Water crossing GPS mistake on the JMT last August

I've done 12 backpacking trips and always marked waypoints at trail junctions but never at water crossings. Last August on the John Muir Trail near Evolution Creek I got swept about 15 feet downstream because the crossing I planned was actually a faster channel that only appears mid-season. A ranger at Red's Meadow later showed me that you should log the crossing point as a waypoint on both banks and then check satellite views for braided channels before you go. That advice would have saved me a soaked bag and a scary scramble. Now I spend 10 extra minutes per crossing day and it feels like a huge safety win. Anyone else use satellite imagery before picking their ford point or do you just rely on trail markers? Has anyone had a crossing go sideways due to seasonal flow changes? Haven't tried a GPS app that tracks river depth yet but I'm open to suggestions.

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ninaross20d ago

Did you check the satellite view from a dry season date too, or just whatever the current imagery showed?