I was coming back out of Woodland Hills Nature Park, where I had a winter fall that I reminded you about a few days ago. It was a slightly windy day, but it also happened to be the first day of the year that I could go out without a jacket. I had been hearing the trees slightly creaking from the wind all day long, but I thought nothing of it.
I was finishing up from a wonderful day. I was daydreaming about the wonderful sights and sounds that I will show you in the days to come. There are two trails going through this park, and I purposely chose the very trail where I had fallen last winter. It turns out that I might have been very lucky that I did this.
I turned towards the sound as it was all happening. I saw a huge tree falling down in my direction through all of the other trees. It was as loud as standing next to a freight train! As the tree fell, I saw it break in two more places on the trunk! Splinters were flying everywhere! It looked for all the world as if the tree had exploded!
I stood there staring in awe. All I could do was stupidly utter, "Wow..." I wasn't close enough to be in any danger, but if I had chosen the other trail it was right where I would have been. I came within one choice of possibly being killed by a falling tree. Even though I witnessed this from the other trail, I actually felt the ground shake from the tree crashing down!
This all happened in maybe only a few seconds. I always thought if a tree was falling that I might be able to simply step out of the way. Now that I've seen it happen, I know I would never have that chance. It's just too fast. I also realize now that I've witnessed an event that only a few people in the entire world have seen. I'm guessing most of those few people commonly see things like that. Most others have never seen this outside of TV.
I did end up going and looking for the tree later on as the paths crossed. I couldn't find which tree it was. It apparently didn't fall across the trail. But take a look at these photos. This forest looks like it has been torn apart by a giant. There is something very wrong here, and it started a few years ago. Many of the trees are dying.
The tree in the above photo is what remains of the tree that fell across my path that year. As you can see by the other pictures, there are too many fallen trees for me to find the one that I just watched come down. Besides, my search wasn't very detailed for obvious reasons. I wanted out of there.
I'll tell you now that I will definitely be back there. It didn't scare me that much, or maybe even enough to have sense enough to get the hell out of there then. The one thing I want to tell you to wrap this story up is this: If you are in the forest and you hear the trees creaking, pay close attention! ...If it's not already too late.
Gosh, that must have been a scary yet exhilarating experience! Glad you're safe and sound!
ReplyDeleteyou certainly made a very lucky choice that day in which trail to follow. I wonder what it is that is making all the trees die like that.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're not hurt! The wood scares me, and I won't go there alone..
ReplyDeleteI feel for you in that experience, and I also feel greatly for the trees. Did you pick up on anything from the trees and how they felt when you were in that environment?
ReplyDeleteThat is a frightening experience! Glad you're safe!
ReplyDeleteI was leading a group of perspective grad students on an ecology walk a few years ago on a windy day. As we were standing there a branch came down and hit a woman in the head, knocking her the ground, splitting her head open, and giving her a concussion. Obviously I no longer take students into the forest on a windy day, now we stick to wide open meadows.
ReplyDeleteBill:www.wildramblings.com
I have been warned and through experience I learned, I shall not take a rest under a dead tree, though I was always fascinated by the artworks of fallen twigs.
ReplyDeleteThis is a trap.
That was indeed close.
ReplyDeleteWow oh wow, that is one heck of a story, Ratty!! Glad your safe and good advice about "listening." We get pretty gusty winds here in Spring...and then there are the tornados that knock the trees right over or tear them apart!
ReplyDeleteThe Squirrels never rest Ratty, and you are the only one stand between them and conquering the world. Thank God you're safe!
ReplyDeleteWow! I'm glad you are ok.
ReplyDeleteWell, now we know...if a tree falls in the forest it makes a ton of noise and a huge bang! Glad you weren't hurt.
ReplyDeleteSure am glad that you are safe Ratty. That sounds really scary. I guess trees get weak or old and have to fall down at some point. Have a great week end and watch out for the trees.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you made it out safe. It's weird that all those trees have fallen like that. Have a great Easter weekend Ratty!!
ReplyDeleteWhoa that was a close call. Good to know you're safe Ratty. Lucky you were on the other trail. And about the trees dying, it's really sad to hear. Wonder if it has anything to do with the global warming and such that they've been talking about.
ReplyDeleteFor an "everyday" adventurer, you certainly have some exceptional things happening to you! I wonder what is wrong with those trees. There was a big, pretty tree in our yard when we first moved here and then one day, it was dead! The gardeners that cut it down for my human told her that it was some sort of beetle infestation that kills trees very quickly. That was sad because it had obviously been there for many decades.
ReplyDeleteYes, I didn't even go in the woods yesterday. It was so windy here that I could hardly stand up in it. Not a good day to be in an aging maple woods. Glad you are ok.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all of your comments. It wasn't very windy in the forest that day, but it was just enough for the trees to move a little. I never thought one would fall.
ReplyDelete@Ana Goncalves
I always feel a depression when I'm in that forest if the leaves aren't on the trees. I don't usually like going there until summertime because the place feels so desolate.
Falling trees are certainly dangerous, but all this to-do seems a little dramatic. What is the chance that any one person gets killed by a falling tree at any point in time while enjoying the forests? Probably less than being struck by lightening. Your less forest-savvy readers are going to be quaking in their boots every time a branch falls around them in the forest.
ReplyDelete@Casey Fiedler
ReplyDeleteWell, Casey, I somewhat agree with you, but only to a point. I usually make it very clear that what I say here isn't to be taken too seriously. Read through a few of my other stories and you'll see what I mean. I am a storyteller who claims to go hiking in a white rat suit. I've had encounters with talking squirrels, leprechauns, and dragons. I routinely say, "Never trust a rat," after many of these stories. I also am very open that I'm not the best hiker or even close to it. I am here mostly to entertain. And without a bit of drama here and there, there is no entertainment. But honestly, I've actually been in a bit of danger from falling trees and big branches in that particular forest on more than a few occasions now. The dramatics in the story are simply to help people remember to just be a little careful. But you are correct that in most normal situations being hurt by a falling tree will almost never happen. Thanks for the good comment, Casey.