Tree Types

[Reality]

Is there any specific type of tree that you've used on your backpacking trips that you dislike hanging under (that is otherwise suited for hammock use)? For example, a particular tree may drop undesirable debris/substances...

Reality

[Perkolady]

I try to avoid coniferous trees! The sap is near impossible to remove and the needles tend to rain down. Various creatures that feed in these trees seem to enjoy dropping their debris on my tarp as well.

I also like to steer clear of trees that have any kind of ripened fruit or nuts falling from them, for obvious reasons.

Perkolady

[Job]

Originally Posted by Perkolady

I try to avoid coniferous trees! The sap is near impossible to remove and the needles tend to rain down. Various creatures that feed in these trees seem to enjoy dropping their debris on my tarp as well.

I also like to steer clear of trees that have any kind of ripened fruit or nuts falling from them, for obvious reasons.

Perkolady

I second that! I've been startled awake more than once when something came crashing down onto my tarp. It takes a little while to figure out that you're not under attack (unless it's the squirrels or chipmunks that are after you).

[tracyn]

Last October hanging near an AT shelter in MD, it sounded like cannonballs were falling out of the trees all night long. I was thankful to have a tarp up. Later I learned that the "large caliber artillery" was actually hickory nuts.

[Spock]

Deadly hammock trees, to be avoided completely:
1) Tall pines and other conifers that shed limbs (widowmakers). Note: any tall tree or trees nearby can harbor widowmakers. Conifers seem to be the worst offenders other than...
2) Sycamore - as bad as conifers for shedding high limbs which come whistling out of the sky at fatal velocity.

3) Any TALL tree. All tall trees shed limbs. It's just that some do it as a matter of habit..

Bad hammock trees, to be avoided exept in extremis:
1) Locust - honey locust, black locust, any locust. They have nasty thorns singly or in clusters on the bark - a hazard when hanging a hammock.
2) Hawthorn, mayhaw - not called hawTHORN for nothing. These trees drop thorn-studded twigs. The thorns are long and sharp and will cover the ground in hawthorn groves.

Nuisance hammock trees, obnoxious, but not deadly or injurious:
Any tree that sheds honeydew such as elm, box elder, nut (pecan, hickory) trees and fruit trees.

Favorite hammock trees:
Oak and beech. They are sturdy, not thorny, do not weep honeydew. As always, watch for widowmakers.

[PBF Support]