Rope left around tree

**gunner76** · 06-15-2016, 23:31

Going thru some old photos I had taken and found a couple of pictures I took at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park here in NC.

Good picture of what happens when one leaves a rope/line wrapped around a tree. Fortunately it appeared that the tree was doing ok. I have no idea how long the rope had been on the tree.

Another reason to use straps.

IMG_3355.jpg IMG_3357.jpg

**tsunamihazardzone** · 06-16-2016, 00:18

Ouch! Poor tree

**Scarecrow** · 06-16-2016, 00:19

So far this year, I've found 2 ropes left on trees in the campsites that I hiked in to. The last one I found looked as though it had been hanging there for probably close to a year. 50 feet of utility cord just hanging out, waiting for the tree to grow up around it.

**SilvrSurfr** · 06-16-2016, 00:26

I actually have a rope just like that on a tree in my back yard. The rope has been there for 25 years, and is firmly embedded in the bark.

**Sailor** · 06-16-2016, 03:15

And we wonder why so many places don't like hammocks...

**johnspenn** · 06-16-2016, 06:09

Originally Posted by Sailor

...

Hey Sailor is that a Brussels Griffon in your profile icon?

**tbates92** · 06-16-2016, 07:19

What are the long term effects of this on a tree? I live in a farming area where many farmers have/will use(d) trees as fence post. Ive been hiking in the area and seen where these trees have grown over there years, broke the barbed wire, and are now 20 some feet taller then when they were used as fence posts. They seem to be growing fine. I understand LNT and that leaving things attached to the trees is just bad practice. But are there really long term effects to the trees?

**johnspenn** · 06-16-2016, 07:25

Originally Posted by tbates92

What are the long term effects of this on a tree? I live in a farming area where many farmers have/will use(d) trees as fence post. Ive been hiking in the area and seen where these trees have grown over there years, broke the barbed wire, and are now 20 some feet taller then when they were used as fence posts. They seem to be growing fine. I understand LNT and that leaving things attached to the trees is just bad practice. But are there really long term effects to the trees?

The reason our community prefers straps over ropes is the short term damage to the trees. Using ropes concentrates the force of the hammockers bodyweight into a smaller area on the trees bark and can purportedly damage the inner layer of the bark. Using a tree strap spreads the force out and does not damage the bark.

Never leave your stuff behind. It can get expensive and it is unsightly. That said, you are probably just as likely to leave behind a strap as you are a rope, and if that does happen and no one removes it, the tree will take care of itself.

**dirtwheels** · 06-16-2016, 07:37

Gunner, how could you hang from that abused tree, it has to be about dead, you put your life in danger...

**tbates92** · 06-16-2016, 07:38

Originally Posted by johnspenn

The reason our community prefers straps over ropes is the short term damage to the trees. Using ropes concentrates the force of the hammockers bodyweight into a smaller area on the trees bark and can purportedly damage the inner layer of the bark. Using a tree strap spreads the force out and does not damage the bark.

Never leave your stuff behind. It can get expensive and it is unsightly. That said, you are probably just as likely to leave behind a strap as you are a rope, and if that does happen and no one removes it, the tree will take care of itself.

Yea thats what I figured. I always use tree straps and have been hammocking for a couple years now and have yet to leave any straps behind...knock on wood. Will it kill a tree if you use ropes and damage the inner layer of bark?