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Interesting pdf from the Pacific Crest Trail Association

Yikes! I should post some pictures of my neighborhood. Dozens of healthy mature trees toppled in the latest climatic debacle. We temporarily relocated to the guest room during the storm, which is less exposed the biggest trunks and branches.

Just one of the risks of enjoying the wilderness. (root word = wild)

Not to diminish the need to evaluate and minimize risks from flora, fauna, weather, and earth — because you CAN help reduce the odds — but sometimes pumpkin just happens. Hope not to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Lucky for this guy, it wasn't his time just yet.

"Make sure to appreciate each day!"

More importantly, anytime you leaved a love one, tell them you love them. It might be the last time you are able to do so. ;)

Holy Smokes

There are lots of dead trees out there, and I notice a lot of backpackers don't pay much attention to them when setting up camp. Of course, live trees fall, too!

When I was @ Phantom Ranch last week with the GCHBA Volunteer project, one of the things we spoke with the rangers about was how they are gradually phasing out Cottonwood trees in the BA campground in favor of other riparian species (specifically Box Elder and Ash) because of the falling limb danger. I guess there's just too much liability associated with the possibility of crushed tourist. Of course, the struggle is that ashes grow much more slowly and are overall much smaller trees than cottonwoods, and the box elder's are struggling to survive at all on the high shelf above the creek (they're usually found right along the creek's margins with their feet right in the water). It's amazing how much work the expectation of dry, flood free, hazard free, shady camping has meant at BA. I'm amazed those permits don't cost more!

Personally, as a hammocker I find that paying attention to which trees are alive or dead is totally critical. Hanging from a dead tree = :stretch: Hanging from a healthy tree = :wlift:

In June this year a group of us backpacked up Kendrick and set up camp behind the cabin. As we were filtering water from Bull Spring, you could hear the roar of the wind before it reached us, almost like a large truck approaching. About that time there was a load 'CRACK' then 'BOOM' about 100 feet from us as a bark beetle ridden tree crashed to the ground. One of our group, Bonnie, had wandered down the hill, and came running back quite shaken, since it fell about 20 feet from her.

About 45 minutes later as we were starting dinner near the cabin, 35 feet from us another tree snapped and fell, this time very close to 2 other campers. Needless to say, everybody moved out in the meadow away from the trees. It makes you wonder how the old historic cabin remains with all the dead trees around it.

http://www.friendshiking.com/index.php? ... &Itemid=53
http://www.friendshiking.com/index.php? ... &Itemid=53

I love that little cabin. I could fix it up with a little wood stove and be pretty comfortable.

Crazy. Cant say I ever worry about falling trees but the threat is there... just like lightning. I wonder how the odds of the 2 compare

@ASUAviator
I was wondering that when I was camping at Bull Pen. Lots of dead branches. I wonder what it looks like now and if it's even open yet.

Edit: I just checked and it is not expected to open until September.

joe bartels wrote:Teen injured when tree falls at camp near Yosemite was inches from being crushed

I fail to see why it's more relevant that a teen was injured than an adult right next to her was killed. (The headline of the article, which is what Joe quoted)

The only thing I can think of is they were able to get a quote from the teen, whereas they couldn't from the adult.
Still, the whole thing was such a tragedy, my prayers go out to the families.

CannondaleKid wrote:

joe bartels wrote:Teen injured when tree falls at camp near Yosemite was inches from being crushed

I fail to see why it's more relevant that a teen was injured than an adult right next to her was killed. (The headline of the article, which is what Joe quoted)

The only thing I can think of is they were able to get a quote from the teen, whereas they couldn't from the adult.
Still, the whole thing was such a tragedy, my prayers go out to the families.

I thought that was an odd choice of headline, too.

I think about falling trees all the time when I'm in the woods. Especially of late, when I am often hiking in Wallow Fire areas. When I camp, I am always looking to see if there are dead trees nearby, but am also aware that perfectly normal-looking trees often fall. One doesn't always have the option of camping in a meadow, if there isn't a meadow.

azbackpackr wrote:I think about falling trees all the time when I'm in the woods

After our Pivot Rock Canyon hike Tracey will be more worried about falling squirrels... one belly-flopped on the ground right in front of her with a loud pop. Without a moments' hesitation it tore off right back up the tree and laid down on a branch. Based on the lowest branch, it had to have dropped at least 25' so I was a bit surprised it didn't seem any worse for the fall.

I thought it may have been jumping from one tree to another and missed the branch and Tracey thought is was probably sleeping and fell off the branch. I let her win the debate.

chumley wrote:Just one of the risks of enjoying the wilderness. (root word = wild) ..Hope not to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I definitely need to be more aware and concerned about this when selecting my vehicle/tent campsites.. http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=345523
(at my present favorite Mogollon Rim Campsite too!)

CannondaleKid wrote:

azbackpackr wrote:I think about falling trees all the time when I'm in the woods

After our Pivot Rock Canyon hike Tracey will be more worried about falling squirrels... one belly-flopped on the ground right in front of her with a loud pop. Without a moments' hesitation it tore off right back up the tree and laid down on a branch. Based on the lowest branch, it had to have dropped at least 25' so I was a bit surprised it didn't seem any worse for the fall.

I thought it may have been jumping from one tree to another and missed the branch and Tracey thought is was probably sleeping and fell off the branch. I let her win the debate.

Te-wa drank too much of that homemade brew and fell out of his hammock...

ASUAviator wrote:Crazy. Cant say I ever worry about falling trees but the threat is there... just like lightning. I wonder how the odds of the 2 compare

Dangerous trees don't just pop out of the sky, so you generally have more time to assess and react to the threat. Backpacker had a good article a while back on identifying trees that are likely to fall. It's a good thing to learn, especially if you camp in the woods.

big_load wrote: Backpacker had a good article a while back on identifying trees that are likely to fall. It's a good thing to learn, especially if you camp in the woods.

A test ;) : Do you recall some of the "obvious/not so obvious" signs from that Backpacker article? Thx

@Grasshopper I can't remember the sources for all of these. Some of the obvious ones are clearly dead, damaged, and dying trees and steeply leaning trees. Less obvious signs are multiple trunks, fungi, insect infestations, indications of root heaving. I'm sure I missed some.