A Branch Flattened My Tarp

“Don't worry - I wasn't in it at the time.

I pitched my tarp in the backyard for a little testing in a rainstorm. It was doing ok until we heard a crash outside. We went out to find that a big branch had fallen on my tarp and flattened it.

I found the right site to keep the ground dry, but little did I know there was danger lurking in the branches above.

I guess I'll be taking the tent on the next trip.”

“Widow Maker”

“Yep. That was my first thought -- good thing you weren't in it!

I had a close call like that years ago. Ever since then, I ALWAYS check the overhead situation.”

“Pimp down..pimp down!!! Oh..not hurt...it's ok he wasn't in there..hehe looks like it would have nailed ya in the nads if you were in it!”

“See treebait!!”

“See - tarping is dangerous! It's tents for me from now on!

"Pimp down" - good one Opie, I'll have to use that one around the office.

If I was in it - whether I got konked or not it would have been one hell of a surprise.”

“Big Coop-If you have any holes in it take you thumb and pointer finger and put the hole in between the 2 and then rub it together til it starts to get hot and it should start to seal the hole back up.

Good thing you weren't in it.”

“Seriously? It sounds a little Doug Henning to me - but I'll give it a try. There didn't seem to be any gaping tears, but I haven't checked for tiny pinpricks yet. I do have some silnet if the holes are unmanageable.”

“I had a Dome tent a few years ago and a branch landed on it while I was in it. The poles acted like shock absorbers and kept it from actually landing on me. It woulda sucked if I'd have been in a bivy or a tarp that time.”

“They use platforms a lot in New England. I’ll never forget one campsite that we used that had a HUGE old oak tree lying across one platform. I don’t think Easton aluminum would protect you from that.”

“Nor a birch tree. One fell on my tent spot not 30 minutes after I took my tent down.”

“car camping...dome tents..when will it end walkindude!!!...

next he'll say he used to hike in army surplus boots and wears cotton.”

“Holy Socks!”

“Thanks for posting this Coop.
We all need a little reminder to be sure and look up for dead limbs BEFORE we pitch the tent.
I've had a limb hit very close to me before.
Silnylon is an easy repair, you aren't. ;)”

“Always make sure that you look up! You never know when the wind is going to start blowing!”

“Ya gotta watch them Branch Davidians…they hate tarps! They are of da devilllll!”

“

I guess I'll be taking the tent on the next trip."
Big Coop

Yep. A good tent can't be <>i"flattened" by any old tree branch!

Note to self: Don't camp in back yard.”

“Under the birdge must have been full.”

“perhaps the tree is out to get you....


did you prune it last fall? ever water it or give it plant food? you probably had it coming....that's all i'm sayin....”

“Yeah dude pretty dangerous backyard”

“Opie, That was over 10 years ago.”

“My negihborhood is covered in old laurel and live oaks and a few hae fallen since we've lived here (4 years). We had a tree surgeon clear suspicious looking branches from over the house, but he must have missed this one. I bet it was waaaay up there.

Yeah - this is less of an argument for any piece of gear (other than an iron chestplate and codpiece) and more of a reminder to take a look up before choosing your site.”

“Well, first things first. I was looking at your other pitches of the tarp, and it didn't look to good.

I learned to look up after my SM pointed out that I pitched 3 scout tents under power lines. oops!”

“Watch out for the ones from the Top of the tree...

9.8 m sec ^-2, doncha know.”

“Physics is a #&%!$ sometimes....”

“Yeah the tree surgeon actually said that removing the lower branches won't really protect the house much. It's the screamers from 60 feet that really leave a mark.”

“By the same token, I found out that a 3-ft diameter oak doesn't have to fall very far to do Lotsa damage, LOL

F = MA ...”