Lightning and thunderstorms and hammocking

[sparky32]

What a spectacular sight and sunset!

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[sparky32]

Yup, can no longer hang from this tree....

https://youtu.be/szOnAUnuMLk

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[Hangdang]

I am safe by the age stat, but man am I living a dangerous life by the others stats...I also own a Tensa4 ....am I screwed, should I update my will?

Does Tensa sell an insulation kit?

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[Latherdome]

I am safe by the age stat, but man am I living a dangerous life by the others stats...I also own a Tensa4 ....am I screwed, should I update my will?

Does Tensa sell an insulation kit?

The rubber feet are insulators. Not that i would recommend setting up on a bald in a storm. I took down a Tensa4 after setting up on the Alvord Desert playa as a storm approached, not so much out of fear of lightning but because rain turns the playa into mud that is diabolically slick and sticky at the same time.

[Hangdang]

The rubber feet are insulators. Not that i would recommend setting up on a bald in a storm. I took down a Tensa4 after setting up on the Alvord Desert playa as a storm approached, not so much out of fear of lightning but because rain turns the playa into mud that is diabolically slick and sticky at the same time.

Thanks...I actually never thought about the stand and lightning thing. Yeah, not sure I would go storm chasing with it.

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[cmc4free]

Was that tongue in cheek, Latherdome?

I'm no geologist or meteorologist, but I would think a lightning bolt with an average potential of perhaps 100,000,000 volts @ 100,000 amps would have no problem arcing across a few millimeters of rubber foot at the base of a Tensa stand, especially if the stand and feet are wet from rainfall.

But if the lightning happened to hit the stand and go through to ground, there's a chance a hammock occupant suspended between the lightning rods could go unscathed.

Would be a more interesting way to meet your maker than dying of a heart attack in front of the television.

[Latherdome]

Was that tongue in cheek, Latherdome?

I'm sure the little water breaks on your suspension would also safely divert the couple billion joules away from the hammock, helpfully drying those straps before turning them into plasma.

[JSH]

I'll post this video in trip reports but wanted to thank everyone again for the thoughts on lightning and hammocking. I postponed the trip on its original date because of forecasts that included lightning. That night I pulled up the radar weather maps and saw the mountain covered by severe weather. Was the right thing to do to postpone. Two weeks ago we had ideal weather and the trip was memorable. My cell phone doesn't do justice to the views that evening. It was spellbinding to watch the evening transition to dark.

https://youtu.be/WGvplXrG5ps

Here is my favorite picture. It is looking to the northwest.
End pic for Elliot Knob.jpg

[Five Tango]

Back when I worked for Georgia Forestry Commission the ruling train of thought was that solitary trees,particularly dead ones,were considered a real target for lightning which is the cause for many fires.

So avoiding peaks,ridges,etc,tall trees isolated from a main group etc. and looking to hang more in a clump of younger shorter trees with younger taller people would be a great tactic.Us old people think about things like that.