Responding to the reply (in another forum) that SAR missions may happen with people trying to cross the water, I can also imagine there will be SAR missions dealing with people who are not adept at route backpacking on talus too. I figured, why not at least discuss a way to get a pack across water without it being carried manually? Yes, there is the risk of the pack falling into the water, but I figure that would be due to not knowing knots or having rope not strong enough. Yes, one needs to be able to get across the water without a pack in this scenario. Crossing water without a pack is a safer risk than crossing water with a pack.
Roleigh Martin