widow makers

**grampa** · 10-14-2010, 15:34

In SoCal years ago, I watched a healthy eucalyptus drop a seemingly healthy 8" branch on my friend's new VW camper.

In Wisconsin at Devil's Lake, as we were hiking up for some rock climbing, a 40' tree suddenly fell across the trail about 20' in front of us.

**earplug94** · 10-14-2010, 15:41

Grampa,
Man, I think the trees are trying to tell you guys something. You weren't a lumberjack were you?

lol

**turnerminator** · 10-14-2010, 16:06

I was night fishing in a storm. I heard a huge 'craaaaack' 'whoomph'-it sounded like it was a good distance away. I thought " I'm glad that didn't fall on me" as you would.
When I woke up in the morning and looked out of my bivvy, the willow 20 yards to my left had come down-the wind was so strong it muffled the sound.

I had a branch land on my rod one night too in heavy rain, followed by 3 more that fell in the same place.

Neither of these 2 compare to the 25 ft wall that a guy knocked clean over with his jcb at work. It fell on the skip I had been at literally a few seconds earlier, covering me in dust and bits of smashed breeze. The look we gave each other cannot be described. I still touch cloth just thinking about it.

**Doctari** · 10-14-2010, 16:23

My first trip on the AT (March 1989), had made it to one of the Low Gap Shelters (the one just north of Neil's Gap) Slly & I were in his tent, Trip was about 20' away (WNW of us) in his, the shelter was FULL, & a pretty good T-storm was gathering strength, all 3 of us had looked for widow makers; about midnight CRASH about 20' away, to the WNW. Me; "OMG that sounded like it landed on Trip!" Sly: "Go check on him" Me: "No way, You go see if he is OK"
This went on for a while, I finally called out loud enough for Trip to have heard me "Hey Trip, you OK?" He responded that he thought the tree had landed on Sly & I, & was afraid to go look too.

Turns out it was "Just" a large branch, about 4" diameter 12' or so long. It would have done some serious damage, but we lucked out, it had landed dead center between the 2 tents.

**sk8rs_dad** · 10-14-2010, 16:25

Last year while winter camping I was about 30 yards from a tree that exploded and toppled during the night when the temperatures fell rapidly. I guess the ice expanded.

Some years ago I was on the porch of a cottage when lightning took the top off an old oak about 30 feet away. Fortunately the broken bit fell on the other side of the tree.

**Kirkman** · 10-14-2010, 17:07

About ten years ago I had a 25' cotton wood tree land on my house during a thunder storm. Scared the b-jesus out of me. No trees falling in the woods YET!

**clb** · 10-14-2010, 18:44

Dang! that picture of the guy hanging in the cave is lookin' rather good to me

Once many years ago I was hiking on a friend's property when a large tree fell, no wind, it just fell. It was a pretty cool thing to witness, and after walking over to it, the entire heart was gone and there was beautiful fungi inside.
leigh

**BillyBob58** · 10-14-2010, 18:55

Originally Posted by earplug94

I don't know about you guys. But, falling tree limbs (large) and falling trees freak me out more than any bear, snake or deranged human being ever will in the backcountry.

Same here. I've only become really concerned about this since becoming a hanger, though the danger was there for tent camping as well.

I was setting up a hammock in a nearby state park on a wind free day, when suddenly a large tree about 50 yards away came crashing down. Not kosher if you ask me.

**hangnout** · 10-14-2010, 19:00

I was teaching 2sticks (daughter) to look for widow makers on our last trip. I did not want to make her scared about hanging but wanted her to start understanding what goes into safe hammock camping. We had the conversation, she sorta understood. About 15 minutes later a huge limb came crashing from a tree about 75 yards from us. 2sticks said "That was a widow maker wasn't it" How lucky was that for a great example for her!

**koaloha05** · 10-14-2010, 19:16

There are two trees both ~8-10" diameter at their base hung up in the crook of adjacent tree hovering over a section of trail I hike at least weekly. One sings, groans to you with the slightest breeze. Bit of a hint. On the property I have an endless supply of fire wood in the form of dying or windblown trees. For as much that comes down I rarely hear anything hitting the ground.

Few years ago I took down a moderate size red oak (~18"). Should have been a routine drop. About 1/2 through the cut I heard a sharp crack. The tree zippered up ~12ft, bending uphill (opposite direction of intended drop), then snapped flinging itself downhill like an arrow. By that time I was a distance away from this uncontrolled situation. The cracking, snapping sound was loud. Also felt the breeze created by the crown of the tree as it flew downhill. Luckily the Jonsered which I dropped before running to clear away from the tree was not damaged.