pair of K-Mart waders that I only tried to wear in mud once and was unhappy that they were so loose that one foot came out almost immediately, even though they were supposed to be the correct size. Your discovery sounds wonderful, but I would definitely recommend you take a precaution or two if possible.
First, since you're going solo, I would recommend getting a long, sturdy piece of rope, and something that you can secure in solid ground to attach it to. One suggestion would be an anchor such as used to tether large dogs (screws into the ground a couple of feet), available at one of the large pet stores. Since you already know the mud is fairly deep, if you can probe with a long stick to try to determine the depth and consistency it would certainly help to know. By the way, how did you manage to get out?
rgadt

[bogbud]

Just wanting to add something about the gear.

Waders (especially cheap, rubber ones) tend to run very large. I did use them, too, in the past and it's hard to make a good use of them in deep mud (easyly sliding off ones feet, way to heavy). But even when they are big, i don't think it is possible to exit stuck chest-waders when you're deeper than about waist-deep or so.

I my opinion gear needs to be as tight-fitting as possible, in that case this means neoprene-waders or expensive rubber-ones. I have old ones from the french company LeChameau, no idea if those are available in the US.
At US-online-stores i have also seen some specially made ones for female duck-hunters and the like. Those could also be interesting.

My outfit looks pretty much like hers (just add shoulder-long gloves above the jacket) and look what she is able to do (in winter!!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2U6YsR0rNI

[maria]

I think the mud that Brook is playing in is several times thinner and much different from the clay I found. The picture of it clinging to my boots says it all when it comes to the thick, glue-like consistency. I can only think it's almost a one way trip - down, or a very, very, long slow extraction.

There's nothing around to secure anything to, so a long, strong stick lying on the surface seems to be the only way. As for the depth, I pushed a stick in and there was no resistance at all and the stick was 5 feet long. Bogbud may have got it right by saying it could be a massive body of clay/mud floating on water way below.

Waterproof protection is compulsory as I have no idea what's been in that quarry. The mud has a strong metal smell.

[bogbud]

Just wow! Can't wait to read your report.
I hope you make it out of that stuff to write one

[joedeep130535]

All the safety ideas have been put forward so am not going to try to add to them. For me-Go for it!!! it sounds wonderfulJust wish I could join you

[Mynock]

Waterproof protection is compulsory as I have no idea what's been in that quarry. The mud has a strong metal smell.

Whoa......metal smell? I would NOT sink there, even with waders.

[maria]

I survived

I've started writing a detailed account of this sinking experience - it might be useful for others to read. Basically diary of a real sinker.

Thanks for the thread, because I learnt many lessons. Number One - carry a stick! No exaggeration, but I would not have been able to get out of this stuff without a stick or an assistant - it was like mud limbo - going nowhere except more tired. I'm sure it was getting thicker the more I tried to work my way out.

I was able to extract myself about 15 minutes after these pictures:

2x.png

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[bogbud]

Good pictures, are these screencaps of a video you did or how did you make them?

You need better fitting waders (looks not like rubber, is this some kind of nylon?) but i do really like the gloves (Marigold?)

[maria]

Bogbud

The waders had never seen mud before. I thought they'd be a good choice in case someone found me!

The gloves are Marigold - ME108 - thicker than the ME107

The pics are screenshots.