Hiker Fatality in Rhode Island

[JToll]

A hiker was killed by a falling tree limb Friday on the Nipmuk River Trail in Burriville RI. The TV article showed tall pine trees in the area. Friday had winds above 50 mph.

https://turnto10.com/news/local/man...nd-pascoag-northern-rhode-island-march-8-2025

 

[Rhody Seth]

Jeez, I ran up near there a couple weeks ago. It was definitely very windy on Friday, was surprised we didn't lose power. RIP guy.

 

[DayTrip]

There are a LOT of dead trees in CT/MA/RI area along many of the trails I frequent. I think oak trees from that "infestation issue" of a few years ago (I forget the particulars if it was disease or beetles or whatever). Most pine forests in my yard and area are 75% dead trees and branches shear off with regularity. I really wanted to get out this weekend but I've learned to stay home on windy days.

Real bummer for that guy and his family. Totally sucks.

 

[maineguy]

I've learned to stay home on windy days.

If I did that, I'd never leave the house...

 

[Rhody Seth]

There are a LOT of dead trees in CT/MA/RI area along many of the trails I frequent. I think oak trees from that "infestation issue" of a few years ago (I forget the particulars if it was disease or beetles or whatever). Most pine forests in my yard and area are 75% dead trees and branches shear off with regularity.

Yeah there were three types of caterpillars that devasted a lot of trees...probably like ten years ago? Maybe a little less but a while ago. Yeesh, time flies. Anyway between all that standing dead and the really tall pines, yeah there's a lot of potential widowmakers in our woods.

 

[Sanbu]

Falling trees and limbs are one of my leading backcountry fears. Had several near misses. Worst was one that happened at night while my family slept in tent. I heard the huge limb cracking before it finally fell, but in my dreamlike state it didn't register as real. Landed only 5 feet from the tent. I had actually scanned the forest above and at last moment changed location before pitching the tent. Glad I did. Turned out the limb was rotten inside from insect damage. It was at Devil's Tower campground and the park service refunded the camping fee.

Other times, other places, nearby tree started falling and hit the ground within seconds.

 

[Lone Stranger]

There is a certain majesty to being alone in the forest and hearing a tree come crashing down...from a distance. Having a big limb crash down close enough to make the ground shake, not so much.

 

[JustJoe]

Not hiking but there's a 12 year old New Hampshire boy in critical condition at Boston children's hospital. A tree fell on him Friday walking home from school. WMUR has the story.

 

[JoshandBaron]

Not hiking but there's a 12 year old New Hampshire boy in critical condition at Boston children's hospital. A tree fell on him Friday walking home from school. WMUR has the story.

https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2025/03/10/n-h-boy-in-coma-after-tree-fell-on-him/

 

[DayTrip]

If I did that, I'd never leave the house...

Yah I'm talking big time wind when I'll be in sketchy forests like around my house. I've had very large tree limbs drop at my feet at my local park and it leaves a definite impression in memory when I'm heading out the door and the trees are swaying in the breeze....

 

[maineguy]

I always dreaded windy days back in Maine. We were surrounded by very tall pines that occasionally crashed down near the house. A few struck the house but did minimal damage. I spent a small fortune cutting down the ones that really made me nervous. We always lost power on very windy days, so we had to have a generator.

Out here, the wind is insane. Unless you have been to this part of the country it's quite unimaginable. Wind events (35 mph steady with 55+ gusts) go on for days (and nights). Lots of travel restrictions on the two major interstates in the area (80 and 25) for semis. The saving grace is that the house is built like a fortress 2 x 6 exterior framing (a neighbor built his with 2 x 8 framing) and...there are no tall trees to fall.

I went hiking locally today with winds in the 30-40 mph range. Tough going on the open prairie but calmed down once I got up on the leeward side of the mountains and in the trees.

 

[helmethiker]

A friend in Beltsville MD was walking his dog in a park a few years ago, and the dog pulled him away from where a tree landed a few seconds later. I forget if it was that day or another where he was helping carry someone else's dog out that had been hit by a tree.

2 or so years ago in Northborough MA I was riding my bicycle, on the aero bars, when I heard a tree break. I looked around, then looked straight ahead and saw and hit the (fortunately dead) tree as it was falling onto the road. No particular damage to me, one dented front wheel, and 2 very scared onlookers (a nurse and a bike shop owner who lived right there) who heard me swearing and then stopping swearing when the crash was over and I was standing on the other side of the tree.