Hey, is anyone able to help me?

[Theog]

Hey everyone, I'm Theog, and I've really just discovered this site. I also found one similar to this one, and posted this thread there, but I'm not sure if that matters?
I live in quite a coastal area, with nearby rivers and beaches, so I guess it was pretty much inevitable I would stumble across quicksand sooner or later.
Recently I had an encounter with quicksand, which led to me doing a bit of research online, which is how I found this site in the first place...
Anyways to cut a long story short, I wondered if the people on here would be kind enough to give a few pointers on the following subjects.

Nearby, I have (as far as I can tell, I'm certainly not an expert) three types of quicksand. There is the mud at the river, which sort of has a large pond which empties tidally, which must have been caused by some kind of backflow, which has fairly thick orange-brown mud in. There is also (about seven miles away) a large area of reeds which usually has a few cm of water on it on its coast side, but has large exposed areas of brown mud, which is black just under the surface. And then I have what I guess must be "true" quicksand, a few miles from me, where as you walk across some areas, you can see it ripple a few metres in each direction. That quicksand, once you break the surface, is very smooth and soft to sink into, but not as difficult to get your feet (with shoes attatched) out of as the first two.

For the beach in question, there are tide times readily available, and I wouldn't dream of deliberately sinking within a few hours of a rising tide (its usually out for most of the day).

I was wondering if anyone had any tips for sinking beyond the knees in any of these substances, as well as tips to get out at such a depth, along with any precautions I should take? Also, I was wondering, since I am fairly new to sinking, which of these is safest to sink in? I realise none of you will have seen the sites in question, but from experience, which sounds safest?

The reason I am asking is because I have not yet made up my mind about whether I enjoy sinking or not, and would like to try it again, in hopes to make my mind up.

I apologise for the length of this post.

Thanks,
Theog.

[mudxdresser]

In general, if you're getting into some form of quicksand or mud below the tide line that has ANY remote possibility of having a texture that could cause you to become stuck, you are best advised to stay out of it. Your time would be better spent looking for similar mud above the tide line. If you've found it below the tide line, the odds are there is mud above the tide line somewhere nearby, mud on land is just more difficult to find.

Keep in mind also that you've defined yourself as inexperienced. Most experience is paid for by making mistakes and you've selected a very dangerous place to do your learning. At a minimum, never go to any tidal area without a friend who stays on solid ground and can call for help.

You should mention the general location of where you are talking about. Some tidal areas of the world are well known for their lethality.

[Nessie]

I'll echo the anti-tide sentiment. There ain't no way anybody could ever get me into a tidal area and I've been sinking seriously for five years now.

TIDES -- NOT GOOD. TIDES -- BAD! EVIL NASTY ROTTEN ICKY TIDES! DON'T GO NEAR THEM!

(Is that clear?)

Without actually seeing (and trying) your sites, it's pretty hard for me to judge how safe (or dangerous) they are.

On getting stuck: The only time this ever happened to me was on my first sinking ever, and I was with a friend. We dug each other out. It happened to be sandy quicksand that locked around your limbs if you relaxed too long.

So #1 piece of advice: If you ain't sure whether it'll lock on you, keep moving around.

You mentioned shoes. Yes. They'll get you stuck. So don't even consider heavy shoes, and definitely stay away from boots.

Try to go barefoot if you can. If you can't, keep it thin and light. I use "aqua socks" and I lace them on tightly with extra laces strung though those little loops they like to put behind the heel and sometimes in front of the ankle. I've also used neoprene socks.

The good news is that other than my very first sinking ever, I've never been stuck, ever, anywhere, at all. However, I do have to wonder what I automatically know by now that other people may not. I recently received a news article in my e-mail about an electric wire repair man who sank up to his shoulders in swampy muck. (They strung the wires on poles over the swampland...no, I don't get it.)

He required a rescue squad. I never have.

The guy who sent it asked me, "Isn't this near you?" and I looked it up on Google Maps and sure enough, it was. Because the bog in the article was on private land, I had never sunk in it, but I sure have crawled all over similar bogs that are within ten miles of that one!

A buddy is wonderful if you can get one. I guess, though, mostly, I don't have one.

