TREES SCARE ME

WHEN DO THEY FALL

Walking the trail one comes across numerous trees that have fallen on the trail. Most have been cut or notched in such a way that a hiker can just step over them. Some are newly down due to a storm and the trail crews have yet to arrive so you have to go around or over. I had really not thought about trees falling on me when it wasn’t storming or windy.

NOT MY TIME

 

On my first week out a branch of size fell between me an a fellow hiker at a shelter. Everyone looked at the branch then above them just checking for a dead branch or in hiker lingo that widow maker! I didn’t give it a lot of thought till about a month into my hike a tree fell behind me on a calm day. Although I didn’t see it fall it was close as I heard the loud crack and the tree hitting other trees as it was falling. By the sound I knew it was close to the trail if not on. It was a frightening sound. Later that same day a big branch fell righ behind me. Once again I heard the crack and fall. On the trail one has a tenancy to ponder events such as this and I did. Everyone is where they are meant to be and for me that day it wasn’t under a tree! So trees falling scare me more than bears, snakes or ticks do! In the forest you have to be aware of your surroundings.

 

TRAIL CREWS ARE AMAZING

 

 

I went though some of the trail in New York after a storm that looked as if a tornado had hit it. All the trees in a thirty to forty yard width and two hundred yard length were down. This had happen in two different sections. The storm had hit  about two and a half weeks before and the trail crews had cleared the path! Huge job as maybe you can tell by the pictures. My thanks and appreciation to the trail crews.