What would happen if a tree you were rigged to got hit while you lay in your hammock?

You'll still be laying in your hammock ... but, probably need to get out to change your pants.

Electricity follows the most direct path to ground.

Any way to prevent the current going through you? I'm wondering if there's something to create a buffer where the straps meet the tree. A rubber inner tube perhaps?

I'm not knowledgable in this sort of thing at all so sorry if I'm raising stupid questions.

My guess is that electricity does follow least resistance path to ground. If your suspension was wet it might afford a ground, use the drip line. The heat might well burn the suspension and you would be falling to the ground, thanking the cushioning effect OBX2kayak mentioned.

Unless your hammock is wet, there is no flow of current through the hammock.

I would assume about the same (or slightly better) than being in a tent near that same tree.

Thanks for all the info.

I also want to tell you guys that I'm leaving the board for a while. I'm starting a new business and to create free time I'm leaving all message boards till at least August when my main business will slow down for the season. So anyway, play nice and I'll check in around late summer.

TomT

quote TomT: "Thanks for all the info.


I also want to tell you guys that I'm leaving the board for a while. I'm starting a new business and to create free time I'm leaving all message boards till at least August when my main business will slow down for the season. So anyway, play nice and I'll check in around late summer.


TomT"

If you're not already gone, good luck with the new business!

quote RainGearRight: "

quote TomT: "Thanks for all the info.



I also want to tell you guys that I'm leaving the board for a while. I'm starting a new business and to create free time I'm leaving all message boards till at least August when my main business will slow down for the season. So anyway, play nice and I'll check in around late summer.



TomT"

If you're not already gone, good luck with the new business!"

Yep, good luck TomT

Good luck, Tom.

Good luck Tom. We will miss your input.

quote ECpizza: "I would assume about the same (or slightly better) than being in a tent near that same tree."

I concur.

think about it

if there is enough energy to jump from a tree to a cloud several thousand feet in the air, you think you are safe with a bicycle tire suspension?

people have been injured being in the vicinity of a tree being hit, if the tree you are hanging from gets hit, if all you do is wet your pants consider yourself lucky

quote ZaraSp00k: "think about it


if there is enough energy to jump from a tree to a cloud several thousand feet in the air, you think you are safe with a bicycle tire suspension?


people have been injured being in the vicinity of a tree being hit, if the tree you are hanging from gets hit, if all you do is wet your pants consider yourself lucky"

I agree. If a tree I was hanging from got hit by lightning I'd expect to be dead and relieved if it worked out otherwise.

There will be a lot of current flowing through that tree trunk and if some of it can find an alternate path, like through your hammock to the other tree or to your head and out your butt 2' off the ground it won't think twice about doing so.

Alan

Here is a resource that doesn't directly talk about hammocks, but does have good info about trees and lightning strikes.

Backcountry Lightning Risk Management

Good stuff, M2.

Seems like the potential is there, though perhaps less than a tent if in the same place. Like bullets, electricity is predictable, but an exact repeatable outcome is not.