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  1. #1
    Senior Member Big Jim Mac's Avatar
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    Hanging in a thunderstorm

    Don't know what made me think of this but what do you all do when a thunderstorm pops up? Seems like hanging in a tree wouldn't be the best place to be, but then I guess it's no worse than being in a tent.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Just Jeff's Avatar
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    There are probably dozens of threads on this...do a quick search for lots of comments.

    I just hang. Being the only thing in an open field (i.e. in a tent) isn't the best place to be in a thunderstorm...so that leaves the trees. If I'm in the trees, I might as well be comfortable...so I'll just hang my hammock from two trees that aren't the highest around, and laugh at all the tenters who will be crawling around in the mud in the morning, complaining about their backs.
    “Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall when the wise are banished from the public councils because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.” ~Judge Joseph Story

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  3. #3
    Senior Member carolinasbackpacker's Avatar
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    you take your chances either way. I read an artical not too long ago (may have been posted on here) where a woman was killed during a storm when a tree fell on her tent.
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    I'm drawn to the open country. Its where the world makes the most sense. When I put myself out there I always return with something new.

  4. #4
    Senior Member oldgringo's Avatar
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    Those things scare me silly, largely because they're so unpredictable and capricious. The answer to your question is hold what you got, and hope that your day is not this day.
    Dave

    "Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self."~~~May Sarton

  5. #5
    Member split's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by oldgringo View Post
    Those things scare me silly, largely because they're so unpredictable and capricious. The answer to your question is hold what you got, and hope that your day is not this day.
    Again, words to live by.

    Thanks Dave.
    "Keep away from people who belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."
    - Mark Twain

    "Pray to God, but row for shore." - Old Proverb

  6. #6
    Senior Member Rikall's Avatar
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    Site selection plays a big part in the outcome. I spent a night in a hammock in the worst storm in over 50 years under a hootchie and didn't get a single drop on me. The site was in a valley so lightning wasn't much of an issue. The guys in tents all around me weren't so lucky and spent the next day trying to dry everything out.

  7. #7
    Senior Member TinaLouise's Avatar
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    My last thunderstorm was the worst one I'd ever been in, last night of a week at Boy Scout Summer Camp. Lightning striking withen 50 -100 feet of us. We (26 scouts and 5 adults) all huddled under the picnic shelter. Standing room only. I could only see my hammock when lightning would light up the sky, which was often. This lasted about 3 hours!! Afterwards, all of the scouts tents were flooded, they ended up having to sleep under the picnic shelter. My hammock and another adult's hammock both had puddles of water "INSIDE" them!!! Both of us had our tarps spread out for hot/humid and the storm came up so fast we couldn't get to them to restake the tarps.
    Hind sight... I was very glad to be under a "hard" roof during that storm. Found out later that a car had been struck by lightning about 300 feet from our camp site. Dead tree limbs were also falling onto some of the tents in our camp site. I had my GG tarp next to my hammock with my gear under it, that all faired just fine because I had that tarp low to the ground. I could have spent the storm in my hammock, if I'd had to. Of course, then I'd would have been able to adjust the tarp and it would have stayed dry. I always check out the trees above me, so I'm not to worried about them falling on me. I'll try to find the safest place to hang my hammock. If there is a "roof" to get under, I'd rather be under that but if not then my hammock is as "safe" as I can make it and I'd rather be there than on the ground.
    TinaLouise

  8. #8
    Senior Member Perkolady's Avatar
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    I still get just as scared hammocking as I did when I tented or tarped. I find the rocking hammock caused by my shaking to be somewhat soothing though...

    To me, hearing a large tree coming down in the pitch dark, and not knowing where it's headed to be just as scary...

  9. #9
    Senior Member dmrichm's Avatar
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    You have a greater chance of becoming injured on the way to your campsite (be it vehicle or hiking) than you do by being hit by lightening. period. (plus if you do get hit by lightening you will most likely survive it....~75% chance)

  10. #10
    Senior Member Jsaults's Avatar
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    I think we all have an in-bred fear of lightning

    that dates back to our anchient ancestor's days.

    "Ooops - Og look like burnt stick!" "Smell like roasted brontosaurous!"

    I routinely hang in a location near a ridgetop above the Youghiogheny River above Ohiopyle PA. On a friend's property, there are only a few properly sized and situated trees for my HH. One tree has a spiral lightning scar that is only several years old. You can bet that when a doozie of a storm rolls across the area this hanger goes to car. Call me a wimp. Lightning rattles me.

    Jim

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