Just like tides are a risk that is not actually the quicksand, there are other risks that aren't the quicksand. Under-mud rocks or glass can cut you, bugs can chew on you, and if there are poison snakes in your area...you can get bitten. I guess, though, you know best which critters live in your area. And I myself have had a now-famous run-in with poison sumac trees (supposedly a RARE plant but it's overrun my best bog!)

Probably the biggest risk, though, is not deadly at all. It's getting busted for trespassing and giving yourself a criminal record.

I'm a huge advocate of keeping it on public land.

Nessie

[Theog]

Thanks for the tips, I'll be sure to avoid both the river and beach then.
With regards to the other spot, the swamp kind of place, at high tide, its still quite a distance from the sea, and a decent height above beach level on its far side.
I'm just aware that its easy to sink into initially, and even without shoes (I had taken them off on the way back) the stuff was still thick enough to grip fairly solidly.
My thinking is this would be a bad idea, since its not on a public path (although IS a public area), and the plants are quite tall in some places, at least waist height, non-sinking. If I WAS to get stuck (which seems a possibility) there could be problems because of that?

I'll hunt for better spots inland, but I don't think I'm so good at the whole scouting out thing, I found these spots by stepping on them on a long walk. (Except the first, not sure how I found that).
I'm also kinda limited to how I could travel to spots, as I live in a remote area (countryside, about an hour and a half from the nearest town walking) and do not drive.
I'm uploading a photo of the google earth view of two beach spots and the swamp spot (all on one photo), and the area in question is the region between Berwick Upon Tweed and Lindisfarne in Northumberland, UK. There are many reports of people getting caught in quicksand around the causeway to Lindisfarne (which is a tidal island, and only accessible when the tide is out, which it is for many hours), but that particular area is well known for how quickly the tide comes in, which is why I stick to the road when crossing there, my spots are a good few miles away from there to the north, where there are still quicksand warnings (I think), and the tide comes in much more slowly.

In response to Nessie's comment about footwear, I only really have trainers just now, so the boots aren't going to be hard to avoid. I can't say I've ever heard of these aquasocks, but I'll look into them. Thanks a lot!!

Thanks to you both for replying!

[Theog]

I forgot to post that screenshot, here it is.

[Firewind127]

A solution thought to the sinking problem, something some others here have used (and how come we've heard about them as they've gone under too) is to tie good rope off to something like a sturdy tree or to your vehicle if you had one close enough. I'd say tie the other tend off on yourself somewhere rather than have it loose, that way there is no chance of losing it, probably tie it to your wrist or something so you can reach it in a hurry too.
It sounds like you have a wonderful spot if you can get stuck in it, sounds like something I'd stand in. Hope you can keep using it, see if the rope helps you out with a lesser spot first before trying it on your sticky swamp.

[Theog]

Cheers for the advice Firewind.
I don't actually own a vehicle, and I don't recall seeing any trees within a few hundred metres of most of the exposed mud, but I'll go back out and have another look for anything I can tie to.
Its a good spot, but I have no idea how deep it is, since I got out quickly, before I was much past my knee.
I'll give you a heads up if I find out more.

[YerKiddin]

ARGH! Another site that looks like worlds of fun, but is also a quarter world away.

1) Please don't worry that your post is too long. It was a fun thing to read. Makes me wish I were your neighbor!

2) I have to admit I do not yet worry about tides, because I've never gotten anywhere where I couldn't readily leave. (On the contrary, I'm usually actually *trying* to get to where I feel stuck!) They can be dangerous in places though. Particularly where they rise quickly, or where the currents can carry you from where you are to someplace dangerous. It doesn't take much water flow to push you somewhere if the water is moving at any speed. If you are at all worried that you could actually get stuck, stay away from a tidal area until you're sure you can get back out and back to shore before it comes back in. My plan to play in tidal quicksand includes staying close to the actual shoreline and going in as tide is going out. (Unfortunately for me I'm in Arkansas, which has very little to do with tides)

[undergrain1]

I don't know what others experienced at this think, but I'd say to take a couple of planks of wood, space them apart, and take your plunge in between them. You can push upward on one plank while you "step up" out of the mud, sit on the one behind you, and finish removing yourself.

[bart1997]

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