Leaving Windcreek SP around 10:15 this morning a large oak tree decided it wanted to block our path. Pulling through the campground the DW and I watched a large oak tree just fall over about 500 feet in front of us blocking the road. If we has left 30 seconds earlier that would have been sitting on us. We had to back up over 1000' in order to go out another road. The tree was rotted at the base and just gave up, I guess. The park was quick to react and by the time we were leaving the dump station I could hear chain saws clearing the tree. Just an interesting end to a great week at the lake and something to talk a out for years to come.

A thousand foot backup! Wowser. That's campin' first class.

And if you left a minute earlier, you would have missed all the excitement. :)

Halmfamily wrote:Just an interesting end to a great week at the lake and something to talk a out for years to come.Wow! That was a whole lot more than just interesting. A really great memory to be able to tell.

I once had a tree fall on the RV next to us, I had picked that spot to set up but was told that the site was reserved, so we moved over one site. The tree fell on a brand new RV on it's first trip out.It would have flattened ours as it was a Pop up.We assisted getting the tree off the roof and covering the hole with a tarp.

IN another campground I was going to mention to the manager that a tree was way too close to the road.. But by the time I got parked, to the store to register, the tree had already been moved.. YOu see the reason it brushed up so strongly against my RV is it was in the process of falling over.... By the time I got to the store.. It had finished.

Wow...look out for the tree... | Good Sam Community

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Aug 07, 2017
A thousand foot backup! Wowser. That's campin' first class.
gbopp
Explorer
Aug 07, 2017
And if you left a minute earlier, you would have missed all the excitement. :)
Farmerjon
Explorer
Aug 07, 2017
Halmfamily wrote:

Just an interesting end to a great week at the lake and something to talk a out for years to come.

Wow! That was a whole lot more than just interesting. A really great memory to be able to tell.
nineoaks2004
Explorer
Aug 07, 2017
I once had a tree fall on the RV next to us, I had picked that spot to set up but was told that the site was reserved, so we moved over one site. The tree fell on a brand new RV on it's first trip out.It would have flattened ours as it was a Pop up.
We assisted getting the tree off the roof and covering the hole with a tarp.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Aug 07, 2017
IN another campground I was going to mention to the manager that a tree was way too close to the road.. But by the time I got parked, to the store to register, the tree had already been moved.. YOu see the reason it brushed up so strongly against my RV is it was in the process of falling over.... By the time I got to the store.. It had finished.
folivier
Explorer
Aug 07, 2017
Not my RV but did have a tree fall on my Suburban a few years ago. Driving down a 2 lane road after one of our week long rains this willow tree decides to commit suicide just as I got to it. Luckily I didn't hit my brakes and just the smallest branches and leaves surrounded us as I passed under it as it was falling. The guy behind me wasn't so lucky as he hit the tree trunk.
Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Aug 07, 2017
An early Monsoon thunderstorm struck as we were checking in at the Rainbow CG at Big Lake{9,200'}, in the White Mountains last June. After several hours of heavy rain and heavier hail an enormous lightning strike took out a 90' Pine just 100 yards from our site. The tree exploded 15 feet off of the ground dropping the trunk directly across the empty pull through, dead center. Had anyone been occupying the site they undoubtedly would have been killed.

Sorry I can't post the pics, they are spectacular but my photo posting ability is being held hostage by Photo Bucket... Arrrrg!

:E
Jayco-noslide
Explorer
Aug 07, 2017
It happens. I once had a leg sized limb come crashing down on the the roof of a car in a state park parking lot missing me by maybe 6 feet. Cloudless sky and no wind. Also saw a tree fall while hiking in Yellowstone. Breezy but not strong wind.
Durb
Explorer
Aug 07, 2017
I was going to take my wife and granddaughters to hike the stream bed of Oneonta Gorge in Oregon. There is a log jam at the mouth that needs to be climbed and we were just starting. A large rotten tree fell off the cliff and exploded just on the other side of the log jam. 5 minutes earlier for us could have been fatal.
BadgerMcAdams
Explorer
Aug 07, 2017
Desert Captain wrote:
An early Monsoon thunderstorm struck as we were checking in at the Rainbow CG at Big Lake{9,200'}, in the White Mountains last June. After several hours of heavy rain and heavier hail an enormous lightning strike took out a 90' Pine just 100 yards from our site. The tree exploded 15 feet off of the ground dropping the trunk directly across the empty pull through, dead center. Had anyone been occupying the site they undoubtedly would have been killed.

Sorry I can't post the pics, they are spectacular but my photo posting ability is being held hostage by Photo Bucket... Arrrrg!

:E

I've camped in that CG several times...Yes, the thunderstorms (and associated lightning) up there can be Fierce at times. But still one of the nicest spots to camp up there. Just glad Mother's aim was off that day. ;)