Hammock vs tent......

[Big D]

Well, after hearing of the tragedy at Albert Pike in the Quachita NF, I think I finally found an advantage of sleeping in a tent.

In a flash flood, tent campers would get wet sooner and wake up before the water was too deep to get out. I can't tell you how many times Ive camped with in a few feet of that river. I will rethink my site selection before camping along a river again, especially in the spring.

[Hawk-eye]

Well, after hearing of the tragedy at Albert Pike in the Quachita NF, I think I finally found an advantage of sleeping in a tent.

In a flash flood, tent campers would get wet sooner and wake up before the water was too deep to get out. I can't tell you how many times Ive camped with in a few feet of that river. I will rethink my site selection before camping along a river again, especially in the spring.

Not to make light of a bad situation but with that logic one could say the Hammock camper would be dry and woken by the sounds of the tent campers swearing about the water coming in their tents.

Tent or Hammock 20 foot flash floods don't happen gradually. Best to pick the sites you camp on with the potential in mind.

[tjm]

Maybe I am being cranky but being in a hammock was NOT going to save anyone.

From what I can tell, the campground was sited in the drainage for a flash flood. So avoiding this area would have meant more than just being back from the river or stream.

Ice dams are a similar concern when camping in the spring.

TJM

[SmokeHouse]

I've backpacked, fished, floated and camped in this area for many years and seen several floods, but never this bad. The force of nature happen to hit it hard this time.
I would still be in a hammock.

[sclittlefield]

You're sunk ether way. Flash floods come in a flash.

Flooded Campsite.jpg

[Big D]

I think the hammock might have been worse.

1) I sleep more soundly.
2)the water would have been deeper before I realized it was rising.
3) I feel much more secure in my hammock.

The bigger message is don't put yourself in dangerous situations. Learn from others mistakes. I know that I won't be camping along/ over any rivers when it's raining, or rain is expected.

[Theo]

One of my favorite places to camp at Winding stairs would have put my hammock about 2.5 feet under water. I would never have thought the river would rise that high, that fast.

Going to look for flood debris in the trees from now on and camp higher than that.

[Cannibal]

Inflatable hammock?

[MacEntyre]

...look for flood debris in the trees from now on and camp higher than that.

That's the way to avoid getting caught.

Lewis and Clark learned the hard way, too.

[beep]

Going to look for flood debris in the trees from now on and camp higher than that.

Another thought...head for high ground if you have to move. Don't seek shelter in a vehicle.