Tornadoes

“With the bad weather over the week-end resuling in deaths in five states,I began to think about what one would do if they were backpacking and this kind of weather happened.Dont need any smart a$$ answers of you would be dead.I am serious ,what is the worst weather any of you have encountered while backpacking?As for me, it has only been rain and cold.I also check the weather report before leaving.”

“I think somethin' like getting down in a ditch or a low part of the ground and be prepared to kiss yer @$$ bye bye. Other than that, I just don't know. You really can't out run the thing and what are you gonna hold on to that won't break in 100+ winds. Very goods question, you pose!”

“Find a rock house. Get down to the lowest point you can find.”

“I just received an email from an old friend in Clarksville, TN. I guess in my old neighborhood they had some tornadoes too, but we have a lot of field, so they only hit the fields. (lucky)

I lived in Clarksville when whole downtown was destroyed. Wasn't a pretty picture. They are still building.

I am the first to admit that I put my kids in the closet when we have a warning. everyone laughs at me,but hey, I don't care. we did not have them in Germany, so yes, I am scared.”

“Unexpected conditions occur occasionally, and you deal with the weather as best you can given the terrain and the gear you have available.

Check the weather, plan accordingly, but you still get hammered...best to remain calm, remember your training, and deal with the basic requirements to sustain life, (Remember MASLOW's Hierarchy of needs...) what is MOST important at any particular time varies, but food, clothing and shelter rank there on top. When weather turns severe, Shelter becomes top priority, and in the case of tornadic activity, that can be as simple as lying flat in a depression and praying...all sorts of things have suplemented my shelter in differing climes...but tornados are hard to handle...find a rock cut and hide in it.

As for the worst weather I've hiked in? does Cross country in a whiteout and a wind chill to -54 degrees count? God Bless GPS and proper clothing.”

“Several years back I spent a sleepless weekend in the Sipsey during some of the worst spring floods. The weather was only a nuisance compared to the falling timber that was crashing down about every half hour during the night due to the supersaturated soils. Sleeping within 100 yards of a 100 ft tall tree smacking the ground at 100 mi/hr takes the fun out of backpacking for me.”