*crash*

[LyttleBryan]

This weekend my hiking group was having a fall campout at Elkmont campground. After climbing Mt. LeConte that day I was pretty exhausted. I climbed into my hammock about 11:00pm. I fell asleep almost instantly and was awaken at 1:00am to the sound of a very large tree hitting the ground at a high velocity. Immediately my hammock was surrounded by people from the surrounding campsites making sure I was okay.

The catch?

My hammock was trees and hammock were still hanging nicely! The real kicker though was the actual tree that fell was a big tree. A VERY big tree. I'll admit I was a little uncomfortable with how close I was to a tree that size falling. It would have easily killed anyone in unfortunate enough to be near it.

[NCPatrick]

Whew! Glad you were okay. Scary stuff.

[KerMegan]

Zowie! too much adrenaline for me!
was the tree obviously dead/diseased/lightning struck? (before it fell), did anybody see it happen?
good luck with future hangs.. KM

[LyttleBryan]

Zowie! too much adrenaline for me!
was the tree obviously dead/diseased/lightning struck? (before it fell), did anybody see it happen?
good luck with future hangs.. KM

There were some pretty fierce rains and winds Friday night so that may have played into it. No one actually saw it fall since were in the "N Section" at the very back edge of the camp.

[KerMegan]

well, now you have a great story to back up the "Check for dead/about to fall limbs or TREES!" on the camp selection chart.
KM

[NCPatrick]

There were some pretty fierce rains and winds Friday night so that may have played into it. No one actually saw it fall since were in the "N Section" at the very back edge of the camp.

Yes, but if no one was around, would it have made a sound? .

[LyttleBryan]

Yes, but if no one was around, would it have made a sound? .

I asked that same question, and we learned that if a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to see it, it DOES make a sound.

[KerMegan]

Cause sound will go around the other trees, but light won't. now, if there was nobody close enough, there would still be vibrations in the air, but sound requires a recieving ear/sensor.
KM

[Cannibal]

I've seen a couple of big trees fall, it's a scary thing to be sure!
Glad all was well after the fall.

[G.L.P.]

Glad to hear you are ok....this is still one of my biggest fears about hammock camping...well camping in general falling trees in the middle of the night


and i'v been camping since i was a kid