Does fordable by 4WD imply fordable on foot?
I am investigating the feasibility of a hike looping around Hofsjökull. Among the foreseen challenges are 17 crossings of named rivers (and many smaller ones). All rivers I need to cross have 4WD roads fording through downstream from where I will be hiking, sometimes quite far downstream after the confluence of several more rivers. From a driver's perspective, I have seen the recommendation, “if you wouldn't ford it on foot, don't ford it by car”. Logically, it should follow that if a 4WD road does ford a river, it should be fordable on foot (weather permitting). Is this accurate? Can I infer from the observation that a 4WD road has an unbridged river crossing downstream that it may be fordable on foot upstream?
Edit: For the purpose of this question, please assume complete sterility. I am considering only fordability due to water depth and force. I am not interesting in dangers from carnivorous animals in the water.
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The presence of a ford in a river is a local condition: it's a point in the flow where the river has leveled out, producing a wide, slow, shallow flow. In addition, a ford generally has a hard bottom, either naturally or through "improvement" with imported gravel. The presence of a ford at one point says absolutely nothing about the fordability of that river anywhere else.
In answer to your secondary question, "you can ford it here by car" does strongly imply "you can ford it here on foot".
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From The U.S. National Weather Service,
Turn Around Don't Drown®
Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm related hazard. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters. People underestimate the force and power of water. Many of the deaths occur in automobiles as they are swept downstream. Of these drownings, many are preventable, but too many people continue to drive around the barriers that warn you the road is flooded. A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away a small car, while 2 feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles. It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters.
I've quoted the warning in full, and bolded the part that sheds light on the OP's question. The bolded sentence says to me that fordable by 4WD vehicle does not necessarily mean fordable by foot, even upstream of the ford. (Note: 12 inches equals one foot equals 30.48 cm.)
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