Getting stuck inside quicksand is no joke! While movies, TV shows, and video games may exaggerate the type of danger that a quicksand presents, that does not mean that there is no danger present at all. Quicksand is still quicksand, and even if there is little to no chance of drowning, getting caught in it and trying to escape will utilize a lot of your energy and strength.
Here, this article will tell you how to identify quicksand, as well as steps you can take to avoid or, if worse comes to worse, escape from it.
How do I identify quicksand?
Being able to quickly tell if the ground you’re about to step on is going to give way can be the difference between getting stuck and needing to pull yourself out of quicksand or being able to walk on without any inconveniences. Keep your eyes peeled, and follow these tips:
Understand where quicksand can be located.
To get a sense of how to avoid quicksand, one must learn where quicksand can be found in the first place. Due to its reliance on water, quicksand can primarily be found near bodies of water, such as beaches, marshes, riverbanks, and lakes. This means that if you’re in a desert environment, then you can relax. Quicksand does not exist there, as it is unlikely for you to find a large body of water in the middle of a desert.
Surprising, isn’t it? The one environment that features a lot of sand other than beaches, and it has no quicksand, but that’s just the way it works. No water, no quicksand.
There are exceptions, however. While unlikely, a large rainstorm that has recently affected a desert area may cause the sand, clay, soil, and other material to become very moist and heavy, and may turn into quicksand. This also applies to other areas where quicksand can be located in, such as the areas mentioned earlier. If you are going to be walking near wet terrain, be sure to keep an eye out on quicksand.
Watch the ground.
Often, the ground itself will give you indication of actually being quicksand. If the ground looks “rippled” and/or has water bubbling up from underground, then the “ground” may actually be quicksand. Uneven terrain may also give it away.
When in doubt, test.
Quicksand, being moist and soft, means that it will easily give way when enough force or pressure is applied to it from above. Use a long type of stick, like a trekking pole or a walking stick, and test the ground in front of you if you suspect that what you’re actually walking into is quicksand. If the ground gives way, then you may have stumbled into quicksand, and it would be best for you to take a detour.
How do I escape quicksand?
If you’re unlucky, you may still find yourself sinking down below quicksand. Whether it’s due to being distracted or wrong footing, your end goal remains the same: to get the hell out of there. Here are some tips that you should remember to aid in your escape.
Don’t panic.
This is standard for any crisis, keeping a level head makes sure that you can make rational decisions more effectively. In the case of quicksand, this is particularly important, as panicked movements may instead cause you to sink further down the quicksand, making you panic even more, causing you to sink, and on and on.
Thankfully, it’s impossible for humans to fully sink below quicksand, as your body, or more specifically, your upper body is buoyant, and will thus float.
Still, getting out of quicksand is already tough as is, so don’t make things worse for yourself by making panicked movements.
Remove additional weight if you can
Adventure backpacks and other equipment are heavy and can cause you to sink further down and make it even more difficult for you to get out.
We mentioned earlier that your body is buoyant enough to float on quicksand – but this is thrown out of the window if you’re carrying really heavy gear, in the same way that you would sink in water if you’re carrying something really heavy.
Remove as much weight from your body as possible by placing your bag/s and equipment on the side.
Lean back and float
One of the best ways to free yourself from quicksand is to take advantage of your body’s buoyancy… and this by doing a back float position. This will evenly distribute your weight and make it much easier for you to escape.
Make sure that your feet float all the way up to the surface of the quicksand before you start making your way towards the “shore” of the quicksand.
Slowly free your legs
Alternatively, you can slowly free your legs from the quicksand slowly by moving your legs one at a time upwards from inside the quicksand.
Short bursts of movement are highly recommended, around an inch at most every time you move up, so that the quicksand fills the space below.
This process can take a really long time however, and you will want to avoid big movements, as the sand may instead become more slippery and cause you to sink again.
Grab a tree or vine
Your environment will be very helpful here. Vines, tree branches, or even trees that are within reach can be used by you to help pull yourself out completely from the quicksand.
However, do not grab them while trapped deep in the quicksand, as you may end up breaking them from the force instead, leaving you with nothing to grab, while also having the force potentially push you deeper down.
Instead, reach out to them when most (or ideally, all) of your body has broken loose from the quicksand.