I agree - going to look into a little further, just out of interest and speculation.
otherwise its a tweet into mythbusters take a look at the aftermath.
Or this...
I agree - going to look into a little further, just out of interest and speculation.
otherwise its a tweet into mythbusters take a look at the aftermath.
Or this...
There was an Old Man with a owl,
Who continued to bother and howl;
He sat on a rail, And imbibed bitter ale,
Which refreshed that Old Man and his owl.WOO
As with most things, be smart and minimize your risks, but lightening is so unpredictable, it is very difficult to completely minimize risks in a storm.
"There's not much of a learning curve with a tent. Lay on the ground and suffer; repeat as often as necessary." - Silvrsurfr
http://jnunniv.wordpress.com
I haven't read all the posts, but wonder...
My electronics teacher described a dragon loop to put in Coax coming down from the antenna, basically lay the coax on the ground for a foot so any discharge goes to ground and not follow the coax into the radio shack. I would think that rings that prevent rain from turning your whoopies into conductors, could also have a small light wire attached that drags to the ground. It might just prevent a current from coming through you if a nearby strike occurs.
Just a guess, but it's got me thinking I'll be buying some rep rings!
Does a wet tarp become a faraday cage?
Hammock, Tent, under a tarp, or Cowboy style; lightning is a real concern. If there is lightning in the vicinity I put on my fleece and poncho, crouch down on my piece of foam or mat with my gear nearby and wait it out. I have had some very close calls working in the fire department and lightning is something to take very seriously. That's also what everyone else that has ever taught me about the outdoors has said throughout the years.
Tom C.
Seems to me that you are much safer in a hammock. As long as you are dry, you are not a conductor.
Electricity takes the most direct route. If it hits your tree, the direct route is straight down the tree to the ground.
If the lightning does decide to cross from one tree to the next through your hammock, as long as you are dry the charge will go from tree through your tarp to the next tree. You might feel a bit of a bump as your ridge line fries, but you will not get a charge like you would if sitting on the ground in a tent.
"I go because it irons out the wrinkles in my soul." -- Sigurd Olson
Verses a direct strike, I'd be more worried about lightning striking a nearby tree causing a branch to fall on me and my rig. I seriously doubt lightning would ever strike me directly while laying in a hammock. I can't predict any strike, however, but will roll the dice and not let fear or slim chances ruin my outdoor time.
Just found this on Yahoo, I'm sure many have already seen it.
Not trying to scare anyone, cause I like a good storm as much as anyone else does... Just a cautious reminder to respect mother nature.
Don't think Id've wanted to be hanging from this tree. (watch the top left corner)
This was a homeowner's security camera in TN.
-Klauss
Last edited by Klaussinator; 09-13-2013 at 12:42. Reason: notes
My YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/rexmichaelson
"But hey, 2 trees anywhere is a bedroom waiting to happen, right?"
Wow, that would leave a mark.
I have a photo, from a large Sequoia Tree 100 Ft roughly. IT was zapped, Looks like a Zipper of Peeled bark. 55 Yards was the farthest chunks I found. blown outwards from tree. Impressive to see it & measure it's blast Radius.
Question: What will happen to a Whoopie wrapped around tree, that takes a hit?. With the Explosive force being created. Guessing Whoopie will be cut & THUMP will occur.
Seen many tree's blown apart.. I heed the warnings..
" Taking the gun off safety increases the velocity by 100% "
^"I have a photo, from a large Sequoia Tree 100 Ft roughly. IT was zapped, Looks like a Zipper of Peeled bark. 55 Yards was the farthest chunks I found. blown outwards from tree. Impressive to see it & measure it's blast Radius.
Question: What will happen to a Whoopie wrapped around tree, that takes a hit?. With the Explosive force being created. Guessing Whoopie will be cut & THUMP will occur."
Precisely. I, too have seen not only trees blown apart, but a rowboat once. It really doesn't matter whether you're in your hammock, or next to it on the ground, if the bolt hits the tree, it's going to peel it, or explode it. If the latter, you're going to suffer some damage from the "shrapnel". You're also going to lose a part of your rigging, either from the blast itself, or because a major portion of what you were attached to is now sawdust and kindling.
Either way a lightening strike on a tree to which your are attached is going to be very bad news.
Everything else is mere academics.
Remember...no matter where you go...there you are.
"I have said that Texas is a state of mind, but I think it is more than that. It is a mystique closely approximating a religion". - John Steinbeck
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